January 2026 Newsletter + Winter Book Tour Dates!

Hello and welcome to Chesnok: Notes from a Post-Soviet Kitchen, a newsletter that explores life and cooking in the Soviet diaspora!

Jan 16 • Polina Chesnakova

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December 2025

'Tis the Season for Gift Giving!

Gift bundle ideas for Chesnok and a few of my other favorite things!

Dec 3, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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September 2025

Today is the Day! Chesnok is Officially Out in the World.

Hello and welcome to Chesnok: Notes from a Post-Soviet Kitchen, a newsletter that explores life and cooking in the Soviet diaspora!

Sep 16, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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Final Countdown to Chesnok Begins!

plus details on my mini fall book tour.

Sep 9, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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July 2025

Time for a Break + Bonus Recipes & A Georgian Spice Giveaway

Hello and welcome to Chesnok: Notes from a Post-Soviet Kitchen, a newsletter that explores life and cooking in the Soviet diaspora!

Jul 27, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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June 2025

Herb-Crusted Salmon with Potatoes, Caviars, and Cream

An easy, flavor-packed weeknight or special occasion dinner from Anastasia Zolotarev's "Sour Cherries and Sunflowers." And don't forget about that…

Jun 4, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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Sour Cherries & Sunflowers, These are Some of Our Favorite Slavic Things

Introducing a new Cookbook Love series, a recipe for Zapekanka (Tvorog and Semolina Bake) with Apricot Sauce from Anastasia Zolotarev's book Sour…

Jun 1, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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May 2025

Badrijani Nigvzit (Georgian Eggplant Rolls with Garlicky Spiced Walnuts)

And a big THANK YOU!

May 20, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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Introducing My New Cookbook: Chesnok: Cooking from My Corner of the Diaspora

Recipes from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia

May 1, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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April 2025

Old-World Easter Bread: Poppyseed Roll (Roulette)

And if it does tear or the seam comes undone, as a wise woman once told me: "Don't be so hard on yourself, honey."

Apr 17, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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Soviet French-Style Chicken

Winner, winner chicken dinner AKA a low-effort, high-reward proposition.

Apr 4, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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March 2025

Shaking Off Winter, a Lemon Asparagus Soup

Plus a quick recipe for asparagus stock (hint: don't throw away those woody stems!) and 5-minute croutons.

Mar 25, 2025 • Polina Chesnakova

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