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The Moscow Times Moscow Guide – Winter 2008

Since the middle of autumn one of the most important topics of discussion, could only be … no, not the financial crisis… New Year! The winter issue of The Moscow Times Moscow Guide is entirely devoted to New Years celebrations. Seven great ideas for celebrating the “Night of Nights” will help readers finalise their plans and choose how and where to party, give fresh ideas and lots of practical advice.

And don’t forget – problems will come by themselves, but happiness and luck need an invitation. That why the more cheerful and light-hearted your celebration of the coming holiday is, the happier and more successful 2009 will be for you.

The Crisis: Signs of a Kremlin Fearful Of Unrest
Sociologist Yevgeny Gontmakher has painted a disturbing picture of what might emerge from the financial crisis, forecasting continued unemployment, huge protests and spreading violence.

Market Matters: Huge Grain Harvest No Boon for Farmers
This year Russia is enjoying the biggest grain harvest it has ever seen -- and farmers couldn't be more worried.



Thursday, January 08, 2009 Updated at 31 December 2008 22:36 Moscow Time.

The Moscow Times » Issue 3917 » Dining

Igor Tabakov / MT

Syrok

05 June 2008By Maria Antonova / Special to The Moscow TimesThough it's always been advertised as a dairy product that can serve as a perfect breakfast meal, the syrok is about as healthy as a bowl of multicolored sugary cereal. Contrary to what the name suggests, it does not contain any cheese, and is made from tvorog, butter and sugar, covered with chocolate-flavored glaze. In Soviet times, children considered it quite a treat, and school cafeterias served them for breakfast or an afternoon snack that melted almost as fast as ice cream, forcing kids to lick the wrapper and get their faces dirty.

Many people eat it on the go, and it is still one of the cheapest foods you can buy, priced around 7 rubles. One of the largest producers, Rostagroexport, has recently come up with a "luxury" syrok, made with real, rather than powdered milk, and real chocolate, at a price of three times the regular version.

Why it is considered a healthy children's food is a mystery, since the classic syrok contains up to 25 percent fat and is essentially a miniature cheesecake. The classic version is simple vanilla flavor. Many dairy companies started producing syrki in the 1990s, adding other ingredients like poppy seeds, apricots, jams, and even coconut as the market heated up. Popular brands, besides Rostagroexport, are "Ryzhiy Up" and "Chudo," produced by WimmBillDann.