Blini, caviar and borscht are familiar enough to many people, but what surprises might await us when we try ukha, khinkali, khachapuri, lahmadjo or plov? Russia, Caucasus, and eastern Europe offer a wealth of culinary delicacies that are hardly known to us, a myriad of foods and flavors fed by the most diverse influences and cultures at the intersection of Orient and Occident. The spectrum extends from traditional fish and meat specialties of the nomadic peoples in northern Russia to sweets with a touch of oriental flavor favored in Azerbaijan. This book explores the extraordinary breadth of this fascinating, multi-cultural, cuisine in informative texts written by selected experts with deep understanding of the countries, paired with impressive photography. In addition to providing background information about the various lands and the foods that are typical of each of them, readers will find a generous selection of authentic recipes that invite them to explore this new culinary terrain up close and personal, through cooking, eating, and enjoying.