Where in Moscow can you find real Soviet sweets?

Basque cheesecakes, tiramisu and pasta are certainly good, but sometimes instead you want a simple tube of condensed milk from childhood or Berlin cookies, the taste of which we clearly underestimated before. With the emergence of a large number of restaurants offering completely different world cuisines, Soviet desserts have not lost their relevance yet. On the contrary, modern variations of iconic desserts from our childhood are increasingly appearing in fashion projects. Take, for example, the choux ring from Zoe Bakery. It was prepared in the USSR with cottage cheese cream or jam, and now it is served with vanilla cream with almond crust and currants.

But still, in this article we decided to move away from everything fashionable and remember what real Soviet desserts taste like. Below we will tell you about five real Soviet desserts that remained on the menus of Moscow cafes and restaurants.

Honey cake, restaurant “Shater”

There is a legend that the first “Medovik” was created in the 1820s by the personal chef of the wife of the Russian Emperor Alexander I. They say that she hated honey and did not eat it in any way, but this dessert changed her attitude to the ingredient. However, the recipe never became popular, and “Medovik” in the version we know was introduced to the Soviet Union only in 1954.

In the restaurant “Shater”, where modern Moscow cuisine is mainly prepared, traditions are respected, so “Medovik” is here like in childhood. Honey cakes are dipped in rustic sour cream cream, and when served, they are decorated with sweet golden honey, strawberries and powdered sugar.

How much does it cost: 490 rubles.

Address: Chistoprudny br, 12a, building 6

“Moscow buns”, La Poste bakeries

The modern generation associates donuts either with fashionable Danes or with sinabones, but not with the heart-shaped “Moscow buns”. Although the legendary Soviet donuts are considered a traditional pastry. In general, they appeared completely by chance. They were made according to the principle of what remains when baking pies. The excess dough was rolled into flat cakes, greased with vegetable oil, sprinkled with sugar and hearts were sculpted from sugar. By the way, the name “Moscowskaya” appeared during the formation of GOST. A type with a clearly defined pattern and sugar sprinkles, provided for a donut weight from 100 to 200 g.

Now in La Poste bakeries you can try real “Moscow donuts” – they are also prepared in the shape of a heart, but only now they are soaked in rum and sandwiched with sugar crumbs.

How much does it cost: 250 rubles.

Addresses: Leningradsky Prospekt, 48 // st. Myasnitskaya, 13, p. 3

Waffle roll, Grand Cafe Dr. Zhivago

In the USSR, dishes with condensed milk cooked in electric waffle irons were popular. Remember – horns, nuts, straws. And our favorite dessert is the last one. Perhaps this is because it is now very rare to find it in Moscow restaurants. In general, the recipe for wafer rolls came to the Soviet Union from Poland, East Germany, the Baltic countries. And the delicacy appeared on the windows of confectionery stores only in the late 70s.

Nowadays some of the most delicious wafer rolls are served at Dr. Grand Cafe. Zhivago is a place where everything is reflected in Soviet memories. The filling is still the same boiled condensed milk as in childhood.

How much does it cost: 420 rubles.

Address: st. Mohovaya, 15

“Bird’s milk”, cafe “Tchaikovsky”

“Bird’s milk” is the rarest sweet in the Soviet Union. By the way, it was also invented in Poland, but the former Minister of Industry Vasily Zotov liked these sweets so much during an official visit to Czechoslovakia that he took a few boxes of sweets with him and set himself the task of recreating their recipe. This is how “Bird’s milk” appeared in the Soviet Union – first as sweets, then as cakes. We started production with 30 cakes a day, but of course this was not enough. Although the increase in production to 600 pieces did not meet the growing demand, there was always a huge queue in the candy store.

There’s no shortage of Bird’s Milk anymore, but finding a truly delicious dessert is still a challenge. Our favorite is found at Tchaikovsky Cafe. The soufflé inside has a bright creamy flavor and is topped with a dark chocolate icing.

What is the price: 380 rub.

Address: Triumfalnaya square, 4/31

Tbilisi style donuts, Tsomi and Megobari restaurants

Tiflis donuts are the main Georgian dessert loved in the Soviet Union. But in Moscow they appeared closer to the 80s, when the first special cafes and restaurants started to open. Before that, in the Caucasus you could only try the legendary dessert. Tiflis donuts are completely covered with custard filling. They are sprinkled with powdered sugar and served so hot that it can burn your tongue.

In Moscow, the perfect variation of the iconic dessert can be found at Georgian wine bars Megobari and cafe Tsomi, which serve classic Caucasian custard donuts. The first project prepares one classic version, while the second offers five varieties with different flavors, from fruit to chocolate fillings.

How much does it cost: from 150 to 190 rubles.

Addresses: Megobari – st. Maroseyka, 15 // st. Sretenka, 27, p. 1 // Andropova Boulevard, 1Tsomi – Lesnaya Street, 20, p. 3 // Leningradskoe highway, 16A, p. 4

Photo: press service of the restaurants