| The art of grilling meats and vegetables is undoubtedly | | | | they can be grilled. |
| as old as mankind itself, and the art of the barbecue, | | | | The shashlik is made of different types of meat: lamb, |
| has traveled all over the world in just the same | | | | mutton, beef, venison, pork, camel, horse or goat. In the |
| manner as early man or civilization did. In its journey | | | | Islamic areas of Central Asia and the Crimea, pork is |
| across the lands, the styles of grilling took on local | | | | obviously not used nor is it used by the Jews in areas |
| flavors and local tastes, and developed some distinct | | | | of the Causcaus Mountains. |
| notes. | | | | The shashlik is typically eaten in a social atmosphere. It |
| In Russia, for instance, the shashlik is a popular method | | | | is generally cooked for a gathering of family and |
| of grilling meats on skewers on open grills. The shashlik | | | | friends. The shashlik is best eaten in the open, and the |
| originated in Asia and traveled along the Silk Route. It | | | | Russian dacha is the best place for that. The meat is |
| grew in popularity as the way the caravan traders | | | | eaten with fresh vegetables, ketchup, Georgian bread |
| cooked their food. It was the main dish of the people | | | | called "lavash" and salads. The beverages consumed |
| of Central Asia for centuries. The shashlik was | | | | with shashlik may be wine, beer, other alcohol, juice, or |
| established as the major food type during the Mongol | | | | even water. |
| occupation, and today is the single most popular | | | | If you are not Russian, and invited to a barbecue in the |
| summer dish in Russia and neighboring countries. | | | | country, use it as an opportunity to meet and befriend |
| The shashlik is a simple food form. It is basically cubes | | | | your Russian hosts. Take along some alcohol, checking |
| of meat skewered on steel or wooden skewers, and | | | | with the hosts to see what they would prefer. |
| then cooked over either an open fire or a bed of | | | | Remember whichever country you may be in, |
| coals. Today, it is also cooked in a broiler, but this | | | | whatever the barbecue dish may be, burger or |
| method does not yield the results that the open fire or | | | | shashlik, the ambiance will be the same, as will the |
| the coals can achieve. Sausages are also commonly | | | | purpose. Enjoy the outdoors and the grilled, juicy |
| grilled over an open flame, and Chicken Kiev and | | | | meats, the fresh, crunchy side dishes, let your hair |
| pierogies are sometimes baked in ovens after which | | | | down and have a great time. |