Russia reimagines its culinary traditions

MOSCOW — On New Year's Eve, dining-room tables across Russia will be covered with a mosaic of glittering red caviar, piroshki, marinated mushrooms, beet salad and herring. Chilled vodka bottles and Champagne flutes will tower over the dishes, reflecting the TV screens where the president — this year, the returned Vladimir Putin — will make his annual toast before the Kremlin bells chime in the new year.

By Sasha Vasilyuk

December 30, 2012