Since our country was not in a position to bear a new war unless it was necessary, in the years when the newly established republic was going through a difficult period, II. He followed a significant part of the World War II and the Cold War Era with an impartial attitude.
Towards the end of the process, the government of the period started to follow a pro-American and anti-Soviet policy due to both Marshall aids and mutual interests, and the effects of this were clearly seen in the public. But will the Russian salad get its share from this situation?
The name of this amazing flavor, which became famous in Moscow with a secret recipe and spread to the world, was not actually Russian salad!
Olivye salad, which is prepared by special blending of various vegetables, especially potatoes, carrots and peas, with mayonnaise, and which was originally referred to as Russian salad, was discovered in the Hermitage Restaurant in Moscow in 1860.
Discovered by Belgian and French-born Russian chef Lucien Olivier, this salad has attracted great interest since the first day it was offered to customers. Naturally, the name of this salad was named Olivye salad, after the name of the chef. Although the recipe for the salad was kept a secret as long as Olivier was alive, the recipe quickly spread after his death.
Known as Olivye salad in Russia, especially in Moscow, this appetizer was marketed to the world with different names.
As a result of the October Revolution in Russia in 1917, Russian citizens took refuge in our country and the refugees opened restaurants especially in Istanbul. Of course, there was also the Olivye salad, which swept Russia by storm, in these restaurants. Since Turks first encountered it only in Russian restaurants, its name was changed to Russian salad in a short time.
In fact, almost every country called Olivia salad Russian salad except Russia, Germany and Brazil. In other words, there was no political message in the use of the word “Russian” in this salad in our country. At least for now…
When the commercial maneuver of a ship from America and a Greek origin tradesman spread among the tradesmen in a short time, we met with American salad.
In 1946, for an essential reason, the American battleship Missouri will visit our country. It was a big event that Missouri came to our country at that time. “Welcome Missouri” posters are hung in various parts of Istanbul, especially the Maiden’s Tower, roads are cleaned, paints are whitewashed, artisans tidy themselves up.
According to the researcher writer Orhan Karaveli’s writings, the story will continue as follows:
One day before Missouri’s arrival, Niko, a Greek-origin tradesman, who runs the Levent Buffet opposite Galatasaray High School, changes the “Russian salad 25 cents” sign, which has been hanging for years, to “American salad 35 cents”. The next day, when Karaveli asked Niko the reason for this change, Niko said, “Have you not seen that ship yet? Russian salad is now dead. Long live the American salad from now on!” gets the answer.
This change of Niko quickly spread among all tradesmen, and the name American salad was used instead of Russian salad for Olivye salad in Istanbul.
The Russian & American salad war gains such a serious dimension that the shopkeepers who write Russian salad are subject to sanctions,
Hüseyin Çelik, who served as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of National Education in the past years, also mentioned that shopkeepers who did not change the name of Russian salad to American salad during the Cold War were detained and that the shops of tradesmen who persistently continued to write Russian salad were closed. In the past, people who persistently used the name Russian salad were seen as a potential Communist threat.
Today, the traces of the political situation in the past will be erased, and the common name used for the olive salad in our country is Russian salad. There is no such thing as an American salad anywhere else in the world.
Bonus: The Russian salad, which was on the menu at the NATO meeting in Spain, was later changed to the Ukrainian Salad.
The name of the Russian salad (Ensaladila Rusa) in the menu offered to the guests at the NATO summit was changed to the traditional salad (Ensaladila Tradicional) after the reactions. It was also served as a “Ukrainian salad” by adding meatballs to the Russian salad.
What about your favorite vegetable to add to your Russian salad?
Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 /
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