Tatiana's Table: Tatiana And Alexander's Life Of Food And Love

The Bronze Horseman #3.5

by Paullina Simons

Many years have passed since that time Tatiana made lazy cabbage for Alexander. Yet it was still vivid in her mind: her grandmother’s slightly hoarse quiet voice, the taking of the tram across the river, the waning afternoon, the ache in her limping, broken leg: but above all, the desire to make something for someone, for no other reason than to please him.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Russia, Historical Romance, Fiction, Cookbooks, Food

225 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Paullina Simons was born in Leningrad, USSR, in 1963. At the age of ten her family immigrated to the United States. Growing up in Russia Paullina dreamt of someday becoming a writer. Her dream was put on hold as she learned English and overcame the shock of a new culture.

After graduating from university and after various jobs including working as a financial journalist and as a translator Paullina wrote her first novel Tully. Through word of mouth that book was welcomed by readers all over the world.

She continued with more novels, including Red Leaves, Eleven Hours, The Bronze Horseman, The Bridge to Holy Cross (also known as Tatiana and Alexander), The Summer Garden and The Girl in Times Square (also known as Lily). Many of Paullina's novels have reached international bestseller lists.

Apart from her novels, Paullina has also written a cookbook, Tatiana's Table, which is a collection of recipes, short stories and recollections from her best selling trilogy of novels, The Bronze Horseman, The Bridge to Holy Cross, (also known as Tatiana and Alexander) and The Summer Garden.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars!

“She ate it and cried.
Soon, he put the melting ice cream away.
"Shura," Tatiana whispered, "darling, forget what should have been. Remember all that was."
"Tatiasha, babe," Alexander whispered, coming back to bed to be covered, "my one and only wife, forget our age, our splendid youth, forget it all and let our crazy love make us young.”

It is not possible to give this cute little-extra book anything other then 5 stars. Not when it is our beloved Tatiana and Alexander we are talking about.in this beutiful novella you are allowed to cook everything Tania cooked to Shura during their life together. Learn how to make her famous patatoe pancakes and lazy cabbage's and let your mind drift back to Lazarevo. Lazarevo, where they are forever young...

I will always want more Tatia and Shura, but this really satisfied me. except from the amazing recepie's, there are some really incredible short stories. I couldn't stop my tears from falling during the alternate ending. where Tatiana doesn't go back for Alexander. It broke my heart.



It all comes back to Lazarevo...

Reading order, books

Novellas

[Gina Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any lovers of "The Bronze Horseman" trilogy, this little gem is a wonderful addition. It is the recipes of all the dishes that Tatiana made through all three books. These were a part of how she expressed her love for others. They also reflected her journey in life as she discovered new recipes and left behind old favourites (cabbage pie) because the memories connected to them were too unbearable.
Not only does Paullina give us the recipes, but beautiful additional stories from the saga sprinkled throughout the years of Alexander and Tatiana's life together.
Beautiful!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Shura," Tatiana whispered, "darling, forget what should have been. Remember all that was."
"Tatiasha, babe, " Alexander whispered, coming back to bed to be covered," my one and only wife, forget our age, our splendid youth, forget it all and let our crazy love make us young."

If I said Tatiana's Table was perfection, that it was brilliant and beautiful and soothed my heart, that I can't imagine not having it to fill out The Bronze Horseman series... If I said ago those things, they would be an understatement.

If you are a fan of the series and you have not read Tatiana's Table, you've done yourself a disservice.

And speaking of disservice: the publishers, the agents, someone along the line has done the author and her readers a huge disservice. The fact this book is not available in digital format, is apparently no longer in print(?), and exceeding difficult to get your hands on, is practically inconceivable. (special thanks to my friend Jenny who made this a Christmas gift I will never forget) I do not understand the decision-making process here, is what I'm saying. Paullina Simons, The Bronze Horseman series, should be a household name, should be at the front table of every B&N, let alone required reading in literature classes. I mean, come on. /rant

But honestly, Tatiana's Table is truly necessary for fans of the series. Simons managed to seamlessly and beautifully weave heartbreaking, insightful, and even sweet moments from throughout Tania's life, into this bountiful little book. From her childhood, to meeting a soldier in the Red Army, Lazarevo (that word will never not make me sigh deeply), Stockholm, New York, Miami, to Arizona, we are given so much Tania and Shura. It is a DELIGHT.

I could go on and on, truly, if I had the ability to express how wonderful this series is in every way, and how Tatiana's Table enhances the experience. But my words wouldn't do it justice.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet and yummy (literally) addition to the Tatiana and Alexander saga. I'm not much of a cook but several recipes look quite good and perhaps I'll pretend to be Tatia and make my family a few of these dishes. I just might try the beergaritas tonight, if Alexander is right, my husband will be very happy after I drink a few!

