The Republic of Khakassia lies on the flood plains of the Khakass-Minusinsk Hollow in southern Siberia. These fertile lands have kept the Khakassians’ larders stocked with a rich variety of fare, from light milk drinks to filling meat dishes and all sorts of delicious sweets The staple meat of Khakassia is mutton. Even now, a family’s prosperity is gauged by whether or not it can eat meat every day. And Khakassians will tell you that they never get fed up with eating meat. Serving up cooked meat is a ritual in itself. Different members of the family and guests are given different cuts. The sheep’s ears are given to the sons so that they listen to their elders. Andrey Ivanov finds out all this and more in his culinary adventure as he learns to cook Khakassian-style and even finds out what they’re singing about...