Old World Russia in America’s Last Frontier
Clip: Episode 1 | 3m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Pati Jinich tries Pelmeni in Alaska’s Russian town of Nikolaevsk.
Pati Jinich heads off the beaten path to Nikolaevsk, a fascinating Alaskan town with deep Russian roots you might not expect. Founded by Old Believers seeking religious freedom, this village feels like a little slice of Russia right next door. She pops into Samovar Cafe, run by Nina Fefelov, who's serving up authentic flavors of the old country.
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Support for PATI JINICH EXPLORES PANAMERICANA is provided by Marriott International, La Costeña, Texas A&M International University, Visit Anchorage, Travel Juneau, Travel Yukon, and Chicanos Por La Causa.
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Old World Russia in America’s Last Frontier
Clip: Episode 1 | 3m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Pati Jinich heads off the beaten path to Nikolaevsk, a fascinating Alaskan town with deep Russian roots you might not expect. Founded by Old Believers seeking religious freedom, this village feels like a little slice of Russia right next door. She pops into Samovar Cafe, run by Nina Fefelov, who's serving up authentic flavors of the old country.
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How to Watch Pati Jinich Explores Panamericana
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The Pati Jinich Recipe Collection
Find Pati Jinich recipes from this series and more on PBS Food.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ The village of Nikolaevsk, just outside of Homer, was founded in 1968 by Russians seeking religious freedom from an oppressive Soviet regime... ♪ not much of a stretch, considering Russia is only 55 miles away from Alaska at their closest points.
♪ Pati: Hello.
[Knock knock knock knock] Nina: I will be there.
I was at the doorway.
Yeah.
I do.
One minute.
Pati: Hi.
I've heard about you, and I've heard about your food, and, oh, this is beautiful.
Oh, I love your tray.
Pati, voice-over: Nina Fefelov runs Samovar Cafe, serving the flavors of the old country.
♪ Babushka, finish your dinner.
Pati, voice-over: These dumplings are called pelmeni, made with seasoned ground beef and spices.
Just don't cut into them.
Do not cut.
Just enjoy.
OK.
I will be back.
Enjoy.
Don't cut the dumplings?
Nina: Not cut, just whole thing.
Just eat.
OK.
I--I really want to cut the dumpling.
Pati, voice-over: It's best to do what she says.
[Rain falling] Mm.
Mm.
Pati: Nina, this is really good.
There.
More tea.
This is my zavarka, very strong tea.
Oh, it smells beautiful.
Pati, voice-over: This is Nina's own blend of fireweed tea.
Nina: Please take a spoon... That's a very beautiful spoon.
and taste it.
I give you little sugar, little sugar.
Pati: OK.
Please, please, please drink.
Pati: Drink from the spoon.
Not vodka, very good.
OK. Oh, oh, very sweet, very sweet.
♪ Pati, voice-over: Nina came to Nikolaevsk in 1991 to teach Russian in the school... [Projector clicks] and she's since become a key figure in keeping the culture alive, writing extensively about the traditions and history of the Old Believers.
♪ Pati: Are you-- are you filming us?
Always.
Pati: Oh.
Hello.
Nina: Hee hee hee!
Pati: Is this Nina's show?
Nina: Yes.
Pati: You guys, I thought we were filming a show, but I think they're filming us.
♪ This is my shawl.
This for you for a while.
Pati: What--what is it called in Russian?
Shawl.
Shawl, too.
I'm--I'm loving the dumplings.
Nina: Yeah.
Dumplings very cold now.
Loving the dumplings.
Nina: Oh, yeah.
Pati: No, no, no.
I've been eating them.
They're so good.
Nina: Oh, OK. Pati: Mm mm.
Please sit on this podushka.
Pati: Oh, no, no.
This is good.
Please sit.
Please sit.
Oh, OK, OK, OK.
Please sit.
I know.
Well, thank you.
I give you another shawl.
Do not worry.
OK, OK. No, no.
This is good.
Pati: This is good.
Nina: Hee hee hee!
Nina: Another we will put on your-- Legs.
the right, beautiful.
Pati: Oh, now I'm very cozy.
The right, the right, the right... OK, OK. and this is my podushka.
OK. OK. Now we're very comfortable.
There.
Oh, very comfortable.
I didn't know that there was this little Russian town in Alaska.
Our Russian town.
♪ Nina: I appreciate that these people keep tradition... Pati: Mm-hmm.
and keep language.
Can I ask you something else?
I'm not finished.
May I finish?
Pati: OK.
Yes.
Of course.
That's OK. Maybe God sent me here because this is-- this is life.
We don't know what God prepared for us.
[Man chanting]
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: Ep1 | 5m 11s | Pati Jinich makes Alaskan Ice Cream with indigenous community liaison Anna Sattler. (5m 11s)
What Makes Alaska… Alaska? With Author Julia O’Malley
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: Ep1 | 6m 15s | Anchorage-based author Julia O’Malley and Pati Jinich discuss what makes Alaska unique. (6m 15s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for PBS provided by:
Support for PATI JINICH EXPLORES PANAMERICANA is provided by Marriott International, La Costeña, Texas A&M International University, Visit Anchorage, Travel Juneau, Travel Yukon, and Chicanos Por La Causa.