What I loved most about the book, were the little stories that went along with the recipes. I enjoyed reading about the younger Barringtons and also learning about the time young Anthony spent with Vicky while Tatiana was in Germany rescuing Shura. But this book is really about Tatiana and why she went from a young girl who loathed cooking to one who wakes up everyday to make her family bread, blinchiki,fajitas, mac and cheese, brownies, or whatever food Alexander loves. I really wish I was a bit more like Tania and I'm sure my husband does to.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

*First read: January 1, 2015
*Second read: October 13, 2015
*Third read Aug 12-13, 2016

This is so much more than a cookbook. This is a priceless gem for any TBH fan. I weep with happiness and sorrow every time I read it. Every recipe has a story that goes along with it. Little pieces of Tatiana and Alexander's lives that we don't get in the trilogy. And I have a strong feeling that Tatiana is such a wonderful wife and cook because Paullina must be. Her passion for food and cooking and cooking to please her loved ones spills out from every page. I'm so in love with everything this book has to offer.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a book with Alexander Barrington in it, OF COURSE it gets 5 stars. #duh

The recipes alone are worth it, but this book is so much more than a cookbook. It is snippets and short stories from the span of Tatiana and Alexander's lives - before, during and after the 3 TBH novels. These tidbits are GOLDEN. Absolutely golden. There is an alternate ending that will rip out your soul and leave you a weeping mess, and that is not putting it lightly. Simply put, this book a gift to any fan of this series that, unfortunately, is not available but to a fraction of those readers.

I MEAN, WTF HARPER COLLINS!!!

Do you just not want to make money and make readers happy? You must not, because if you did you would at the VERY FREAKIN LEAST offer this in ebook form. You know, ebooks? The things that cost you exactly NOTHING to distribute?

But no.

This book was obviously put in limited print and once it was gone, it was just gone. My very good friend, Jenny (who I love more than water), found us 2 copies of this book on Ebay from Australia. I have absolutely no idea how much she paid for them but I'm scared to ask. You cannot get this book stateside anymore, like, at all. And why?

The only reason I can decide is that they do not want to make the money. Period. I would pay - EVEN AFTER OWNING IT IN PAPERBACK ALREADY - top dollar for an ebook copy, just to support Paullina Simons more for her brilliance and because she gave me the greatest gift in the world: a series that changed my life.

More fans find this series every single day, and with good reason. It's the series that you see everyone say is "The greatest love story ever told!!!" and if you look up The Bronze Horseman, Tatiana and Alexander or The Summer Garden you see a bunch of gushy, babbly reviews that - well, I don't think I was even able to do that much and couldn't now even after 3 reads of each over the past year - just leave new readers feeling a bit intimidated. But you know, people will find them. They will finally say "I'm ready" and pick the series up and feel as passionately as the rest of us. And when they do and they get to this book that is, well, it's a gift for the fans is what it is - they won't be able to read it because of HARPERFRAKKINCOLLINS!!!

*spits*

These glimpses into Tatiana & Alexander's lives are brilliant. There is more original story content than recipes by like a 2:1 ratio. And I'm sorry to all of the fans who can't experience that brilliance. And I'm sorry to Paullina Simons for having publishers who don't give a crap about her or them making money. What I am not sorry for is my love for this series. This is the most I've ever said about the series on GR because (and I am not exaggerating in the least) just thing about it makes me a weepy, babbly, heart pounding mess. At least in this "review" I can hide behind my HarperCollins rage and I don't get all insane, and that totally helped.

And again, thank you Jenny. Getting this book was honestly one of the best gifts I have ever gotten. *hugs*

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally worth it for the extra little snippets that take place throughout each of the books in the trilogy.

The alterate ending had me in tears!!!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the absolute perfect ending for Tatiana and Alexander. After reading the trilogy, I found myself wanting more. This satisfied me.

And how I bawled my eyes out when reading a snip of how an alternate ending may have been for Tania and Alexander had she not gone back for him! Wow Paullina Simons does not fail to deliver. She is astounding. The most amazing author.

I truly feel privileged to have read her books.

I cannot wait to make Blinchiki, the one and only potato pancakes, and the chicken curry sounds absolutely DELICIOUS! This book just tops off your love for Tania and her family. I feel like I am a Barrington.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first cookbook I have ever read cover to cover. Paullina Simons writes an unconventional cookbook based on her Tatiana and Alexander trilogy full of deliciously easy recipes. Simons presents her recipes according to her books in the order in which they would have been prepared. As the Bronze Horseman takes place in war torn Leningrad, all the Russian recipes are included first, followed by Italian, Mexican and American dishes as Tatiana reaches the United States. Desserts are included in the back of the book and range from simple cookie recipes to the fancier rum cake which *hic!* goes up in flames with oversampling of the rum.

