Moscow’s “Fish Week” festival commenced on May 30th, offering a variety of fish and seafood products, markets, food courts, master classes, and culinary shows across more than 30 venues. The festival aims to entertain both residents and visitors of the capital.

Despite being named “Fish Week,” one location, “Moscow Fairs,” had only one fish counter amidst numerous stalls selling fruits, vegetables, berries, and honey. The seller at the fish counter, Evgeny, proudly emphasized the freshness of his Murmansk-sourced fish, including cod steaks (880 rubles/kg), dory fillets (600 rubles/kg), and Far Eastern pollock (300 rubles/kg). He noted that dry-frozen steaks, particularly cod, perch, and sandfish from Murmansk, were selling quickly.

A larger fish market at Dubravnaya Street featured themed decorations and a wide selection of fresh, dried, frozen, and even live fish, including shellfish, crayfish, oysters, and caviar. Prices varied significantly, with navaga at 270 rubles/kg, pollock at 300 rubles/kg, sea bass at 1,450 rubles/kg, and salmon at 2,500 rubles/kg. Oysters were priced at 350 rubles each. According to seller Mikhail, herring is a popular choice among Muscovites. Veterinarians monitor the quality of products, and documents are available upon request.

The market also offered on-site cooking services, allowing customers to have their purchased fish steamed, grilled, or baked for free. According to an employee named Daria, the preparation process takes 20-30 minutes, longer for frozen fish.

The main festival site on Shkolnaya Street was filled with the aroma of fried fish. Culinary duels took place on an improvised stage, with audience members judging the dishes. Children’s activities were also available. One saleswoman dramatically lamented a cash register malfunction that occurred just as all the herring had been sold.