How to surprise sophisticated Muscovites and guests of the capital? In the cultural and historical complex "Kolomensky Kremlin" in Kolomna, they know the answer: you can surprise with kalach!
Do you know about how not to reach the handle, what is “grated kalach” and can it be lured, how to curl up and is it worth it to poke a pig snout into a kalash row? Not? This and much more will be told at the recently opened kalach museum in Kolomna.
Background
The revival of ancient culinary crafts began in Kolomna with the opening of the Pastila Museum, and continued with the Kalach Museum.
In 2013, a unique project helping the younger generation to learn the traditions and culture of their ancestors, won the international competition and received a premium grant from the Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation.
In the future, it is planned to recreate a real old quarter in the historical center of the city with its customs, traditions, workshops and shops.
To the museum?No, visit
There are no exhibits in the kalach museum in Kolomna that are behind glass cases that cannot be touched, there are no signs with inscriptions and boring explanations of the guide.
So, an old brick building of the 19th century, in the wall - a strong iron door, and behind it - a huge hall with a vaulted ceiling. In the middle of the hall is an incredibly large old stove. It was reconstructed according to old drawings, it consists of two hearths - tiers, it was heated only with birch firewood, from which the bark was previously removed. It was firewood that gave the kalachi whiteness and the aroma of wood. Up to 2 thousand rolls can be baked in such an oven per day.
The host meets the guests - kalachnik, that was the name of the master baking kalachi. He is not an invention, but a historical figure: in the 19th century in Kolomna, a townsman named Milyaev prepared and sold kalachi. And the kalachnik tells the amateur who came to the light (and visitors to the museum) what kalach is. And it's very exciting!
In the kalach museum in Kolomna, according to visitors, a unique theatrical performance takes place. During which the master bakes a real masterpiece according to an old recipe. And an hour later, when the show ends, guests can enjoy a treat piping hot.
Secrets of kalach production
Kalach Museum in Kolomna reveals the past of this dish, once very common in Russia, but now forgotten. Kalach fishing no longer exists in our country. Therefore, those confectionery products that are called "kalach" on the menu arethey really aren't.
After all, the recipe for kalach is simple: water + flour + s alt + hops. All. And the secret of the extraordinary taste was in many tricks.
One of them is this: kalach must be prepared by mixing different types of flour and be sure to add grains, coarse grinding. Previously, such flour was made only in the Volga region.
And one more secret is discovered in the kalachny museum: you need to roll out the dough on a cold iron table - then the dough does not stick and does not dry out, cooling down and at the same time forming into a product.
To restore the kalach recipe, museum staff studied 19th-century cookbooks.
How to eat kalach
And this is taught in the museum! After all, it is right to eat kalach - you also need to be able to.
Eat this dish only hot, starting with a crispy fried "lip" - this is a cut on the dough to give shape. Then they eat the "belly" - this is the most delicious part, soft, filled with melting butter. Well, the tight “handle”, which is held by the kalach while eating, can be eaten, or you can give it to the poor. This is how the expression “to reach the handle” appeared - to reach the state when you finish eating other people’s kalachny “handles”.
And with you?
Of course, the visitors' reviews of the kalach museum in Kolomna would not be complete if all the guests unanimously advised not to definitely buy the food they liked on the path. As well as bread and other pastries.
By the way, walking around the center of Kolomna, you can buy delicious hot rolls from the cart. A real old cart, to which a Percheron horse is harnessed, drives around the town, the merchant shouts: “Kalachi, and who needs kalachi!” - and everything resembles a fairy tale.
How the museum works
The answer is simple: every day. Exactly at 10 the doors open, and you can find out everything about kalachi until 20:00. But excursion programs run on schedule, so you should call in advance or sign up on the museum website, choosing the right time.
Issue price
Adults can visit the kalach museum in Kolomna on weekdays by paying 400 rubles for a ticket, kids under 3 years old are free, preschoolers and schoolchildren - 300 rubles..
During the weekend, the price of tickets increases by 100 rubles..
On weekdays, some categories of citizens can use a reduced ticket (price of 200 rubles), the list of preferential categories can be found on the official website of the museum.
For the opportunity to capture everything that happens during a theatrical tour on a camera or video camera, you will have to pay another 200 rubles to the cashier..
Where is the delicious museum
They used to say correctly in the old days: “If you want to eat kalachi, don’t lie on the stove.” This means that in order to go on an excursion to the kalachny museum, you will need to get to the ancient town of Kolomna. Located on the banks of the Moskva River, 90 km from the capital.
It is easy to remember the address of the kalach museum in Kolomna - Zaitseva street, house number 14. It's next to the Pyatnitsky Gate.
The easiest way to hit the road is tocar, driving along the M-5 highway. It will take about 1-1.5 hours. You can leave your car in the parking lot near the Kolomna Kremlin.
How to get to the kalach museum in Kolomna by public transport?
Option 1. Several trains to Golutvin and Ryazan depart from the Kazansky railway station in Moscow and stop in Kolomna. The fare is 260-320 rubles. The schedule can be found on the website of the station.
Option 2. From Art. Bus 460 departs from Kotelniki metro station (Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya line), goes to Golutvin and stops in Kolomna.
Option 3. On st. m. Vykhino transfer to the train going to Kolomna.
From the bus station, you need to go through the underpass to the other side and go along Zaitsev Street along the square, which also bears the name of Zaitsev. The road will take 15-20 minutes, soon you will feel the aroma of muffin - it means you have come!
