![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BmwJ42X3-QeN7mqUoHEEX8Pp7M-SQnTmUIYYqNCpjyOzZvdg4_BVTSqLeg_UvICbGHXZZ9JIogtFEVKy9eTJrTh7VU2RAhincyobXYdImSZWG5jm7KU0RAm5jiMuC08d8Ot57olmLLUf/s320/DSC04980.jpg) |
Paprika in the making |
For me, no trip would be complete without sampling the host country's local culinary delights. My trip to Budapest was no exception. I feel as though I ate my way through the week.......and it was so good!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuv1Ilp4a1MnyPJ76hYivdwvoOyxzY4fPQvDtJFfk82ImymlIxuotTpO332VX_VQfSVcaCy1QXg2Oejg-QgiffleXMpGj1_wn8JIpBhm2DHQuG8-dKoAfqBtQNiiNUiYn0G9rtkIiY8LZ/s200/DSC04931.JPG) |
Goulash |
|
Paprikas Csirke with Galuska
|
Hungary is known for its paprika so I made sure to sample a few of its paprika laced foods. We have all heard of goulash and I had eaten it a few times before my Budapest trip. Earlier versions had always been thick like a stew. The goulash I ate in Hungary was different; it was more like a spicy beef stew. It was better than the earlier versions I had tasted. The infamous paprika chicken was pretty darn good. Being a carb lover, it tasted even better when served on top of a pasta dumpling. What was even better however, was hortobagyi palacsinta, a chicken filled crepe smothered in a peppery cream sauce. My friend Laura introduced me to this at
21 Maygar and it was probably the best dish I ate during my trip.
Spring is asparagus season. I have yet to find fresh asparagus in Albania. I haven't seen it in the markets and the Albanians I've asked don't know what asparagus is. I have found asparagus in the freezer case of Conad where it is imported to us from Italy. The few times I've tried it I have been so disappointed that I have stopped buying it. Because of this I was so happy to discover that asparagus is abundant in the spring along the Danube River. While in Budapest I enjoyed several meals of steamed asparagus. Straight up and unadulterated by sauces, fresh asparagus is a gastronomical delight.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5oYBu95PqD3KwkM9qCGoYr2syCvOZvcGvexQsKD3e7oqY4syMdM_rogvOkJKYUkY5tn27kEgjl56bJhUibqPc_-xAIUpasmyenFyElRc0w2qz7Rfw3UAByquOaM7PxQhVP18IfW4TgMS/s320/DSC04915.JPG) |
Making Kurtos Kalacs at a neighborhood market |
I've found that street foods are often my favorite meals while traveling. Kurtos Kalacs, a hollow honey cake cooked over hot coals, was my Hungarian discovery. One long strip of dough is wrapped around a wooden spindle then baked over the fire until brown. Dipped in sugar or cinnamon it was a tasty snack. The fact that the woman cooking them was dressed in traditional garb only added to the experience.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPzzsX74popqDGrYJpkYaeCX-zWWf2Hpa0vJIuRv2-glBCsZP0gGBaZwCIqgzKOVMjD7TrpiUn3bnc_l1dBwa5afseYZTD8UvR__Mt1nyIozF1Konks6pFhrpGPFNUrRi1j8Nq7z5ZM9x/s200/DSC04930.jpg) |
Hungarian wine |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAcUOwWD0PqnVPofdgTzfIdVPIfWG7Izn4vrcW2gr1D0xaSPXDY5Jn92YaTX9y5SsHV-fp7jFnoP1bh7Ocfu03QwZjyaDTH_NhmmmcrNxOGq0dSsKN3Eqb705NWq-rIDBpFP1rAlKHdlV/s200/DSC04922.jpg) |
Local cappuccino |
And let us not forget the drinks and desserts. I was introduced to Hungarian wines by friends from the Hungarian Embassy here in Tirana. I'm a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon and those that I sampled did not disappoint. My other favorite beverage is coffee. Yes, there was a Starbucks next door to my hotel but I found myself preferring local coffees. Much to my delight, the first cappuccino I ordered outside of Starbucks arrived as a drink layered with foam, coffee, hot milk, and local honey. It was a surprising combination but I loved it. And it was pretty too.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNRmszFk_KM5dW9Qm2BP7UMsNQYdBo33HNwNWDDFzhZdvHtL9jmaB6KuzM8vaqlcvPow1Vl7LrM3sdUaTMpqvg-J51GKk-LVqlZ9JlrV_Y5mP0-EoMVxSmGhSH9sacdP_NbMI0uje-d24/s200/DSC04841.JPG) |
Bite sized treats are so easy to eat |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DDS1aciis2BxmEMXX_wJwiWw3yRPwdH2wCGiUdU6wPLrA1FnCebBOl2mQCJU6i_wHzNCCtx3DgJNjbJ9PsuJz2_hFMocSy7kMFyJLow8xTC27AGub0ZllCATvgiao4vLn6eLfvnuV5Zb/s200/DSC04979.JPG) |
Dessert |
Within a weeks time span I ate too many fruit and cheese filled strudels. They were all bite sized, which made them all the easier to consume. (It was a good thing I did as much walking as I did). Fruit seemed to play a large role in most desserts and pastries since in addition to the above mentioned strudels, I sampled a strawberry shortcake type dessert with a vanilla custard cream and crispy wafer accompanying the fresh strawberries. The biggest hit for this chocolate lover, however, was a crepe filled with chocolate sauce and sour cherries. Now that was a great way to end a meal.
No comments:
Post a Comment