Colombian fans give traditional Russian food a go at a farmer's market in Kazan.getty images
Many football fans "knew little or nothing about Russian cuisine before the World Cup, but have tucked into local gastronomy with relish," trying everything from "luxurious caviar to staples like veal tongue," according to Alexandra Ulmer of REUTERS. Russian food "is often thought of as bland and heavy," and indeed many dishes seem geared toward "getting people through the grueling winter rather than amusing their palates." But 28-year-old Egyptian Ahmed Morsy "has made it a point of trying a new Russian dish every day." Meat-filled pelmeni dumplings and beef stroganoff "rank among his favorites." He said, "I love it, honestly. It’s better than I expected. I don’t like spicy food myself so for me it was perfect." Indeed, most fans have been impressed by Russians -- "some in remote or industrial towns where tourists rarely tread" -- bending over backward to help, "dispelling preconceptions and spreading an upbeat atmosphere." Morsy's friend Mamdooh El Eleila said, "I thought Russian food might be weird. I haven’t found it weird. But I do prefer the Uzbek and Azerbaijani barbecue." Still, some fans from countries like India and Mexico, "renowned for their succulent spicy fare, have not been impressed." Mexican fan Ricardo Garcia said, "The flavors here are quite salty. And of course we miss chili. We brought hot sauce with us from Mexico but we forgot it in our last hostel and now we're suffering a little" (REUTERS, 7/9).