My translator Matthew and I ate today at one of the Soviet-style cafeterias in GUM, the shopping arcade, which is today a luxury mall. But they still have the cafeterias. This particular counter is where we bought our lunch, which you see in front of you. It was Uzbek and Russian. There was sorrel soup, a beet-and-sauerkraut salad, lamb-stuffed steamed dumplings, some sort of lamb and rice dish, and Uzbek bread. Pretty good stuff.

Last night we ate Georgian. As Matt put it, “How can a country so small have such complex and delicious food?” True, true. Matt thinks if he could come to America and open a Georgian restaurant, he could get rich. Verily, this is the most delicious cuisine that Americans know nothing about.