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Our favorite eating experiences are those that allow us to try a something totally new. So for our next ethnic food excursion, we wanted to explore a cuisine completely foreign to us. Every since moving to LA, we had on our to-do list trying out a Russian restaurant in Valley Village, Dacha Cafe. Well, four years later, we still haven’t been. Other than a simple borscht, neither of us have experienced Russian dining. There’s no better time than the present. One hot Saturday afternoon, we eagerly made the trek to Dacha to commence our Ethnic Exploration. Of course as fate would have it, the restaurant was temporarily closed for remodeling. Well, our journey wasn’t a complete failure because just next door to the eatery is Tashkent Produce and Deli, a fully stocked Russian market. This was a great place to poke around and get inspiration for our next cooking adventure.
Before heading to Tashkent, we had done a bit of research and decided to try kharcho, a Georgian lamb soup. This was a nice way to ease into Russian cooking, even if we were going into blindly. We had a majority of the ingredients at home, plus, any excuse to cook lamb is welcome. The stew itself is a mix of a pseudo-mirepoix with herbs, potatoes, lamb, rice, walnuts and dried fruit. Tashkent had all the missing ingredients we needed for dish, but like our last Ethnic Exploration at Avakian’s Grocery & Deli, we had to poke around and see what else we could discover.
We both appreciate a great cocktail, so we immediately noticed a wall of bottles in one corner. Assortments of Russian and European beers, wines, and specialty liquors covered one section of the store from floor to ceiling. Next to it was an extensive dairy section, one of our other favorite things. Butters, creams and cheeses lined the cold shelves. Too bad we didn’t need any dairy for our dish, but the fridge always loves new products to grace its presence, right?
Perhaps the largest part of the store was the meat counter planted next to the registers. Cold cuts of Russian meats, cheese and sausages were there for customers to take their pick. We did get a bit squeamish seeing whole dried fish in vacuum-sealed packages, heads and all. Fish heads of any kind make us both shudder, but it’s always interesting to see them in this fashion. Maybe one day we’ll venture to try it because we do love to try new things. Not today, though!
At the back of the store was a small kitchen behind a food counter that sold fresh cooked meals. And to Chrystal’s joyful surprise, being the bread lover she is, there was an assortment of fresh breads made daily at the market. We had to buy a loaf of walnut cinnamon bread after an elderly gentleman raved about the authentic quality of the bread. And when the manager of the store learned we were there to buy ingredients to make kharcho ourselves, he grabbed the head cook from the behind the counter to give us personal tips on making this traditional stew.
It was quite remarkable. We knew we were getting the closest possible authentic experience when the head cook was giving us step-by-step directions on how to cook kharcho in her thick Russian accent dotted with only a few English words here and there. Truth be told, she told one of her colleagues, and the colleague translated her precise instructions. They were excited we were exploring Russian cuisine. We were excited to be getting the individual tips and attention.
It’s great to know a real piece of Eastern Europe is right in the neighborhood. We felt very proud leaving the market. It’s a blessing to live in a place where a variety of authentic, ethnic food producers is at our disposal. The stew couldn’t have turned out any better. It was hearty from the potatoes and lamb, slightly sweet from the dried fruit and syrup, and had a rich, full-bodied flavor. The walnuts also gave it a thicker texture as well. Other kharcho recipes we came across include red wine in the broth. We opted to leave that out this time around. You could also use dried cherries or chopped plums. When Dacha is back open for business, we’ll be there to dive deeper into Russian food.
Tashkent Produce and Deli
5340 Laurel Canyon Boulevard
Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 752-7222
Dacha Café
5338 Laurel Canyon Boulevard
Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 509-5828
Kharcho (Russian Lamb Stew) – Serves 4-6 (Adapted from Ruscuisine)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 pound lamb stew meat
1 cup flour
1/2 tablespoon fresh thyme
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 tomato, deseeded and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 red potatoes, cut into 1/2″ chunks
2 bay leaves
Juice and zest 1 lemon
1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon caraway seed
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground sage
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for the lamb
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more for the lamb
1 1/2 teaspoons Tabasco
1 tablespoon agave or maple syrup
1/2 cup rice
2 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh dill, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon cilantro, roughly chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1. Mix the flour, thyme and a good bit of salt and pepper. Toss the lamb in the seasoned flour and set aside.
2. Heat oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Brown lamb pieces in oil until they brown on all sides, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove lamb and set aside.
