A review by irena_smith
Kachka: A Return to Russian Cooking by Bonnie Frumkin Morales, Deena Prichep

5.0

An unapologetically nostalgic all-in dive into Soviet nostalgia. This, I think, is how most former Soviet residents (my family included) would cook if they didn't have to stand in long lines with an avos'ka (a net bag whose name literally means "what-if?") hoping to "get" whatever's on offer—with gusto, joy, and no regard for salt, fat, or cholesterol. Ate at Kachka years ago while at Portland and fell in love with the hospitality, the Soviet-kitsch decor, and the Baba Yaga cocktail (and yeah, all the food, too). And now this gift of a book—not sure if I'm going to make any of the recipes, but reading through them—and Morales' sparkly prose—was pure pleasure.