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 [...]
There are a lot of legends about wine. Of the more strange and usual 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 [...]
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. [...]
Hungary has a vast array of alcoholic beverages including quality wines and beers, as well as liqueurs and brandies that are made exclusively in the country. Here are a few suggestions of various drinks to try. Egészségedre! (Cheers!) Palinka Produced in both Hungary and Transylvania, this traditional brandy is made from various kinds of fruit such [...]
After spending an enjoyable day at the Budapest International Wine Festival last week, I thought I would share some of my favorite moments. Arriving in style If you know Budapest, you know how painfully slow your journey can be through the city. I tend to walk, sometimes it’s the quickest way, but this time I [...]
Google, the most popular search engine, honored the life of Albert von Szent-Györgyi de Nagyrápolt on his 118th birthday anniversary today with a doodle on its hompage. Szent-Györgyi is credited with discovering vitamin C and the components and reactions of the citric acid cycle. Born in Budapest on September 16, 1893, Szent-Györgyi’s family included three [...]
The Budapest International Wine Festival is the largest and most prestigious wine festival in Hungary. Featuring wines from across the country and the world, the festival is a great opportunity for visitors to learn about the history of Hungarian wine making and meet renowned wine makers, while enjoying traditional Hungarian music and gastronomic delights. Several [...]
Lecsó is a Hungarian vegetable stew. It is a real summer dish. Most recipes recommend using sweet yellow Hungarian peppers, which are in season from August until October but bell peppers can also be used. There are many varieties of lecsós and every household has their own way of preparing it but the main ingredients usually include tomatoes and peppers [...]
When it comes to enjoying a satisfying meal in Hungary, changes are you’ll probably have to dine in at a sit-down restaurant. But that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t a few good options when it comes to sampling local food on the go. Here are a some of the most popular kinds of street food [...]
Learning about Hungarian wines can seem pretty daunting. All those hard-to-pronounce names, obscure labels, and a rather complex classification system, would even turn the most dedicated of wine enthusiasts away. But if you’re willing to spend some time and effort, you’ll discover a very rewarding part of the wine world. Here are some suggestions to [...]
This savory cheese spread is a favorite in Hungary. Almost every household has a special way of making it but the essential ingredients usually include “bryndza” (a type of sheep’s milk cheese), butter, paprika and herbs. Its best to prepare Körözött the day before to allow the flavors to settle. Ingredients 1/2 pound brindza or [...]
New York’s population has been diverse since the city’s founding by the Dutch. Successive waves of immigrants from virtually every nation in the world have settled in this city. This is perhaps most evident in the range of neighborhoods, many of which include ethnic enclaves. There is Little Italy, Chinatown, and “Spanish,” or East Harlem, [...]
The Tom Lantos Institute was officially inaugurated in parliament this week with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her predecessor Condoleezza Rice leading the ceremonies. The institute, named after Hungarian-born U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, was established to promote tolerance and support minority issues in Central and Eastern Europe and in the world. “This represents [...]
This is a simple recipe for making cherry filling that can be used in any pastry. Keep in mind that if you’re using sour or tart cherries, you may need to add more sugar according to your desired sweetness. Ingredients 5 to 6 cups (2 1/2 to 3 pounds) fresh pitted cherries 1/2 cup (125 ml) water 2 tbsp fresh lemon [...]
