Moscow Marathon Tips and Food, Obviously.

The beautiful city and all its food culture.

Moscow, the most beautiful city I have ever been to.

In September 2018, I decided to run the Moscow Marathon. It was one of the most incredible destinations that I have ever been to. The people were helpful and friendly, the weather was warm for the most part, and most importantly, the food was out of this world!

The trip was filled with incredible traditional Russian foods and obviously a lot of walking around the city (and running).

Grand Café - Dr Zhivago:

On our first day in Moscow, we decided to go and explore the Red Square, and my parents kept telling us that we had to go experience the Dr Zhivago restaurant while we are there. And as luck had it, we ended up walking straight past the restaurant! It looks onto the Kremlin, which is probably one of the most iconic destinations in Moscow.

The waitrons are dressed beautifully, with red lips and their hair in buns, the décor is pure class. As I come from South Africa, where wine is well priced compared to other parts of the world, we decided that we couldn't go wrong with a good old fashioned beer. And it was delicious, and even came in a glass similar to a wine glass.

Their Crab and Pumpkin Soup is probably the most majestic soup I have ever eaten in my entire life. It was smooth and sweet and they were very generous on the crab. An absolute winner dish!

For more information, here is the Trip Advisor's link to this amazing Café:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Restaurant_Review-g298484-d7122712-Reviews-Grand_Cafe_Dr_Zhivago-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

Before the run we wanted to carbo-load, and could we have asked for anything better than noodles with fresh salmon, caviar and radish?! Their flavors are bold and rich, and I mean, what's not to like about that?

The flavors of Moscow are fresh and light, and if you are not a fan of caviar, I would recommend trying it one more time, in Moscow, before you write it off completely. It is one of the most delicious delicacy Moscow has to offer.

Dr Zhivago's breakfasts include traditional breakfast ingredient, but they are always made with a twist. Like these fried eggs with salmon roses, feta cheese and gherkins. The gherkins are not sour, but taste fresh and salty, while the egg yolks are runny and cooked to perfection.

We ate here twice during our 5 days in Moscow, and to be honest, it still wasn't enough!

The detail is in everything, even the coffe cups and saucers

American dining in the heart of Moscow:

We also enjoyed a more mainstream meal on occasion, like a delicious beer, burger and chips at a restaurant called MEATless. There was always a vibe, with old school rock music blaring, and it was conveniently located a block away from our hotel, the Intercontinental, which was also incredible to experience.

If you want to know more about this restaurant, here is the link to Trip Advisors rating of the restaurant:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Restaurant_Review-g298484-d11831747-Reviews-MEATless-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

I am sure you are all wondering why I haven't discussed the most well-known thing about Russia, besides their caviar. Well, their vodkas are so incredible, that they need their own blog post. Coming soon. ;)