Caviar with Mustard: the Birthplace of Russia's Chief Food

Historically, the Volga area that stretches across the lower and the middle part of that great river's course, has given rise to famous food brands like sturgeon and hot mustard. 

The cuisine of Kazan, Samara and Nizhny Novgorod is not simply about local delights, but also such foods as caviar, belyash pies, and roach that are part and parcel of the Russian cuisine on the whole.  

Nizhny Novgorod, the capital of the Volga Federal Region, is today one of Russia's largest industrial cities. Once the site of a vibrant fair, it was located at the intersection of major trade routes and was home to many crafts.  

To most Russians, zhiguli is either a Soviet car or a beer brand. Both, however, were named after the local picturesque Zhiguli Mountains on the right bank of the Volga, a short trip from Samara. 

The mountains are part of the Samarskaya Luka National Park.

The cars still travel the Russian roads, while the beer got an updated design and is sold all over the country. Still, the best of the best is to be found in Samara at the iconic Na Dnie beer pub located right at the Zhiguli Beer Factory.

The city's chief beverage is supplied here directly from the factory, founded in the late 19th century by industrialist Alfred von Vacano. The Venskoye (Vienna) beer style he brewed here was renamed as Zhiguli in the 1930s quickly becoming popular across the country.

Food lovers hold this festival each year in Arzamas, a city near Nizhny Novgorod. The name comes from a local breed of geese that was known from the 17th century but has become extinct. 

The festival explores modern rather than historical recipes. One of the key items on the agenda is the cooking area where the best chefs from Nizhny Novgorod and other cities hold cooking workshops.