January 31, 2012
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 [...]
January 18, 2012
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 [...]
January 8, 2012
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 [...]
December 15, 2011
To Hungarian children, of course, it’s all about Mikulás. But for the grown-ups, Christmas celebrations in Hungary focus a lot on the culinary delights. Here are a few of the highlights. Halászlé (Fish Soup) As a relic of the earlier church tradition of fasting for Advent, it is still traditional for fish to be eaten [...]
November 23, 2011
Budapest has eight bridges that extend across the Danube. Each of these bridges have played an important role in the development and infrastructure of the city. Some have even become icons because of their influence and engineering wonder while others are known for their remarkable beauty. Here’s a brief highlight of each bridge that includes some [...]
October 11, 2011
Located in the heart of Budapest, the First Strudel House of Pest is a unique café and restaurant dedicated to preserving the art and tradition of strudel making. The menu features a variety of both sweet and savory strudel including cottage cheese, apple, sour cherry, and cabbage. There is also the option to select speciality [...]
July 29, 2011
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 [...]
July 18, 2011
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, [...]
May 28, 2011
You spent months planning a trip to Budapest. Now it’s raining. Don’t fret. Contrary to what most people may think, a rainy day doesn’t mean a bad day. Here are some things to keep you entertained when the weather isn’t cooperating. 1. Sit and relax at one of the many traditional coffeehouses in Budapest. Some [...]
May 13, 2011
Hungaricum refers to something that is characteristically and typically Hungarian which can include speciality foods, drinks, traditional clothing, animals, customs, and even fine works of art. Much of these things can be attributed to Hungary’s rich and diverse cultural history. Here are some of the most well-known Hungaricums. Paprika Paprika is the national spice of Hungary and used [...]