Did Anyone Get Sick on Russian Food?????

[bogie113]

Hi... It's me again asking questions for our little "gang of 8".

 

We are planning our St. Petersburg itinerary and are trying to figure out if we actually want to eat in a private home, and if we want to eat in a restaurant one evening. Also, what is the deal with the water? Is their bottled water okey to dring or should we bring our own?

 

Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

 

Marsha

[Andee]

Eating with a family held no appeal to us, so I can't speak to that.

 

We used RO and ate in two restaurants, both of which were very good.

We felt comfortable and safe eating the food there. We were given

menus for both days by RO at the start of the first day. Because the

lunches looked so large, we asked if two of us could share one. RO was

very agreeable, and it was just the right amount of food for us.

 

We had read not to buy bottled water in Russia, so filled our reusable

water bottles on the ship.

[Judyumcer@aol.com]

We stayed 4 nights in Moscow and spent 2 nights in St. Pete's. The food was good. It is home style cooking and heavy. We had the BEST mashed potatoes in St. Petersburg. You cannot drink the water. You can't even brush your teeth with tap water. Be careful of salads washed with tap water and do not eat any ice. Use bottled water; they sell is everywhere and it is no problem getting it. A few of us on our trip did become sick after eating at a Moscow restaurant. We think it must of been the salad. We were very sick with vomiting and diarrhea for about 2 days. I don't think I would eat at a family's private home. We really had nice meals except for the one in Moscow. Just do NOT drink the water. Any other questions; I will be happy to answr. You will love Russia!

[drwong]

We ate with a local family - the food was cooked, and the water was bottled. We also ate at a local restaurant, where we drank bottled water and sodas, and avoided the fresh salads. They offered drinking glasses, but we didn't take a chance and instead drank straight from the bottles. I don't recall whether the bottled water came with tamper-proof caps where the user could ensure that the bottle hadn't been refilled locally. According to a story on CNN this hour, if the local water isn't drinkable, ice made from the same source won't be safe either - as a matter of fact, it might be even more bacteria-laden!

[shoshona2]

Hi Marsha,

 

I just answered your question on the Yahoo Board also. We went to St. Petersburg two years ago and six of us used R.O. We DID eat at a Russian family's apartment. We drank bottled water and the food was delicious. They served borst (beet soup) and veal and a wonderful homemade dessert. None of us got sick and we all thoroughly enjoyed this experience and would do it again in a moment. Our guide was our translator. It was an hour well spent. We enjoyed the food and the company of the Russian family better than when we ate at a Russian restaurant the day before. We live in California and when we go to Mexico, we follow the same rules -- no salad, no ice cubes, no fruit unless you can peel it.

 

Go for it!!

 

Sheila