The Romanov "Menu"

[Maria_Romanov_fan]

Hi all. I've read alot that the IF enjoyed simple foods. Is that true? If so, what was on this "simple menu"?  

[Erin]

i saw a menu of theres a while back. i think it was when they were under house arrest. but if i recall correctly it wasn't all that simple. well i guess it depends on what you would consider simple. i think there were things on it such as duck and filet mignon.

[Sarai_Porretta]

There is more information on their eating habits on these threads:

Food, Wine, and Meals:
http://hydrogen.pallasweb.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=palace;action=display;num=1074886237

Alexandra's eating habits:
http://hydrogen.pallasweb.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=alix;action=display;num=1102889531

[Nastya]

like the romanovs, my family doesn't like fancy foods we like simple food. were not into that cavier stuff and expensive formal stuff.

[Sarushka]

Alix was a vegetarian, while Nicholas had a fondness for Russian food: salted cucumbers, kvass, kashi, borshcht, shchi, and caviar (though it didn't agree with him) to name a few. There's also an anecdote about Alix crunching English biscuits (cookies) in bed, much to the emperor's annoyance, but I think it comes from from Marfa Mouchanow's book, which is NOT realiable at all.

As I recall, the food in exile wasn't anything special: meat cutlets, soup, macaroni, etc. The Grand Duchesses eventually learned how to make bread. A nearby convent brought eggs, milk, and maybe yogurt as well.

[anna]

Alix was a vegetarian, while Nicholas had a fondness for Russian food: salted cucumbers, kvass, kashi, borshcht, shchi, and caviar (though it didn't agree with him) to name a few. There's also an anecdote about Alix crunching English biscuits (cookies) in bed, much to the emperor's annoyance, but I think it comes from from Marfa Mouchanow's book, which is NOT realiable at all.

As I recall, the food in exile wasn't anything special: meat cutlets, soup, macaroni, etc. The Grand Duchesses eventually learned how to make bread. A nearby convent brought eggs, milk, and maybe yogurt as well.

You're right about the M. Mouchanow book, but I recall to have read the anecdote about crunching English biscuits in bed in Greg King's book " The last Empress"  and Robert K. Massies "Nicholas and Alexandra".

Anna

[Sarushka]

I'll have to check their source notes and see where they found the story, then! I know even Greg's book does cite Mouchanow from time to time, so you can't believe quite everything in it, unfortunately.

This is probably a question for the book forum, but does anyone know if any of Mouchanow's book is based in truth, or is it all bunk?

[Marialana]

I'll have to check their source notes and see where they found the story, then! I know even Greg's book does cite Mouchanow from time to time, so you can't believe quite everything in it, unfortunately.

This is probably a question for the book forum, but does anyone know if any of Mouchanow's book is based in truth, or is it all bunk?

I checked Massie's source notes on the English biscuit story, it comes from Last Grand Duchess: The Memoirs of Olga Alexandrovna by Ian Vorres.  
I never hear anything particularly positive about Mouchanow's sources, but I suppose even in the falsest stories there are little nuggets of truth here and there? Maybe she got the biscuits right and most everything else wrong!

[Sarushka]

You're right -- Greg King attributes the biscuit story to Ian Vorres's book as well.   I'm glad to know it's true -- such a cute little story.

Chapter 16 in Last Empress is full of references to Mouchanow, so you've basically got to read it and the source page simultaneously to get a handle on what's most likely to be true. Perhaps that's what Greg was referring to in FOTR's introcudtion when he mentions having falling into certain "historical traps" in his previous book?

[Caleb]

It wouldn't surprise me if the Czarina ate buscuits in bed. To tell you the truth I couldn't blame her, as I love buscuits. I didn't know that she was a vegetarian, but it doesn't surprise me that Nicholas, Alexandra & the children would eat simple meals, instead of the fancy schmancy caviar & what not. I guess the "Caviar? What, are we inviting the czar?" quote from Spiderman 2 was not totally accurate.

[Nathan_Davis]

Reminds me of Oscar Wilde:

"I have very simple tastes. I am always satisfied with the best."

[Douglas]

Or Frank Lloyd Wright:

Give me the luxuries,  the necessities will take care of themselves

[Mike]

Speaking of caviar, it wasn't considered such a luxury at the Romanovs' time. Various types of caviar were routinely served not only at restaurants but also at pubs, rail station buffets etc. It could be bought at any local grocery or food market.

The caviar consumed at the imperial court was the so called "present", delivered with much pomp and ceremony by the Urals cossacks every winter, as a traditional homage to the monarch. Of course it was top quality and extra fresh, but hardly distinguishable in taste from the product readily available for anybody prepared to pay much less than 1 rouble per pound.

[clockworkgirl21]

Aleksandra was a vegetarian? I didn't know that. Very neat.  

[Russian_Duchess_#5]

The IF had breakfast at 12??
Just like me!!
By the way, my grandparents bought caviar for me (I love it!!) and the brand was "Romanoff". Cool, huh?
On the cap, it had the Romanov crest in gold, too

Sofi