Maksim Syrnikov is used to getting work offers he just can’t refuse from the most popular restaurants in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other large cities. After all, he seems to know all of the tricks and secrets to Russian cuisine and has travelled thousands of kilometres in search of old, forgotten recipes. He has gone smelt fishing near Vologda and conserved apples in the province of Vladimir. Maksim Syrnikov is a man of many trades — he is a historian, a chef, a traveller and a writer. His tasty last name, Syrnikov, is the Russian word for a type of cheese pancake and is really his last name and not a pseudonym. During the reign of Peter the Great, his family founded a cheese factory in Tver, giving them their last name. Syrnikov however inherited a lot from his ancestors, not just their surname. He also shares their love and interest for delicious Russian food.