The opening of seasonal smelt sales outlets in St. Petersburg was announced for Saturday, April 15. However, despite the city authorities declaring 42 allowed places for the sale of this cultural symbol, Fontanka photographers were unable to find any. They explored some of the 12 districts but found only closed outlets or empty trays. The photographers speculated that traders might have sold out quickly and moved on, but they criticized the lack of transparency and operating hours. The photographers eventually discovered that the markets were the best place to find smelt, although some were expensive. Large stores sold imported and domestic smelt at different prices, but some customers preferred to wait for locally caught fish from Lake Ladoga. Fishermen were already out on the Neva, but finding fresh smelt still proved challenging.
ShareExactly this Saturday, April 15, and not a day later, in St. Petersburg, one should have waited for the opening of seasonal smelt sales outlets. As announced by the city authorities, 42 pieces of allowed places for the sale of fish, closely inscribed in the St. Petersburg-Leningrad cultural code, were to be opened in the city. Photographers of Fontanka believed it, and right in the morning they set off to look for the symbol of the city – a fish with the aroma of fresh cucumbers.
There are no fish here
Of course, all points in 12 districts declared by the authorities, the correspondents of “Fontanka” did not manage to run around. But even there, as far as they managed to get, only disappointment awaited them.
– I arrived at one of the addresses selling smelt on 2nd Murinsky Prospekt. Predictable nothing, unless they sell underground in the medical center, shared the observations of the photojournalist.
There was nothing to catch on Tallinskaya either – the outlet was closed with a curtain. The photojournalist was not going to give up so quickly and set off in search of a spring fish with redoubled enthusiasm. Alas, unsuccessfully.
– I was on Tallinn, I was on Zanevsky, on Voskresenskaya embankment and on Utochkina street. On Zanevsky I found a tray that does not work, on Tallinskaya, Voskresenskaya and Utochkin I did not find trays, our photographer shared.
Purely hypothetically, he suggested, it might happen that the traders came to the point on Zanevsky early in the morning, scattered their catch in the shopping bags of buyers in half an hour and moved for a new batch of fish. But then, out of respect for the customers, it would be necessary to indicate the time of its operation on the tray in order to be guaranteed to arrive at the appointed hour, and not wander around the city with nothing. Where the trays themselves have gone from the three announced addresses is a mystery.
There are fish here
That’s exactly where you can find smelt now, so it’s in the markets. True, in some places the price tag is such that last year’s 1.3 thousand per kilo are no match for him. But in the weekly dynamics, the trend is clearly positive – 7 days ago, a kilogram of smelt was sold on the market for 1.9 thousand rubles, and this week it was already 1.2 thousand, which is the average for the market, one might say, in a divine way. And this is that sweet moment when once a year smelt becomes more expensive than salmon, which, by the way, is sold in stores for 1,700 rubles.
The hay market sells “morning” (whatever that means) smelt for around 900-1000 rubles per kilogram. Too expensive? Then you will be offered frozen / thawed in the region of 450 – almost half the price. Logic suggests that where it comes from – there are much more options than the categorical: “From Ladoga” – from the seller. But God forbid you take a picture of a fish! Fierce sellers firmly believe that smelt must not be removed.
On the Maltsevsky market, the “morning” catch is given for 1.5 thousand rubles. Intend to take? Then go to the stalls early, otherwise you won’t find anything for dinner.
At the Blacksmith’s Market at the time of the photographer’s visit, it was empty.
But on Sytny, “cucumber” fish were given at 1.3 thousand per kilo.
For those who are disgusted by the aesthetics of the market, you can look for smelt in large stores, you can even deliver it to your home. But there, too, everything is not so simple. For example, in “Auchan” there is smelt, as it is written, fresh at 1,590 rubles per kilogram. But she’s from Argentina. Those who have tried it say that yes, it smells like cucumbers, but, of course, it does not bring joy to the heart of St. Petersburg. In “Okey” she is Russian, but, alas! – Far East. But for something that is not from abroad, you will have to pay extra – it costs 2,250 per kilo.
Another option – for very lazy Petersburgers (although rather for guests of the Northern capital) – you can find smelt in delivery services from restaurants – they write that “Fried Baltic with citrus yogurt and pickled cucumber.” And yes, 850 rubles for a portion of 350 grams.
Well, those who do not want to make any compromises will probably have to wait a bit until the ice on the Neva from Lake Ladoga finally disappears. follow him can be broadcast live.
In the meantime, the fishermen have already gone out on their boats to get the main spring delicacy of St. Petersburg. We wait.
Sergei Mikhailichenko / Fontanka.ru
In conclusion, the search for the seasonal smelt sale outlets in St. Petersburg turned out to be quite disappointing for the photographers of Fontanka. Despite the authorities declaring the opening of 42 outlets, very few were found open, and those that were had already sold out. However, the markets still offer smelt, albeit at higher prices than last year. The option to buy online or from restaurants is also available, but the thrill of catching the fish from the Neva remains unmatched. As we wait for the ice to melt and the fishermen to return with the spring delicacy, let us enjoy the satisfying photos captured by Sergey Mikhailichenko of Fontanka.ru.
