Food and Travel Through the Eyes of a Millionaire. Book 2

When we left the hotel, it was nine o’clock. Today Nael reserved a table for dinner at the Insight restaurant, which is located on the eighty-fourth floor in the tower in Moscow city. From the panoramic windows of the restaurant there was a breathtaking view of the night capital strewn with lights, and the food that I ordered was extremely tasty.

We left the restaurant after midnight and decided not to call a taxi, but to use the Moscow metro this time. It was very unusual and at the same time somehow romantic to be at this time of day in an empty subway.

We spent another beautiful day together with Nael. The week passed quickly, and tomorrow evening I will return home.

Falling asleep in my bed, I was sad that today is my last night in Moscow, in this hotel…. And it was sad to part with Nael, but in my memory will remain pleasant memories and charm of his elegance…

“Elegance is not to be noticed, it is to be remembered”.

Giorgio Armani

Last day in Moscow

I woke up early. I decided to pack a suitcase and walk to the Pushkin Museum of fine arts. Nael visited it’s before my arrival and recommended me to see his collection of paintings, sculptures and other works of art. I had plenty of time before my scheduled meeting with Nael, and after the morning tea ceremony I went to the museum.

In almost two hours I managed to get around all the rooms of the museum and noted the biblical scenes in Italian Renaissance painting. I walked around the hall with these works of Italian art twice. As soon as I left the museum, a message came from Nael. He was waiting for me in the hotel lobby.

We decided to go for lunch and then go down to the subway. I promised to show Nael some of the most beautiful stations of the Moscow metro. Nael ordered a taxi for me to the airport at five o’clock, so we had enough time to carry out our plan.

– I think that tomorrow at dinner I will miss your company. This week I am used to having lunch and dinner together, – said Nael when we made the booking at the restaurant.

– I’ll miss your beautiful company, too. Wonderful fabulous week! Thank you! – I answered.

After a lovely farewell dinner we went down to the subway. In about an hour we had time to see some of the most famous stations, and at exactly five o’clock we returned to the hotel.

We went up to the room, Nael took my suitcase, the taxi was already at the entrance.

Nael embraced me and I thanked him again for the wonderful gift – a magical week in fabulous Moscow.

When I went to the airport, I felt incredibly happy. Wonderful memories of a fabulous trip to the capital will stay with me forever!

Concluding my story about my trip to Moscow, I want to share a recipe for a delicious honey cake that I ate at the restaurant Yar.

Honey cake

Ingredients for cakes: 60 gr. butter, 1 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons vodka or cognac, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 3 eggs, 3 cups flour.

Preparation: Put a saucepan with water on the stove, put a bowl in it, where melt, stirring, 60 grams of butter, 1 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of honey. Stir for 2—3 minutes. Then add 2 tablespoons of vodka or cognac and 1 teaspoon of baking soda, mix. Beat 3 eggs separately and pour into the hot mass, stirring continuously. The mass should turn white and increase by about two times. Turn off the stove and add 3 cups of flour, mix. You will get a yellow mass, which you can cool (in the freezer), and then put on the table, having previously poured flour on the table. Mix and divide into 10 parts. Rolled out cakes (it is better to roll out on parchment paper immediately and do not remove them) spread on a warm baking sheet and bake in a preheated 180 degree oven for 3—4 minutes.

Ingredients for the cream: 1000 gr. sour cream, 400 gr. sugar, vanilla. Beat it up (add sand gradually). Grease the cakes with cream and leave to soak for a day or overnight.

You can decorate the cake by sprinkling with chocolate chips or crumbs from the cake.

Sour cream and honey

And since I am talking about sour cream, I want to share with you the recipe for a sour cream dessert that Nael told me about.

For cooking, you need to take a jar of sour cream and leave it for a short time without a refrigerator so that the sour cream becomes room temperature. After that, add a tablespoon of honey to the sour cream, mix everything thoroughly and enjoy.

The Way of the Long-lived

As in the first book, I will make a small digression from the journey and recipes. Lately, I have often watched and read interviews with Alexey Moskalev, a Russian biologist, doctor of biological sciences, professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a leading gerontologist who runs his channel “The Way of the Long-lived”.

Recently, the results of the 1st International forum “The Way of the Long-lived” were published, which summarized the recommendations that I discussed with my friend Nael:

1. Nutrition for longevity

Modern science offers clear dietary recommendations for healthy longevity:

The basis of the diet should be vegetable products: vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.It is important to stop eating when you feel 80% full stomach.Meat consumption should be limited to 5—6 times a month in portions of 85—110 g.It is necessary to ensure the intake of at least 25 g of dietary fiber daily.Regularly include foods with anti-inflammatory properties in the diet: olive oil, dark chocolate, berries.Special attention is paid to the diet. Interval fasting according to the 16/8 scheme is considered effective (16 hours of fasting, 8 hours window for eating) or weekly calorie restriction to 500 kcal on one of the days (however, it is important to remember about contraindications).