The world-renowned Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, in collaboration with the retail chain Magnit and the Hermitage XXI Foundation, has released a unique cookbook: “Archiv of the Court Chef”. The book takes the reader on a culinary journey through the world of the tsar’s time, presenting carefully researched recipes from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The foundation of the work is original recipes discovered by historians in old cookbooks from the time of the Russian tsar’s reign, adapted to modern cooking habits. As a result, modern readers and amateur cooks can now prepare the dishes of the former imperial court’s kitchen themselves. The presented dishes include, among others, the famous Gurjew-Kascha, Russian soups, stuffed poultry and lamb cutlets.
In addition to the culinary highlights, the book offers a glimpse into the festive banquets at the tsar’s court. The reader learns about the culinary masterpieces served at the coronations of Tsar Alexander III and Tsar Nicholas II, the wedding tables of the Romanovs and the menus served at the 300th anniversary of the dynasty. A separate chapter is dedicated to the history of menus, often illustrated by famous Russian artists.
Michail Piotrowski, the general director of the Hermitage, speaks of a unique material: “This presentation of festive meals aims to stimulate the appetite and historical interest.”
In addition to the book, the website Gastronom.ru has launched a project under the motto “The Tsar’s Kitchen”. Here, historical recipes are reinterpreted using modern cooking methods and information on table culture and festive traditions in imperial Russia is provided.