The tradition of zakuski is linked to the Swedish and Finnish brännvinsbord which was also the ancestor of modern smörgåsbord[1] and to meze of the Ottoman Empire and other Middle Eastern cultures.[8] Zakuski are not served as in Scandinavia at the buffet but on the dining table. Zakuski are also a food-in-itself and often not just served as starter to a meal. Zakuski were kept in the houses of the Russian gentry for feeding casual visitors who travelled long distances and whose arrival time was often unpredictable.[3] At banquets and parties, zakuski were often served in a separate room adjacent to the dining room or on a separate table in the dining room.