It is difficult to write about the nineties, because there is no consensus about them (as well as about any period). But it was then that people in the country were divided into three types: those who had absolutely nothing, those who could afford a lot (in comparison with those who had absolutely nothing). Well, I will not write about the third type - the forming oligarchic stratum, because they are far away ...
But you can remember the first two. We all, to one degree or another, have been in the shoes of both.
The New Year would then be the most luxurious holiday, probably, they tried to collect the tables as “hearty” and “tasty” as possible. I have direct associations with pre-revolutionary Russia, with its poorest strata - they ate only at Christmas and Easter ...
True, the menu in the nineties was, perhaps, even worse.
Hot
The unforgettable "Meat is harmful" from Ilf and Petrov came true. Few could afford meat. Therefore, even on the New Year's table there were chicken legs. Supposedly chicken.
I am still trying to understand - what kind of chickens are they? In size, these legs were more like turkey legs. They were covered with thick pimpled skin, from under it was visible yellow fat, surprisingly resistant even to heat treatment.
The bones of these legs were used instead of weapons - they were so thick and strong.
To cook them, everyone was perverted as best he could. I remember boiling them, it was useless. So they baked it. Most often - with mayonnaise mixed with garlic and other spices. Covered with potatoes... Well, ate. It even seemed delicious then, at that time.
Now, as I remember, I will shudder.
Snacks
I will skip the jellied meat, I will focus on the "novelty" of the New Year's table, which was adorned by a proud representative of overseas delicacies. Salami. Salami "Gold". From what it was made - the history is silent, the same as with what dyes it was painted.
This salami did not taste like sausage, but it smelled like smoked and there was a lot of salt in it.
They said she was Danish. True, in Denmark no one saw her, and in other countries of the world I did not come across this "luxury".
However, bright red salami was a table decoration.
Salads
Crab stick salad with corn! Hit of the nineties and proof that Russia is joining the slender ranks of capitalist countries.
I remember how in Mikoyan's time people were taught to eat crabs (“Everyone should try how tasty and tender crabs are”). But people rushed for crab sticks without advertising. And they didn’t even think about the fact that these crab sticks weren’t even standing nearby. The taste was admired (my God, how disgusting these crab sticks are, to be honest).
The drinks
What brandy, what wines, what juices, I beg you!
Even Pepsi, Cola, Fanta and others - and they were infrequent guests. At first, all the stalls were flooded with cheap lemonades with sugar substitutes that were brought from Poland, then they were supplemented with colorful bags of Yupi, Invita, Zuko.
I still can't understand - really they have exchanged natural juice for them? He was in ugly banks. And our delicious lemonades - which were sold for some time, in half-liter glass bottles.
And as for wine... I do not remember wines and cognacs in the nineties, although I was already at a conscious age. Rather, I remember cognacs - "Metax", for example, supposedly Greek. A rare filth.
There are also a lot of Polish liqueurs - creams and Amaretto. And - alcohol. That's all the foreign refinements, which, for the most part, were riveted not even abroad.
Sweets
Rolls. The very ones that we now look at with contempt. They seemed delicious, they were expensive, they were bought on holidays. Assorted candies of unknown production in boxes. Their only merit was a beautiful box that looked good next to a beautiful bottle.
Oh yeah, also the chocolate bars advertised in honor of the holiday.
There were sad times.