Hitting the Grill for Shashlik Season in Moscow
Each summer, Muscovites head to the city's many parks to bask in the sun and enjoy the good weather with friends. The highlight of many of these outings is the cooking of shashlik, or meat kebab.
Shashlik can be made with any kind of meat — or even tofu — either by itself or with vegetables and mushrooms. The meat is marinated, threaded on a skewer and grilled.
Here's a look at the shashlik tradition in action at Oleny Prud (Deer Pond) in Moscow's Izmailovo Park:
Shashlik can be made with any kind of meat — or even tofu — either by itself or with vegetables and mushrooms. The meat is marinated, threaded on a skewer and grilled.
Here's a look at the shashlik tradition in action at Oleny Prud (Deer Pond) in Moscow's Izmailovo Park:

Several Moscow parks have picnic zones where locals are required to hold their cookouts. These spots have all the necessary equipment for grilling.
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You have to stay cool when the grill is this hot.
Violetta Nabitova / MT

Friends catch up outside the noise of the city center.
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The remnants of a birthday party long past.
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Shashliks can range from small cookouts to large, banquet-style affairs like this.
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BYOB.
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When the party's over, you can leave your trash for city workers to collect.
Violetta Nabitova / MT