The Hungarian Girl » Central Eastern European Food

Famous chocolate brands from Central & Eastern Europe

The Hungarian Girl — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:43:36 +0000

European chocolate is known around the world and there is certainly no shortage of great chocolates from Central and Eastern Europe. Here are just a few of the most popular and biggest name brands.

Bonbonetti – Hungary

The Bonbonetti brand of chocolate and sweets tops the list of candy brands in Hungary. It’s most popular products are it’s traditional, wafer rolls with fillings. Other brand name products include “Tibi” and ”Cherry Queen.”

Casali - Austria

Founded in 1782, Casali first started production of rosolios, rum and punch in the port city of Trieste. The products quickly began a favorite among the royals of the Habsburg family. Eventually, the company was relocated to Vienna. Today, Casali is also well-known for its chocolates including the brand ”Schoko-Bananen“. These unqiue chocolates are made from original Chiquita bananas, containing a foamy banana mouse surrounded by fine dark chocolate.

E.Wedel – Poland

E.Wedel is Poland’s largest confectionery company producing many varieties of chocolates, cakes, and snacks. It’s best known brands include “Ptasie Mleczko“, “Torcik Wedlowski“, and “Pawelek.” Nowadays Wedel brand belongs to Cadbury, but all traditional products of E.Wedel, including Ptasie Mleczko, are still sold under the Wedel brand.

Hachez – Germany

Hachez is Germany’s second largest manufacturer of chocolate products. The company dates back to 1890 and was founded by Joseph Emile Hachez. It’s leading products consist of either 55.5, 77, or 88% cocoa solids.

Jutrzenka – Poland

Jutrzenka was established in 1918 and is based in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The company produces a wide variety of chocolates including the following brands, ”Wafle Familijne” (Family Wafers), “Jezyki“, “Mella jelly“, “Goplana chocolate” and “Rajskie Mleczko.”

Milka – Germany

Owned by Kraft Foods, Milka is the best-selling brand of milk chocolate in Germany. It was created in 1901 in Switzerland, by chocolatier Philippe Suchard. The chocolates are distinctively packaged in purple wrapping with an image of a simmental cow. The brand is also well-known in Austria, Serbia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, and Poland.

ORION – Czech Republic

Orion (known as the “blue star”) is the largest producer of chocolate in the Czech Republic and is now part of Nestlé S.A. Founded by František Maršner in 1889, Orion’s brand of chocolates include “Margot“, “Milena“, and “Kofila.”

Mirabell - Austria

Mirabell is the largest industrial producer of the “Mozartkugel“, better known as Mozart chocolate balls in Austria. These iconic chocolates consists of a core of Marzipan, surrounded by light praline cream, and then coated with a layer of dark chocolate. All chocolates bear the image of Mozart with red and gold foil wrapping. Mirabell produces over 90 million Mozartkugeln per year and currently exports to over 30 countries throughout the world including Canada, Iceland, Israel and Japan.

Lucky New Year Foods from Central and Eastern Europe

The Hungarian Girl — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:06:35 +0000

Miniature pigs made of marzipan are considered lucky in places like Austria and Germany.

All around the world people eat specific foods to bring good luck, longevity, and prosperity for the upcoming year.

The following is a list of how countries in Central and Eastern Europe celebrate the new year with food.

Austria

Suckling pig is eaten and the table is sometimes decorated with miniature pigs made of marzipan or chocolate. The pig symbolizes good luck and fortune in the year to come.

Croatia

In Croatia, minced beef and rice is rolled into large cabbage leaves. This sarma is said to bring health and wealth.

Germany

Germans enjoy fish for New Year’s. Folklore says that herring should be eaten at midnight to ensure luck. Germans also feast on roast pork, sauerkraut and sausages.

Hungary

A very lucky dish is a suckling pig with a four-leaf clover in its mouth. The custom of eating pork on New Year’s is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving, and the forward movement indicates prosperity for the future. Lentil soup is also another lucky dish prepared for New Year’s as it’s green color and round shape symbolize money.

Poland

Bread is baked everywhere in Poland for New Year’s. The dough is often shaped in the form of animals like rabbits, sheep, geese, and cows to assure wealth and good luck. Breads in round or ring shapes are also very lucky. In some areas of Poland, paczki or donuts are baked.

Romania

In Romania, lucky foods include minced meat in cabbage rolls, sausages, cookies and all sorts of goodies, because it is believed that if the New Year dinner is rich, so will the next year. Palinca which is a plum brandy is a very popular drink associated with New Year celebrations.

Braised red cabbage

The Hungarian Girl — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:56:37 +0000

: Braised Red Cabbage

This flavorful dish pairs well with duck or goose. Perfect for a holiday dinner.

You may choose to adjust or add your own seasoning.

Ingredients

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 red cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
3 apples, peeled, cored & grated
1/4 cup (50 ml) red wine
1/4 cup (50 ml) apple cider
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
3 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Using a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat and cook onions until soft.

Add cabbage, apples, wine, vinegar, sugar, apple cider, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. Simmer until tender, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.