The most beautiful part of this book is how much more real her stories become when you are able to sample the dishes which she so lovingly describes in her books. Since she described blinchiki I have wondered how it would taste. Now I have the recipe! I have made the beef stroganoff (delicious!) and will be baking some Challah rolls tomorrow! This cookbook has earned its place among my most prized cookbooks and I can't wait to sample more of its delicious recipes.

Simons introduces each recipe with a small narrative of the circumstances surrounding that particular dish. I read the passage to my family as we sat down to dinner before sampling the beef stroganoff. It was so much fun to do, and to allow something that Tania or Shura might have eaten pass my lips was like getting the opportunity to know them on an even deeper level; if that could be any more possible.

Excellent addition to your kitchen library!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who is sad about finishing The Bronze Horseman trilogy, I'll have to lend you this book. I've had it for a few months but wanted to wait until after I finished The Summer Garden to read it so I wouldn't be spoiled. It's unlike any other cookbook; so far, it's more like a fourth installment as it's divided into chapters and filled with stories that weren't in the other books with recipes accompanying the stories. Right now, at the beginning, the recipes are with stories of Tatiana's childhood and courtship with Alexander. As I read further I suspect the stories will move along the timeline of the trilogy. So far I am loving it, and starving while I read all of the delicious recipes!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the joy, none of the angst! For those who love this series, this is a treat. A wonderful way to revisit various moments in the series with new scenes.

[SReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing compares to Alexander and Tatiana's story. It is the most beautiful and epic love story of our time.

[Claire Mojieski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and loved all three books in the Bronze Horseman series. This book is such an amazing addition to that series. Not only do we now have Tatiana's recipes from all the books but we also get some short stories thrown in along the way. One of my favorite parts was the alternate ending. Paullina Simons gives us a glimpse of what the story would have been like if Tatiana hadn't gone back to the Soviet Union to find Alexander in the second book. I read this book in an afternoon and then made lazy cabbage for dinner (very good by the way!) Now I can't wait to reread the book and cook the recipes as they show up in the books.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tatiana's Table takes you for a walk down memory lane with Tatiana and Alexander as they roam through their memories of Russia, New York, Arizona and Vietnam sharing recipes and food related stories as they go.

There are not just Russian recipes but recipes that Tatiana learnt when landing in New York. There are Chinese, Italian, Mexican and many more.

It was interesting to read about traditional Russian recipes, how much love goes into cooking from the Russian women. It really is a labour of love that women give to their husbands, children and extended families.

I have copied a few of the recipes in there and will give them a try.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

After waiting almost a month and a half as the mail had lost my copy i got a replacement and then i got my lost copy but it was well worth the wait. This would be a perfect book for when you are missing Shura and Tatiana but don't have time to read the whole books. I didn't buy this book for the recipes but for the little stories, although i do want to try Tatiana's banana bread. And i loved the little epilogue at the end but the alternative ending was heartbreaking.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great way to end a wonderful love story. It is all of Tatiana's receipes she makes for Alexander and her family. In Tatiana's world food is love and she has so much love for Alexander that it just had to be written in a cookbook. There is also little stories associated with the food that Tatiana prepares for them that shows the love she puts into her food. Loved it!!!

[Zeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A recipe book based on The Bronze Horseman Trilogy by Simons which also weaves in some tantalizing vignettes from Shura and Tatiana's life. Thoroughly enjoyed reading through this unique book- and the recipes too!

[CariAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really and truly wonderful. It's definitely a must for anyone who has read the trilogy, so why is it so hard to find?? I'm officially on the lookout for a copy of my own since I'll have to send this one back to its proper home....

[Luchi Rzezak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such an amazing addition to the Bronze Horseman triology. all the recipes have some short stories thrown in along the way that makes us all so happy and tears come down again. Thank you for this bonus Paullina.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working my way through the recipes! I love the bits of the story she has included.

[KBookblogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of The Bronze Horseman trilogy by Paullina Simons. If you loved the story of Tatiana and Alexander, then you have to pick up this book. It contains recipes right out of Tatiana’s kitchen - from her lazy cabbage stew to her Italian meatballs. This book contains not only recipes but also anecdotes from the original trilogy. Be prepared to dive back into the world of the Metanovs and the Barringtons in this brilliant follow up to one of the best and most epic love stories of all time.

[Miss Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pues nada, yo venía a ver un libro ligerito de recetas y he acabado llorándome toda. Maldita Paullina Simons, siempre sabe qué cuerdas tocar.

