One of the greatest things about eating out in London is that you can find and taste the best dishes from all over the world. I have eaten real Neapolitan pizza or sushi as good as the one I tried in Tokyo; Swedish cinnamon buns or buttery French croissants; Malaysian street food or curries as spicy as the ones my mother-in-law cooks in Mumbai. You don’t need to travel far to discover new flavours and culinary traditions! This week I had the pleasure to learn a bit about Russian cuisine thanks to the restaurant Mari Vanna in Knightsbridge.
Located in one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhood (two minutes’ walk from Harrods and Hyde Park), Mari Vanna offers old-fashioned Russian cooking in a memorable setting.
It’s like stepping into the living room of an imaginary Russian grand-mother, her name is Mari Vanna and in her home you will find mirrors and chandeliers, plants hanging from the ceiling, old crockery and laces, pictures of family relatives on the walls and ceramic pots and dolls on the shelves.
I visited Mari Vanna for lunch during the week and the restaurant was busy, though not full as to have to wait for a table. There was a relaxed atmosphere, with Russian folk songs playing in the background. In the beautiful bathrooms Russian radio was played, making me feel like I stepped in a different time and place.
The beautiful waitresses (all of them Russian and wearing colourful dresses and aprons) were attentive and polite in their service.
I was there with a Russian friend, so I let her order for both of us, as I wouldn’t have had a clue of what to choose. We had a few starters to begin with, accompanied by fresh brown bread and a glass of Georgian white wine.
Russian “Olivier” Salad was tasty and delicate, but the beef & pork pirogi stole the show with their puffy dough and tasty meat filling.
As a main course I ordered Chicken Kiev (breaded chicken breast filled with garlic butter and herbs), while my friend ordered Pelmeni: little meat-stuffed dumplings served with soured cream. Both dishes were very good, though the breaded chicken proved to be a little too heavy for me. Next time I would love to try the Turkey Fritters (which my friend had recommended) or one of the soups (my neighbour’s Beetroot Soup looked delicious).
We decided to share the dessert, a traditional Russian Napoleon Cake: sixteen layers of puff pastry and custard cream, tightly stacked together, soft like a sponge cake.
To prevent the afternoon energy slump I ordered an American, while my friend ordered a latte. This was served in a vintage Russian tea glass holder (called podstakannik). It’s a traditional way of serving and drinking tea in Russia, often used to serve hot drinks in trains during the 20th century.
Mari Vanna is strongly attached to Russian culture and traditions (their clientele is made mostly Russian nationals as you would expect) and they also celebrate the country’s festivities. This Sunday the restaurant will celebrate International Women’s Day, a very special day in Russia.
On the 8th of March most people have the day off work, so men and women celebrate it by bringing spring flowers (like tulips, mimosas and daffodils) to all the important women in their lives. Since Russia doesn’t celebrate Mothers’ Day as we do in UK, Women’s Day has become a day to celebrate all women – mothers, sisters, teachers, grandmothers, and so on.
Visit Mari Vanna this Sunday for lunch or dinner and you will see the restaurant beautifully decorated with flowers from The Flower Fashion. Discover Russsian food in this stunning set-up and celebrate with the women you love and care for.
Disclaimer: I was a guest for lunch at Mari Vanna. All opinions are my own.
