Hosted by Elena
Verified host
4.8/5(7)
I am a Russian-English translator, a former tour guide and a good cook. My husband and I hosted multiple individuals and small groups from the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Brazil. We love cooking and baking. We are especially good at cooking borscht and pies ("pirogi") We serve a lunch or a dinner in our 30 sq. m dining room with XIX century furniture and pieces of art. We like to have Q&A talks with our guests.
We like to travel and to meet people.
Languages: English, Russian
Elena's experiences
What to expect at Elena's place
K
Kara 1 review
January 20225/5
atmosphere: 5
food: 5
value for money: 5
cleanliness: 5
Elena and Sasha were the best hosts! They gave us information about their home, and were very welcoming! They showed us all the processes for the borscht and cabbage pies, they offered us snacks and Russian Vodka and then we got to have delicious coffee and desserts with them. They made us feel so comfortable in their home and showed us around and let us take all the pictures we wanted. We had great conversations and become instant friends and now I feel like we have family in Russia! If your going to St. Petersburg you must book with Elena and Sasha to cook these delicious traditional Russian foods 😋
M
Monisha 1 review
March 20204/5
atmosphere: 5
food: 4
value for money: 3
My daughter and I really enjoyed the warm hospitality of Elena and Sasha. They welcomed us into their warm home and we met their cats and daughter. Besides serving us delicious local cusine (she adapted it to our vegetarian diet) and russian wine, we also had amazing conversations with them. Elena speaks perfect english and they are both well-travelled. Initially we had an issue with a cancellation of my partner & getting the refund back. Elena was very supportive and it worked out well with EatWith.
Sylwia 🇩🇪4 reviews
February 20204.3/5
atmosphere: 5
food: 5
value for money: 3
We had a very nice evening at Elena's place. Both Sascha and Elena were very welcoming and tried their best to make us feel comfortable. Elena showed us their beautiful and unique apartment and also told us quite a lot about its history and her family's story. The food and the drinks made this event quite an origial Russian experience for us. And most importantly Elena was never short on explanations about the different dishes and the stories behind them. We enjoyed the food and the pleasant company very much!
M
Maureen 1 review
January 20205/5
atmosphere: 5
food: 5
value for money: 5
Dinner at this St. Petersburg home was a marvelous experience!
We are a group of four from the United States and we very much wanted the experience of visiting someone’s home in Russia. Too often we travel to other countries and never meet “real” people, see their homes or how they live. We just end up in hotel rooms and on tours. Visiting Elena and Sasha’s home was a wonderful experience and priceless opportunity. Elena reached out as soon as we booked our dinner and all the arrangements went smoothly. Their apartment is near the city center in an interesting and historic part of town -- close to many of the main hotels. Elena and Sasha are gracious and welcoming hosts who invited us to ask any questions. They gave us a tour of their home (even the bedroom and kitchen!) explaining how Russian people live, pointing out certain pieces of furniture and keepsakes. They shared a beautifully prepared meal with us and the conversation was lively and interesting. They shared freely about their family and experiences living in Russia and asked about our interests and experiences. The food was all specially prepared by Sasha and Elena and they provided descriptions about the menu and the Russia recipes used in the meals. We had a lively conversation about books and history and current events. We delighted in their pet cats, one of whom is especially entertaining! Elena and Sasha are a special couple, lovely in every way; visiting their home and sharing dinner with them was a highlight of our trip and we are so grateful that they opened up their home and lives to us.