SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Thanksgiving is, of course, a very American holiday. So what do you do when you're an American overseas? How do you track down a turkey? NPR's Charles Maynes knows a guy who can help you out in the capital of Russia.
CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE: At a central Moscow market, towards the back, past the vegetable stalls, beef butchers, caviar traders and fishmongers, Alman Goosenu looks at me and smiles. This native of Azerbaijan knows what happens next. I will ask for one of his turkeys, and he will charge me too much for it, as he has for the past several years.
ALMAN GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "It was probably a good price you paid because you didn't pay more," says Goosenu. "Besides, what a bird. Everyone came out ahead." Goosenu got into the turkey business, well, because he noticed foreigners, for some reason, all Americans, desperate for turkeys not chickens towards late November for Thanksgiving.
GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "Sometime a while ago, they had a military victory over the Native Indians, right? So they decided to celebrate with the turkey," says Goosenu, explaining the holiday. As I shake my head, no, he adds...
GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "Well, the point is, it's an American holiday where they need turkeys, and they want big ones, not small ones." That's true for a lot of people, anyway. And we moved to inspect the birds, 10-, 12-, 15-pound Russian turkeys, fresh from Stavropol in Russia's south.
GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: And to prove it, he pulled out his phone and shows me a video - the moment these turkeys went from happily wandering in the Russian fields to having their throats slit.
GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: To change the topic, I tell him I'd heard that the Southern Caucasus, where he's from, are famous for haggling.
GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "It's the market - of course, you have to negotiate," says Goosenu. So I drop a lower offer. Goosenu smiles and agrees instantly.
GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "It's a holiday," he says. "I don't want you thinking about how much you spent." The implication - I could have gotten a better deal. To change the topic again and, well, because I'm a reporter - why not? - I asked him what he makes of Trump's new peace plan for Ukraine, the one everyone's talking about.
GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "I don't talk politics," he says, "turkeys and chickens, I can talk about all day." Not a bad policy for the Thanksgiving table. And then...
(SOUNDBITE OF BLOWTORCH STARTING)
MAYNES: ...Goosenu pulled out a blowtorch and began running it over the turkey, my turkey.
GOOSENU: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: "It's so there's no hair on it," he explained. As the butane flame spilled over the bird and its skin started to bubble, I quickly pulled out my wallet and paid up. If not this deal, then at least my turkey was on its way to well-done. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.
(SOUNDBITE OF FLKS' "TAILWIND") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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