3. Add onions and carrots to the pan in which the lamb was browned, making sure to scrape up any bits from the pan. Cook until the onions begin to turns translucent, approximately 3-5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, all the spices, lemon juice and zest, walnuts, Tabasco, syrup and rice. Allow to cook until rice turns opaque, approximately 5-7 minutes,
4. Stir in stock and water and bring to a boil. Add lamb and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for approximately 30 minutes before adding the dill, cilantro and cranberries. Simmer for another 15 minutes then serve.
Click HERE for the printable recipe.
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I like the new (or new to me) redesign!
Love reading the labels on Russian food: brings back memories. The final dish looks amazing. There is a phrase in Russian: “hochu harcho” means “I want Harcho”. It sounds funny
I have to say, Eastern European is one cuisine that I really haven’t tried. My brother is a huge fan of borscht, though. Strange, because he doesn’t otherwise like beets…
It’s so cool that you have a store like this right in your neighborhood!
I don’t think I have ever had Russian food before as it’s not really well known in this part of the world. But this does look good and the produce deli does sell some interesting stuff.
This ethnic exploration is truly admirable. You guys are very fortunate to live in an area where ethnic markets like this abound. What a great way to learn about different cuisines and cultures.
I love everything Eastern European. LOVE it. People find it surprising coming from a Thai girl, but it makes perfect sense to me.
I enjoy ethnic markets, we have a strip of them a few miles away and I like using them to push my comfort zone by doing like you did.
we have none of these, not a one. boston is a great place for them
can we get a close up of the pastry case? yeah
Hi guys, lovely to see youre back on top of things and I love your new look….(Except I’m missing off your blogroll…something I said??) hahaha I am SO coming to your neighbourhood next time I’m over! (You will have to feed me as well!)
Hi guys,
I enjoyed the write up. Michael and I were just saying the same things about the variety of ethnic foods in Cali, love it! Did I see a Russian Mascat on in the wine pic…nice? I love going to Indian and Caribbean markets. We will have to check out a Russian market one day. Great write up!
Russian cuisine is one that I haven’t had the opportunity to explore. Thanks for this inspiration. And yes, I do enjoy roaming around markets of just about any ethnicity or culture; this is one I’ll have to check out some day.
That’s great that you enjoyed a fun new food discovery in terms of cuisine and a new place to shop.
When my husband and I were dating he lived in Queens and we often dined in a Polish coffee shop, but despite the large Russian immigrant population in that neighborhood, we never ate anything Russin. A coworker of mine used to date a Russian guy and one day he told her he was going to make her an “authentic Russian meal” and she said it was terribly bland. Your soup definitely negates the idea that Russian food is bland. Your adventurous spirit in and out of hte kitchen paid off!
“fish heads fish heads roly poly fish heads fish heads fish heads eat them up yum!” (Sorry, the fish head remark put that song in my head.)
My only experience with Russian food was a dinner at Firebird in NYC with my parents eons ago. I don’t remember liking the food, but I STILL dream about their homemade honey vodka!
I love exploring ethnic stores…it seems that you had a lot of fun! My mouth is watering at the ingredients of this dish…yummie!
I love foodie field trips like this one. We are a bit lacking in variety here—a few great Asian markets, and Latino markets, but nothing like this.
Fun.
I so need to try that stew! Eurasian food gets a bad reputation with most Americans, but this is the kind of dish that should definitely change minds!
I love Russian food! My best friend in high school was Russian so I had plenty growing up!
Nice new look guys!
We have a Russian deli here that I’ve been meaning to try for years. Can’t say I know much about Russian cuisine so the place should be fun to explore.
I haven’t been to a Russian deli in a while. My parents get me stuff from their local one though. I actually have never had harcho!
This dish looks so wonderfully hearty. And this post is a good reminder to us all that there’s no time like tomorrow to start exploring all the wonderful ethnic haunts in our areas that we keep saying we’re going to get to some day.
Love the new site look. I’m lucky to live in a Russian neighborhood, well kinda – there is certainly some diversity, so a lot of your pictures looked familiar. However, I am always stumped at what to make, and now I have this great looking recipe to check out. Thanks for the wonderful ideas.
I’m on the hunt for some good Russian food right now.
ps. I love the new layout
Hey, vanillasugar, we do so have Russian groceries in Boston! Go to Allston – there’s one right at the Harvard Ave T stop (granted, you’d have to ride the B Line, so that’s the price you pay).
[...] recipe comes from The Duo Dishes, who have not steered me wrong. They did it the real way, of course – they’re the real [...]
Wow! Surprised to find this on the web about my dad’s deli! The head cook is Tanya, a dear friend of the family, who is AMAZING!
Kharcho is one of my favorite soups of all time, and nobody makes it better! The kitchen also makes traditional Uzbek foods and recently, Korean foods as well!
Thanks for the cool story!