The best souvenirs are those that are specific to the place you visited and, ideally, made by local people. You’ll not only be buying something special but you’ll also be supporting the local economy. If you’re traveling to Hungary and are hoping to bring back a memorable gift, here is a list of ideas for [...]
Exactly seven weeks before Easter, the streets of Mohács come alive with the annual Busójárás Carnival. The pre-Lent festival features locals wearing sheepskin costumes while parading and dancing in the streets. Busójárás lasts six days, starting on Thursday and ending the day before Ash Wednesday. The carnival ends with a symbolic ritual called ‘The Burial [...]
From imperial palaces, trotting white horses, lush gardens to chandelier-lit coffeehouses and fine wines, Vienna doesn’t disappoint when it comes to romance. So, if you’re looking to do something special to spark a little love in your life, here are just a few of the best things on offer in this historical city. Admire “The [...]
In 1913, the 7th Congress of the International Women’s Suffrage Alliance (IWSA) met in Budapest. The aim of the convention was to raise public awareness of women’s issues in Hungary. In particular, the alliance wanted to work with city council to establish a women’s aid office as well as day care centers. Here’s a look [...]
A larger-than size bronze statue of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was unveiled today at the Graphisoft Park in Budapest. The statue was commissioned by Graphisoft Founder and Chairman of the Board Gabor Bojar. The relationship between Graphisoft and Apple can be traced to the 1980’s, when Jobs came across the first version of Graphisoft’s ArchiCAD [...]
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Commonly most of the regions’ festivities begin with the period of Advent which is four weeks prior to Christmas and the feast of Saint Nicholas on the 6th of December. Although the celebration of the season is shared, each country has developed their [...]
Honey cake is one of the most popular traditional desserts in Croatia. It consists of thin layers of biscuit made with honey and vanilla flavored cream filling. This version contains both vanilla and cocoa which gives it just the right amount of sweetness. It makes a great accompaniment with tea or coffee. For the biscuit [...]
Originating as a staple for herdsman’s traveling across the great plains of Hungary many centuries ago, goulash is one of Hungary’s most famous dishes. A hearty soup of beef, vegetables, and paprika, goulash gets its flavor from being cooked slowly over a long period of time. Making goulash is fairly simple but to make a [...]
Often referred to as “Hungary’s red gold”, paprika has become synonymous with Hungarian food due to its ability to add excellent flavor and color to various traditional dishes. There are several versions of paprika ranging from édes (sweet) to eros (hot) as well as everything in between. Below is a list of the types of paprika [...]
Czechs love beer. Whether it’s the water, hops, or simply that Pilsner was invented here, beer is undeniably central to Czech culture. To help you prepare for a great beer drinking experience in the Czech Republic, here are a few interesting facts about Czech beer. • Czechs consume more beer than any other country in [...]
There are a lot of legends about wine. Of the more strange and unusual is the parallel with bull’s blood. Bull’s blood also known locally as “Egri Bikavér” is a potent, dry red wine that is from the Eger wine region in northern Hungary. It is reputed to have earned its name from the 16th-century invasion by [...]
Launched in September, “The Tokaji Journal“, is a new digital wine magazine that focuses exclusively on the wines of Tokaj, both dry and sweet. The magazine’s aim is to provide the latest news, trends, and information about these unique wines to an English-speaking audience worldwide. Editor Gergely Somogyi shares with us his inspiration for launching the magazine. [...]
Looking for a taste of Russian cuisine? Want to learn how to prepare borsch, blinchiki, or even tvorog (Russian farmer’s cheese)? Well, Julia Kolker shows her readers how on her personal food blog. It features a variety of Russian recipes as well as everyday cooking and baking. Here’s a short interview with Julia Kolker about her blog, Yulinka Cooks. Who [...]
Introduction Hungarian winter salami is one of the most popular types of cured meats in the world. This flavorful and unique salami is best known by its original maker, Pick Szeged which produces a variety of meat products in Hungary. Winter salami of Szeged is made with pork and a variety of spices from a [...]
Introduction There are few wines in the world that can compare to Tokaji. This luscious sweet wine has been Hungary’s crowning glory for hundreds of years. It is one of the oldest wines in the world even before Port and the classification of Bordeaux. Throughout the 17th and 18th century, Tokaji was a cherished commodity enjoyed [...]
Almond paste is used in a variety of cakes and pastries such as stollen, strudel, macaroons, etc. It is a very common ingredient used throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Unlike marzipan, almond paste has less sugar and more almond flavor. The following is a standard recipe for making almond paste. If you do not have a food processor, you [...]
Brot (bread) is an essential part of German food. There are about 300 types of dark and white breads and over 1,200 of rolls and mini-breads known in the various regions of Germany. Furthermore, different techniques and ingredients are used in bread making throughout the country. Here is a list of the most common bread and roll types. Bauernbrot (Farmer’s Bread) Bauernbrot is [...]
With beautifully embroidered costumes and energetic music, Hungarian folk dancing is rooted in rich culture and heritage. It originally began as a pastime for villagers many years ago. Although folk dancing may not be a part of daily life in Hungary anymore, it is still celebrated and embraced by many people. Here is a featured [...]
Hungary has a long and distinguished history of winemaking. Grapes were first known to be cultivated in the area by Romans over 2000 years ago. The country’s diverse climate of hot and humid summers, dry autumns, and rainy springs to cold winters makes it an ideal place for winemaking. Its best-known wines are Tokaji Aszu, a [...]
Pasta is an important part of Central and Eastern European cuisine. Some of the most popular types of pasta include spätzle, a German egg pasta that is round in shape, and tarhonya, a very small Hungarian egg barley pasta similar to couscous. This recipe is suited for making basic pasta. It can be used in a variety of soups, main courses, and [...]
No trip to Austria is complete without enjoying a delicious Mozartkugel. These delightfully rich chocolates are sold everywhere in the country, and are a typical Austrian souvenir. So, why not learn how to make one of the best and most unique chocolates in the world? Cafe Konditorei Dallmann located in St. Gilgen offers visitors the [...]
Here is a collection of photos of Hungarian culture and heritage. Enjoy!
