What's Cooking in the Kremlin

In the adventurous style reminiscent of Anthony Bourdain and Hunter S. Thompson, Witold Szabłowski embarks on a journey to uncover the intriguing accounts of those who have served in the kitchens of the Kremlin, offering a unique perspective on one of the world's superpowers. Szabłowski delves into the culinary preferences of historical figures such as Tsar Nicholas II and Lenin, explores the quirky anecdotes like Stalin’s cook teaching Gorbachev’s cook to serenade his dough, unveils the unsettling practice of Stalin using a food taster while Ukraine suffered through the Great Famine, and reveals the peculiar details like the recipe for the first soup launched into space. Further intriguing insights include Brezhnev's disdain for caviar, the menu at the pivotal moment when Soviet leaders decided to dissolve the USSR, and the question of whether Putin’s grandfather indeed cooked for both Lenin and Stalin. Through a captivating oral history enriched with recipes and photographs, Szabłowski chronicles Russia’s culinary journey from neglect to opulence, from famine to extravagant feasts, highlighting how the Kremlin has historically regarded food as a reflection of national prestige. His explorations take him across Stalin’s Georgia, the battlefields of Afghanistan, the radioactive zones of Chornobyl, and even to the besieged steelworks of Mariupol. Often gaining rare access to places usually hidden from foreign eyes, Szabłowski uses his unique storytelling ability to uncover how, even a century after the revolution, Russia continues to wield food as a tool of conflict and a medium for propaganda.