Fifth Volume of 'Sochi on the Taste' Culinary Stories Printed in Moscow

«Sochi on the Taste» — Volume 5 is being printed in Moscow at the capital«s publishing house »Sputnik +«. Publisher Anna Petrosyan called it the final one.

In 2026, the idea of «Sochi on the Taste» will mark its fifth anniversary. The first book was conceived by Anna Petrosyan in a snowy February 2021. The success of the culinary story collection, which initially united 45 authors, led to it growing into a series of books about the resort and its literary-gastronomic features and uniqueness.

Years have passed, and here is some statistics: 4,600 paper books have been published. The project has united over 200 authors from more than 25 cities in Russia and 7 countries worldwide. More than 100 news items have been written (filmed, voiced) by over 20 media partners (local, regional, federal). SOCHI1.RU is also an information partner of the project.

More than 25 presentations have been held. «Sochi on the Taste» became a finalist in the federal communications competition «Silver Archer» — South. The books feature reproductions of paintings by 8 professional artists (Olga Brovka, Vladimir Pereverzev and Natalya Rusinova, Alexander Otroshko, Ekaterina Bykadorova, Alexander and Irina Antonov, Lyubov Lyamina).

The project has over 25 partners and 7 sponsor-patrons: Sima Aivazyan, Alla Dmitrievna and Leonid Petrovich Ostrinskie, Evgeny Demin, Maria Kharlampidi, Sergey Kalendzhyan, Nathan Rappoport (general partner of the edition).

«Five years, five books. Or more precisely, almost 5,000 books published over these years. Quite substantial for an idea that started with 100 copies — »for mom, for myself, for friends.« A quiet, sunny November Tuesday. And I am again filled with a sense of gratitude and anticipation of the new. After all, we are still working on the 5th volume, but my hands already feel it, my eyes see it, my nose smells it, my ears hear the rustle of pages. This is the magic of books, or rather, the enchantment of creating something tangible from nothing. Stone soup, if you will. 75 authors and more than 100 of their culinary stories, full of emotions, tastes, aromas, and the desire to share warmth. Over the years, there has been so much — people, stories, meetings, discoveries. Another new thing — in this volume, you see reproductions of paintings by watercolor master and painting teacher Lyubov Lyamina. And we have two different covers, but the book»s content is the same. All this is laid out by Maxim Zaplatnikov,« wrote Anna Petrosyan in the fifth volume in the »From the Publisher« section, the idea»s author, a member of the Union of Journalists of Russia, head of the Text and Proofreading Bureau.

The year of preparation for publishing the final volume was very eventful — with fateful events, the publication of other books, presentations, exhibitions, acquaintances, projects. The trademark «Sochi on the Taste» has been registered.

«We are helped, we are supported, we are inspired by. We help, support, get inspired. I thank everyone — my family and friends, our authors, reviewers, readers and buyers, artists, journalists, educators, new and former partners, patrons. I am not exerting those titanic efforts now — the birth of the 1st and 2nd volumes — everything happens naturally, professionally, dynamically,» noted Anna.

Over the years, according to tourism experts, the «Sochi on the Taste» project has transformed from entertaining and educational reading into an archive and a gold reserve of stories, becoming a symbol of preserving the region«s intangible cultural heritage.

«In such books, food becomes a second language of culture. Or even not a language, but of the soul. And this soul speaks with the voices of people endlessly in love with their city. Perhaps that is why »Sochi on the Taste« is not a gastronomic collection, but rather a family album, open to all whose heart remembers the taste of home. Generous, tart, distinctive, sweet to the point of a lump in the throat. I think every locality should have such a collection. For Sochi, it turned out incredibly warm. Possibly because Sochi itself is like that. But also because Sochi is not just a cuisine, but an element... The hot fire under the cauldron, spices brought from southern markets, juicy meat wrapped in flatbread with cilantro and cheese,» wrote in her review of the fifth volume the well-known business coach and Sochi native Tamara Kartasheva.

«In 2025, four books on various topics were published in paper. In 2026, it is time for new books not focused on cuisine. One of them is the story collection »Sochi in My Life.« The idea belongs to Nathan Rappoport,» says Anna Petrosyan.

The fifth volume in two different covers is expected in Sochi by March 8.