From “Wild Dinners” in the middle of the taiga to love at first sight with Yenisey Siberia: 5 reasons to plan a trip to Krasnoyarsk

For many years, Siberia was considered the most non-touristy region in Russia. There are frosts down to -50 in winter but there is always a temperature in summer. But in the last five to seven years the situation has changed dramatically. Now Siberia has become the main attraction for those who seek zen and tranquility, always seeking integration with nature.

At first, Altai was very fashionable – expensive hotels, fashionable glampings were built there, and they began to promote the local topic of shamanism. Agree, it is a win-win combination for those who prefer to look for all this somewhere in Bali, but even afraid to find out the cost of airfare at the current exchange rate. Those who traveled to Europe a few years ago for gastronomic delights and beautiful scenery are now looking for them in the Yenisei Siberian region. And believe me, they are there.

Four and a half hours flight and you are in Krasnoyarsk, the new gastronomic center of Russia. The time difference with Moscow is +4 hours. Therefore, make sure that in the morning you will definitely have time to slowly drink a cup of coffee, because all your colleagues will still be asleep. There are no bears and deer in the city and no plague (we’re sure you know, but we’ll explain just in case). Everything turned out to be the opposite: popular restaurants that turned out to be in many ways better than those in the capital, the first gastronomic institute in Russia with a program of the French Paul Bocuse Institute and, of course, unrealistic images that will make you fall in love at first sight.

And if the previous paragraph still doesn’t convince you to buy a ticket to Krasnoyarsk, give us some time and we’ll tell you five more reasons why you should do it. Let’s get started, shall we?

The most important thing to start with is the purpose of our stay in Krasnoyarsk. The founder and owner of Fresco and Asian restaurants, Khayyam Aminov, has been organizing a “Wild Dinner Festival” here for the second year, more precisely in the Manskaya taiga in the Marble Quarry. Imagine that somewhere in the middle of nowhere, 60 guests gather to try dishes made from local produce, cooked by the best Russian chefs in front of you in completely wild conditions.

Overall, eight dinners were held this year, from Moscow to Vladivostok, where chefs from different parts of the country were invited. Among them were: Andrey Shmakov (Savva, Moscow), Mirko Dzago (Aist, Onest, Bro&n, Moscow), Alexei and Artem Grebenshchikovs (Bohemian Bohemians, St. Petersburg), Nikanor Veira (Olluco, Moscow), Artem Estafiev (Artest) ), Tom Khalpin (Maya, Moscow), Andrey Matyukha (Oven, Coal-Coal, Tail gastrobar, Krasnodar), Egor Anisimov (Zuma, Vladivostok), Artem Kantsev (Qazaq Gourmet, Astana), Andrey Fedoseev (Björn, Moscow), Nikolai Bobrov (Tunguska, Krasnoyarsk), Alexander Kucherov (0.75 Please, Krasnoyarsk), Roman Chemerenko (Cheshuya, Krasnoyarsk), Mikhail Mikhailov (DZE, Krasnoyarsk), Denis Kurkov (Fresco, Krasnoyarsk) and of course Khayyam Aminov (Fresco) , Asia , Krasnoyarsk).

Nikanor Veira, Artem Estafiev and Denis Kurkov were responsible for the kitchen at our meal. The chefs personally toured the forests and local markets to select ingredients such as wild plants, forest and meadow berries, mushrooms, local game and fish for dinner.

Besides gastronomic experiences, every guest has the opportunity to enjoy the magical panorama of the taiga forest. At dinner for a few hours, you fall into a state of meditation and watch how nature’s mood changes. In general, the aim of the Wild Dinner Festival is to popularize a region that is not only rich in beautiful nature but also rich in talents, recipes and technologies. So don’t miss the opportunity to visit here next year to see all of the above for yourself.

This product is especially popular in Moscow, St. For those who are skeptical of restaurants outside of St. Petersburg and Sochi. We are ready to confidently say that Krasnoyarsk is the new gastronomic capital of Russia. Local restaurants have everything to surprise even the most discerning guests of the capital – both fresh local produce and unique project concepts.

For example, Fresco, which we mentioned earlier, is among the 4 best restaurants in Siberia according to the Wheretoeat gastronomy award. The food here is a true work of art. By the way, this explains the concept of the institution. The soul of the restaurant is the open kitchen, it’s like a theater where you can see every move and there are no secrets. The restaurant’s menu includes a variety of local produce, seasonal herbs, vegetables and fruits.

The interior of the restaurant is ideal for food connoisseurs who also care about atmosphere. Usually Fresco is underground. When you go down the stairs, you find yourself in a place with a unique history, where every detail has a special meaning. The intertwined dried flowers on the ceiling in the bar room and wine room evoke the endless yellow fields and summer warmth. Thanks to the creation of an atmosphere of complete freedom and endless plains, they give a unique charm that is worth only the pampas grass in the main hall.

And there are stones everywhere, and it’s definitely not an accident. Restaurant operator Khayyam Aminov personally brought each of them to his project. And even a huge shell weighing four tons in Fresco is a huge stone brought from Irkutsk.

By the way, if you’re in Fresco, be sure to try Khayyam’s “Seven Years of Mountains” set. He’s completely saturated with the chef’s and restaurateur’s personal story about his life in the Pamir Mountains. In it, he combined the eastern traditions of the family with Siberian products and technologies.

In addition to gastronomic discoveries, one should go to Krasnoyarsk for its incredible nature. The best place to explore the area is Bobrovy Log Amusement Park. Here you can climb the mountains with elevators to look at the Siberian landscapes and the famous Krasnoyarsk pillars from above – this is the name of the local rocks, which were formed due to the strong pressure of magma and could not rise to the surface. soil.

In the summer you can rent a bike or zip-rider in the park, and in the winter there is a ski resort. Prices for these services in Krasnoyarsk are twice lower than in Rosa Khutor in Sochi.

There is another attraction in Krasnoyarsk, the gopher kingdom on Tatyshev Island in the Yenisei. There are over four thousand squirrels here that will break your heart. There is a real town for them on the island: there is even a pedestrian crossing with signs, road signs and small traffic lights.

Park visitors can come to feed the squirrels apples and carrots. By the way, all snacks can be bought here. The animals are not afraid of bipedal visitors at all and are ready for anything for a slice of carrot – even to get ahead with a few somersaults in a row.

In general, Krasnoyarsk and Yenisei Siberia as a whole is love at first sight. Once you come here, you will want to come back again and again. For example, the author of this text is already thinking about the current schedule for the New Year holidays. And even the famous Siberian frosts so far do not scare. And yes, you won’t be bored here.