Celebrated food writer Karina Baldry will bring Russian culture and customs to life at SamarQand Restaurant, near Oxford Street, on Tuesday 21 February as she weaves the stories and legends surrounding the creation of traditional Russian dishes into a special evening exploring Russian cuisine. (7.30pm, tickets £45. To book call SamarQand Restaurant direct on 020 7935 9393)

Russia on a Plate forms part of the week-long programme of special events leading up to the London Maslenitsa Festival (26 February, Trafalgar Square, FREE entry) – the biggest celebration of Russian culture outside Russia itself. Supported by Major of London, Boris Johnson, the event sees the London landmark transformed into a bustling bazaar offering traditional Russian foods and handicrafts while performances from some of Russia’s most acclaimed dance, theatre, folk, pop and jazz artists entertain the audience from the Festival’s main stage.

Other events taking place alongside the culinary evening include a fashion show at the Victoria & Albert Museum, showcasing designs by up-and-coming as well as established Russian designers, a photography exhibition at the GLA of images of London through the eyes of the city’s many diverse Russian residents and a one-off performance of ‘Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka’ at Shaftesbury Theatre by the renowned Gogol Theatre.

An evening of Vodka, Blinis and Central Asian food with the performers, artists and organisers behind the London Maslenitsa Festival.

‘Russia on a Plate’ will take visitors on a remarkable journey through Russian culture and history – as well as cuisine – as guests are served the stories connected to traditional Russian dishes alongside a variety of courses; each introduced by Karina together with the methods used to make them. To mark the forthcoming Maslenitsa spectacular in Trafalgar Square there will be a special focus on delicacies of Maslenitsa week.

Russian-born Karina Baldry (www.russiaonaplate.com) is the author of “Russia on a Plate” and the co-founder of Russian Revels (www.russianrevels.co.uk), an exciting new project to revolutionise the image of Russian food in the UK. With her team she forages though pre-revolutionary cookbooks, re-invents communist classics and creates radical interpretations of recipes from across the ex-USSR with the ultimate aim of unearthing and promoting luscious and original Russian dishes to a new audience.

Karina Baldry, author of ‘Russia on a Plate’ says: “Russian delicacies extend far beyond the stereotypical pickle and starchy dough; caviar and vodka. The food we’ll be covering for Maslenitsa takes in flavours from all around the former Soviet Union, from hearty dishes from the west, to spicy dishes from the south. This event will be a fresh and exciting opportunity for adventurous foodies to explore the unknown territory of true Russian cuisine, and a chance to finally dispel the myth of Russian food of being boring, uninspiring and bland!”

Tickets now on sale for one-off event, 21 February, Central London (further info: www.maslenitsa.co.uk)
Part of the week-long festivities for the Russian Maslenitsa Festival, (19-26 February), the largest celebration of Russian culture outside Russia itself
Learn the secrets behind Russian specialities such as ‘Pelmeni’ and ‘Bublik’ with the author of ‘Russia on a Plate’ Karina Baldry