He really didn’t want to dine out because he would have had to endure multiple vodka toasts at a Russian dinner. The closet Muslim thing, y’know.
Couldn't the Russians have accomodated them by giving him a Black Russian.
("Oh, I get it, A Black Russian. A joke. I get it. He's black.")
Russians don’t mind if you don’t drink, but if you do you’d better keep up !