Smelt is a fish that brings together!
🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟 5 thousand people met right on the ice of the Anadyr Liman to celebrate the annual festival «Korfest» dedicated to the small fish — smelt! 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟
Only a few people know that the origins of Chukotka’s main fest date back to 1991. At that time, local people used to meet on the ice to compete in smelt fishing, national wrestling, triple jumping and to play tug-of-war. The celebration was accompanied by performances of folklore groups and artists from the capital.
Since 1996, «Korfest» has been included in the register of signature events held in Chukotka and is organised annually.
Photos are provided by Ivan Semikletov
Over the years, ‘’Korfest‘’ has united citizens of nearby areas, guests from other regions and even countries!
In 2025, «Korfest» took place from 16 to 20 April and brought together more than 5,000 guests.
His Excellency Eduardo Villegas Megías, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Mexican States to the Russian Federation, with his wife Ms. María Nazareth Sánchez Romero and Ms. Andrea Geraldine Quispe Ojeda, Second Secretary — Attaché for Cultural Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Peru in the Russian Federation, took part in the «Korfest» business program.
«Korfest» gastronomic part was in the hands of well-known chefs Mr. Anton Salnikov, Mr. Evgeny Alfan and Mr. Nagendra Mahadevappa.
During the culinary master-class for young chefs and regional specialists, Mr. Nagendra Mahadevappa (Republic of India), inspired by the combination of culinary traditions of India and Chukotka, presented a dish «Venison Samosa» and «Masala» tea based on local Ivan-tea.
While Mr. Anton Salnikov prepared a stylish orange breakfast — pancakes «Crêpes Suzette» served with orange sauce, peel and wedges of orange.
🇲🇽 Mexican breakfast in Chukotka is a myth? It has already become real!
Ms. María Nazareth Sánchez Romero, jointly with an international team of chefs, performed with a master-class on the traditional dishes of Mexican cuisine — freshly baked tortillas with «Rancheros eggs», sauce «Pico de gallo» and beans. The participants were particularly surprised by a green salad made from cactus «Nopal».
Specially for the master-class Ms. María Nazareth Sánchez Romero brought some Mexican products and traditional equipment to Chukotka.
♨️ 300 kg of delicious fried smelt served with author’s sauces «Tzatziki», «Crystal Caviar» and «Chutney Kasundi» only at the «Korfest»!
The international team of chefs — Mr. Nagendra Mahadevappa, Mr. Evgeny Alfan, Mr. Anton Salnikov — together with the students of the Chukotka Multidisciplinary College.
The international team of chefs together with the students of the Chukotka Multidisciplinary College cooked for more than 1,500 «Korfest» guests author’s fish soup (ukha) and 300 kilograms of fried smelt (in Russian — korushka) served with original sauces.
Mr. Anton Salnikov regaled guests with a sauce «Tzatziki» made up of local sour cream (smetana), fresh cucumbers, garlic, dill and mint, Mr. Evgeny Alfan presented a sauce «Crystal Caviar» based on broth from smoked heads of sockeye salmon (in Russian — nerka), chia seeds and topioca, and Mr. Nagendra Mahadevappa introduced an Indian-style tomato sauce «Chutney Kasundi» cooked from tomatoes, lingonberries, blueberries, garlic, ginger, cumin, chilli pepper, onions, coriander, fresh cilantro and vinegar.
Till we explore again a new gastro-location in Russia!