Toda esta serie es demasiado buena para ser cierta. Me ha encantado poder expandir un poco lo que sabíamos de los personajes a través de algo tan original y a la vez tan cercano como sus costumbres a la hora de comer. Hace que los personajes parezcan mucho más reales.

Caerán varias relecturas, seguro

[Agnesc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love the little stories between T&A. Their love is so profound that makes my heart full. The "what if" life was so heartbreaking but they would always find a way to get back to each other even after 55 years! Also, I got to know more about Ant and Vikki. Oh Vikki.... she's indeed a good friend of T. She stuck to her promises. I adore her.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

CUTE CUTE CUTE !! Now this is the ending that I would have loved for the third book. Warmed my heart and gave closure to their story. I also loved the fact that it was a recipe book. Will definitely be trying to make some of those meals.

[Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου · Rating 3 out of 5]

Γλυκό και τρυφερό, με γεύσεις και αρώματα, αλλά χωρίς να προσθέτει κάτι το σημαντικό ή το ιδιαίτερο στο "μύθο" του "Μπρούτζινου Καβαλάρη".

[marti✨️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

"Forget what should have been. Remember all that was. Forget our age, our splendid youth, forget it all and let our crazy love make us young."

[Nazneen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this 4 stars ONLY & ONLY because I got glimpses of Alexander & Tatia. I can't give it full stars bcz the Bronze Horseman has raised the standards so much for me that, I can't give 5 just like that now. I literally, want to change many of my other 5 star reads to 4 because of Broze horseman. But, that would be not honest. I gave other books 5 bcz I felt it so that time. But, I can assure you, now this book will be my number 1 favourite among all my other favourites or 5 star reads. I am not much foodie or into Cooking. I read all those things only in hope of catching glimpses of them both together. If it weren't the hope of finding glimpses of Alex & Tatia, I wouldn't have read this. I was horrified of the alternative ending though. It made my heart wrench but, you know what I think, there could never have been any alternate ending. I say this because, they met, were brought together, survived even when all their loved ones were dead only to end up together. I know for a fact that Alexander would never have married or touched other women like he said, because he was already married & knew she was there..But, I also think that Tatiana wouldn't have gone through with other man either even though she thought he is dead. May be she might have tried to move on like Alexander wanted but, in the last moment, she would never go through it because, these two were IT for eachother. I know this for a fact because he leaves her a clue in that hospital when he was sending her away, because of the vows they took when they were married. They said they will always be faithful for eachother. Yes, I know Alex had done almost unforgiving thing in the last book but, if I see realistically, that is what a human does when he is desperate. But, I knew, he wouldn't go that far. Anyway, I don't know how I got into writing about the previous book ;- Anyway, what I was really expecting or wanted in this book was, literally some of their parts together, like romance, love making, only two of them spending time alone. Now, again I say, there could never have been any ending bcz she would find him & give up anything for him & vice versa..Now, I am very sad, bcz I won't have anything new to read about them. I can always re read & become nostalgic but, there would be no new parts & I don't know what to do. I completed this series in three days & this was what going on in my mind day & night. Even in my sleep & dreams I was only seeing Alexander & Tatia. I wasn't eating while reading all this. I barely ate since three days. Now, that this is over, I am going to be depressed & thinking about them. I don't know what to do. Generally, I read something fun or light to get out of something intense, but here I don't know whether I could do it.

[Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finding this book 10 years after finding out it exists makes me want to fall down and stay there.

If you're fans of The Bronze Horseman trilogy, or anything Paullina Simons for that matter, this book will tick all your boxes.

Although it does relate to the epic story of Tatiana and Alexander, its mainly a cookbook. It does have the odd story in between recipes which is really cute, but I did feel that the stories were written with a different narrative than the other 3 books in this series. Looking back at it, it makes sense that the narrative would be different. Tatiana and Alexander are no longer young and in love - they're now in their late-60s early-70s so when you look at it this way, the tense makes sense.

I think the only thing that I'm missing from this is a legit story. But that's because I'm overly biased of all these characters.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! What a great ending to an amazing series. I was expecting the recipes but the little stories woven throughout were a wonderful surprise. It was so nice to glimpse little bits of Tatiana's and Alexander's lives, especially the times they shared with their three youngest children. And the end!!! To read that alternate ending of how their lives could have turned out if Tatiana didn't go back for Alexander...my heart was in my throat. So happy I found this little gem on eBay....and ....wait for it....for $2!! I can't wait to make some of the recipes in this book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't get enough of Tatiana and Alexander so I loved the little extra snippets you get. Plus...the recipes are great! My husband loved the Chicken curry :)