චීන රසට දෙන රුසියානු කෑම

Russian cuisine infused with local flavors attracts visitors to Chinese border city

Northeast China's Suifenhe City on the China-Russia border has been attracting visitors from both countries with classic Russian food infused with local flavors.

In the city, a bakery renowned for its 'lieba' has become a must-visit spot for many tourists. Lieba is a Chinese transliteration of the word for bread in Russian.

Bakery owner Liu Lihua learned the traditional way of making lieba in Russia before returning to China with the goal of introducing this gourmet treat to a wider audience. And she opened her bakery at a charming, century-old Russian-style building.

"When I saw the house, I chose it at the first glance. This house has a hundred years of history, and our craft also has a hundred years of history. So I hope to pass it on all together," said Liu Lihua, owner of the bakery.

To cater to local tastes, Liu has made some improvements by adding ingredients like eggs and nuts in the fermentation process of lieba making. Her new recipe received praise not only from Chinese tourists but also many Russian ones.

"It may not be impressive at the first bite, but the more you chew, the stronger the fragrance and flavor becomes," Liu said.

Shashlik, a Russian-style skewer known for its large chunks of meat, is also a favorite among visitors in Suifenhe, including Chinese and Russian tourists.

"The locals are used to eating this kind of Russian skewers. When the Russians came to Suifenhe, they also want to eat this kind of shashlik," said Yu Yansong, manager of a local shashlik restaurant.

At Yu's restaurant, diners can eat shashlik with either onions or garlic as side dishes, and opted for spicy sauces or cumin. The combination of Russian taste and local flavor creates a unique gastronomic experience for visitors.

"We make Chinese style shashlik, which is liked by people from both countries. It's a form of cultural exchange," said Yu.

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