Our homeland has experienced many troubles and difficulties in recent years: coronavirus, sanctions, major political conflicts and a special military operation. However, there is not a single topic that will hurt Internet users on New Year’s Eve as much as the traditional Olivier salad recipe.
Even in the battles for borscht and okroshka, not many people died! But as you know, the main eternal Russian question: kefir or kvass?
Before the holidays, everything somehow becomes small, hectic and unimportant. In addition to the sacred: sausage or meat? “And my grandmother made it with a doctor’s sausage,” a roar is heard on social networks. “And first you open a book about delicious and healthy food, then you kill yourself!” someone is against.
Do you need mayonnaise? Are you putting potatoes? After the author Tatyana Nikitichna Tolstaya wrote on her social network that she did not put potatoes on Olivier, here is what started! I had never seen such hysteria, even after another user said that borscht is a traditional Russian dish. Then I remember, all the sister countries came to object in the comments.
A classic of Soviet cinema is immediately remembered: “I put a grated apple in this salad.” And they put it! Thanks for not being a herring.
Seriously speaking, we Russian people are of course still pagan to some extent. Every year from January 1, we definitely plan to start a new life: read more, learn languages, lose weight, find a new job.
And in order for this transition from the old, viscous life to the new and magical to be carried out correctly, magical qualities are necessary. Christmas tree, tangerines, the president on the TV screen, herring under a fur coat and, of course, Olivier.
That is, when discussing the menu for the New Year’s table, patrons swear not because of food, but because of sacred and vital things. Sure, there are individualist anarchists who say, “oh, we ordered sushi,” but they are a minority.
Almost the entire population of our vast country believes in this magic: if you cook Olivier correctly – if you cut everything correctly, add the right ingredients and secret mayonnaise – everything will be fine. The magic will work, life will be better, we will all lose weight, we will be richer and smarter. After all, the main thing is not to put too many carrots, open the champagne on time and do not forget to open the wreath and the Blue Light.
And if they did everything right, it will be. Happy New Year dear readers!
The author expresses his personal opinion, which may not coincide with the editors’ position.