Red Corner: Tea Time in Kiev

by Neil Woodburn on

Tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water.

I’m not a huge fan of it myself, but sometimes on cold evenings in dark cafes, I like to hunch over a little mug and sip away.

Tea is especially beloved in Ukraine. But where is the best place to sit and indulge in its warmth? Expat newspaper, The Kiev Post, has a few recommendations. And, as they proudly point out, none of them include Lipton.

I was particularly impressed with their write-up on the Chayny Club where patrons must don slippers upon entering and can leisurely mull over 80 different styles of tea.

There is something so very soul-calming to tea houses such as this and I really do miss the atmosphere back home in Los Angeles.

Dining in Dushanbe: Delhi Darbar

by Adrienne Wilson on

I’ve saved one of the best for last my foodie friends. After dining at Delhi Darbar about six times during my stay in Tajikistan I discovered one absolutely fantastic thing about the place and that one thing is this: there isn’t a single bad dish on the menu. Anything you order is guaranteed to be savory, scrumptious and gratifying. While I enjoyed sampling the local flavor and having a Tajik dinner or two, the traditional foods were just filled with too much oil. On the flipside the Indian fare felt healthier and can we say just about zero grease is used in preparation. Astonishing!

My favorite item of all was the vegetarian thali (right). Included in the meal is a spicy cauliflower, lentils, rice, a cole slaw with dill, yoghurt, and a sugary doughy dessert in syrup. Other good selections include the chicken tikka, lemon rice with garlic naan. If you’re looking for something sweet to sip try the pineapple lassi. Seriously, everything is good.

Outside the gateway to Indo-Fusion doesn’t look like much, but indoors it’s well lit with India inspired wall murals and Bollywood and Uzbek humming from the television above the buffet. The staff is all nice and always seem to wear very welcoming smiles.

Located at Rudaki 88 in Dushanbe, the chain also has locations in Khujand as well as Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan.

Thai Market Slideshow

by Neil Woodburn on

Foreign outdoor markets are often overlooked by tourists. And yet, they provide a wonderful glimpse into the very heart of the region you happen to be traveling through.

We’ve posted a number of times about this phenomenon and have often included shots of such markets in our Photo of the Day feature. The markets are always so very colorful, and bizarre–especially in Asia–and usually empty of tourists.

For a better idea of what to expect, pop on over to the New York Times and check out the nice little slide show they’ve put together of Or Tor Gor market in Bangkok. The multimedia show, complete with voiceover, follows journalist Jane Perlez as she shops for curry ingredients with a local celebrity chef and then heads back to his apartment to cook it all up. Yum!

Dining in Dushanbe: Kand

by Adrienne Wilson on

Kand wouldn’t be the first place I’d recommend if you’re hoping to dine the way most Tajiks do. While the quiet open outdoor dining is fabulous for couples looking to be left alone however, groups seeking cultural experiences will be disappointed. We ate at Kand on two occasions and both times it felt as if we were the only party eating at their establishment. Also regarding the restaurant environment there appeared be some renovations to the stage where I’m told performances (ballet and such) normally take place. We weren’t lucky enough to see any ballet, but there was a man on a keyboard accompanied by a singer one night.

Now the food is great IMO. I had trout the first time and a beef kebab the second and both were seasoned and flavored for perfection. Service was okay. I actually can’t recall what the wait staff was like. There was little personality, but considering how appetizing the meals were I can let lack of personality slide. Great place to go to eat and get out, but don’t look for an overly live atmosphere.

Prices range from 5TJS-35TJS.

Dining in Dushanbe: Eurasia

by Adrienne Wilson on

While the trout I ordered doesn’t exactly look like the most mouth-watering of dishes, the food at Eurasia is some of the tastiest in all of Dushanbe. Serving a mixture of Tajik foods, European foods, Russian yummies and breakfast anytime of the day, Eurasia hit it off well with me and my companions. If you’ve been hit by the stomach bug most travels tend to get in Central Asia, order the crepes with jam as a lighter selection sure to cheer up the most upset tummies.

If you’re up for a real meal I might suggest the trout so long as you can bare its very ugly and Muddy-Mud Skipper like appearance. Afterwards if you’ve got plenty of room for dessert (and I do mean plenty of room) go for the stuffed spiced apples. One is enough, but they serve two. The Russian waitresses are all quite pleasant and with their being an English menu as well their jobs are made that much easier. However, not all things translate well so knowing a little Russian or Tajik might be helpful if you’ve got additional questions on the way meals are prepared.

In the morning it’s fairly quiet, but dinner hours are much the opposite. If you’ve got a large group head over early so dinner is served in a timely manner. Plates run from 2TJS-15TJS.

Eurasia is located at Rudaki 81. Telephone: 2233994.