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Asia, Destinations, Sri Lanka

The Ultimate Guide to Sri Lankan Food: 50 Must Try Dishes

Russia, Side notes

The Homesick Russian, or the Real Cost of Living Abroad

Destinations, Europe, Food Stories, Germany

The Time I Moved to Germany During Oktoberfest

Mains, Recipes, Soups, Summer

Svekolnik, Cold Beet Soup with Apple and Pine Nuts

Russia, Side notes

On Realities of Being a Bilingual Writer (or Trying to Be One)

Saveur Blog Awards Finalist 2017 and 2018 in Best Travel Blog category

WHO IS SHE?

Hey there! I am Yulia!

I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.

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If you are wondering what I’ve been up to lately

Sri Lanka

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The Ultimate Guide to Sri Lankan Food: 50 Must Try Dishes

Instead of starting this article by explaining to you what Sri Lankan food is, let me tell you what Sri Lankan food is definitely not. First of all, i...

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Published: August 28, 2024

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8 Best Things to Do in Sigiriya in 2 Days (Itinerary)

When I told my Sri Lankan friends I was going to stay in Sigiriya for two days, some were surprised. You see, mostly people come here with one purpose...

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Published: August 26, 2024

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16 Best Things to Do in Kandy for First-Timers

If I come across one more blog post that tells me to walk around the city lake as one of the top things to do in Kandy, I’ll lose it, I swear. The lak...

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Published: August 22, 2024

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8 Geoffrey Bawa Hotels in Sri Lanka that Will Blow Your Mind

Stay at these mind-blowing hotels in Sri Lanka designed by Geoffrey Bawa! (read more for tips on how to visit the hotels without spending the night!) ...

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Published: August 18, 2024

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My Favorite Spots in Sri Lanka (Google Map)

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Colombo Fort and Pettah Market Guide

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Colombo Shopping Guide

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Colombo Restaurants Guide

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Personal essays on being a mom of two

Motherhood

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Am I Too Old for This Sh*t?

I am 36. I had two babies. I put on quite a bit of weight after two pregnancies and barely worked out in the past 5 years. What the hell am I doing? I...

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Published: January 29, 2025

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The Argument

We have this ongoing argument with my husband where he says something like “What got you here won’t get you there” — not meaning me in particular, but...

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Published: December 17, 2023

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Mom Says

Mom says I need a multicooker. Mom says going to the market to buy dandelion leaves takes up too much time. Mom says oats will do for a simple weekday...

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Published: July 30, 2023

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When the Stars Allign, or the Time I Saw Beyoncé and Harry Styles in One Week

The Universe likes me, I am pretty sure of it, but it’s nice to get a confirmation once in a while. And in June I did. Twice. Now, I know for mo...

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Published: July 2, 2023

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Food I love to cook and eat

Recipes

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Parsnip and Lentil Soup with Mushrooms

A hearty warming parsnip and lentil soup with mushrooms inspired by Sri Lankan dhal curry. I almost didn’t post this recipe. You might think of a doze...

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Published: February 4, 2022

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Buckwheat Pumpkin Pancakes

This recipe for buckwheat pumpkin pancakes is not the first gluten-free recipe on my blog. It is, however, the first gluten-free recipe in which I ope...

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Published: February 1, 2022

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Russian Meatballs (a.k.a. Yozhiki) with Beet Leaves

The toughest part about moving to Hamburg — apart from unpacking dozens of boxes and going through bureaucratic hell — is figuring out where to buy my...

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Published: August 24, 2021

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Carrot Top Pesto with Dates and Sunflower Seeds

I’ve been slightly obsessed with greens lately (case in point: this beet leaves pesto, this sorrel soup, and the carrot top pesto I am about to tell y...

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Published: July 16, 2021

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A year of eating seasonal food and writing about it

A Year of Seasonal Eating

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Seasonal Eating in April: White Asparagus, Strawberries and Two Fennel Salads

We have come a full circle, who would have thought. Last May, when I first wrote about seasonal products I buy and all the things I cook with them, th...

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Published: May 6, 2021

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Seasonal Eating in March: Rutabaga, Wild Garlic, and Mysterious Black Salsify

I keep a running list of all the dishes I cook with seasonal produce, so that by the end of each month I can write this post. But whether because the ...

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Published: April 3, 2021

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Seasonal Eating in February: Cabbage, Blood Oranges, and Tuscan Chestnut Flour

I am tired. Tired of root vegetables, of having to cook with potato, celeriac and squash over and over again, tired of winter comfort food, tired of h...

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Published: March 5, 2021

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Seasonal Eating in January: Parsnip Three Ways, Kale and Experimenting with Meat

Am I the first one to say that omg January is over! How come! What happened! No? Obviously, it’s mid-February. Have you done anything to advance...

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Published: February 13, 2021

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@2025 That’s What She Had - Food and Travel Blog | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions

The Ultimate Guide to Sri Lankan Food: 50 Must Try Dishes

The Homesick Russian, or the Real Cost of Living Abroad

The Time I Moved to Germany During Oktoberfest

Svekolnik, Cold Beet Soup with Apple and Pine Nuts

On Realities of Being a Bilingual Writer (or Trying to Be One)

Hey there! I am Yulia!

Recent Posts

A Weekend in Toronto: All You Have to Do (and Eat) in 48 Hours

Toronto With Kids: 10 Cool Things to Do

One Day in Copenhagen: a Step-by-Step Guide

Copenhagen with Kids: 9 Places Your Kids Won’t Want to Leave

One day in Venice: a Step-by-Step Guide

2 Days in Philadelphia: a Step-by-Step Guide

One Day in Milan: a Step-by-Step Guide

Am I Too Old for This Sh*t?

Sri Lanka

The Ultimate Guide to Sri Lankan Food: 50 Must Try Dishes

8 Best Things to Do in Sigiriya in 2 Days (Itinerary)

16 Best Things to Do in Kandy for First-Timers

8 Geoffrey Bawa Hotels in Sri Lanka that Will Blow Your Mind

Shop my detailed guides to Sri Lanka

My Favorite Spots in Sri Lanka (Google Map)

Colombo Fort and Pettah Market Guide

Colombo Shopping Guide

Colombo Restaurants Guide

Motherhood

Am I Too Old for This Sh*t?

The Argument

Mom Says

When the Stars Allign, or the Time I Saw Beyoncé and Harry Styles in One Week

Recipes

Parsnip and Lentil Soup with Mushrooms

Buckwheat Pumpkin Pancakes

Russian Meatballs (a.k.a. Yozhiki) with Beet Leaves

Carrot Top Pesto with Dates and Sunflower Seeds

A Year of Seasonal Eating

Seasonal Eating in April: White Asparagus, Strawberries and Two Fennel Salads

Seasonal Eating in March: Rutabaga, Wild Garlic, and Mysterious Black Salsify

Seasonal Eating in February: Cabbage, Blood Oranges, and Tuscan Chestnut Flour

Seasonal Eating in January: Parsnip Three Ways, Kale and Experimenting with Meat

Editor’s picks

Simply Complicated Food

Run, Yulia, run!

Goodbye My Lover

Never Not Exhausted

5 Years of Blogging: Will I Ever Be Successful?

My Mom’s Pan-Fried Potatoes

Enough with the Evil Russians! (Stranger Things Made Me Write This)

For the Love of Hot Brazilian Actors

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