food – The Romanov Family

January 2, 2016Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: HOW MANDARIN ORANGES BECAME RUSSIA’S NEW YEAR TREAT

Grand Duke Peter of Olderburg, the first husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II, was the Romanov family member who introduced mandarin oranges into Russia. — Grand Duke Peter of Oldenburg (right), the first husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II, was the Romanov family member who introduced mandarin oranges into Russia.

New Year celebrations are arguably the most major holidays in modern Russia. One of the traditional treats on a Russian New Year’s table are mandarin oranges. This fruit was not native to Russia – it was introduced only a few years prior to the Russian revolution – by a member of the Romanov family Grand Duke Peter of Oldenburg, a great grandson of Tsar Nicholas I and first husband of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, sister of Tsar Nicholas II.

December 31, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: NEW YEAR MEALS

The Romanov family celebrated New Year relatively intimately and quietly, without any major fanfare. January 1st was a regular work day for Nicholas II, but a festive table was set up for the visitors. Those who came in to see the Tsar with reports on New Year’s Day were offered zakuski (cold meat snacks or pickled vegetables) but did not normally linger at the table for too long nor overindulged in vodka.

The imperial couple preferred to dine with a circle of close friends, but it was always a first class meal. At court there were three dining classes: the first was for the members of the imperial family, the second – for the imperial suite and dignitaries invited to court, and the third was for the servants. Read more ROMANOV FAMILY: NEW YEAR MEALS

November 25, 2015Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: “LITTLE [TURKEY] FARM IN TOBOLSK”

DID YOU KNOW that the Romanov family had a little farm in Tobolsk, complete with farm animals – including turkeys. I thought this would be an appropriate blog post today.

Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarevich Alexei feeding turkeys in Tobolsk

September 22, 2015Helen Azar 1 Comment

ROMANOV FAMILY: THEIR MEALS

The Romanov family certainly attended a lot of formal dining occasions and teas. But their favorite way to eat was indeed casual dining, such as picnics with just the members of the immediate family and close friends. Even the food they preferred, Tsar Nicholas II in particular, was unpretentious and more similar to what the Russian peasants ate, rather than the nobility. Read more ROMANOV FAMILY: THEIR MEALS