food

PHOTOS: Renovated restaurant in Budapest City Park is stunning

Városliget Café & Restaurant can continue to operate the restaurant and the Ornamental Hall in the City Park Ice Rink (Városligeti Műjégpálya) building in Budapest. Thanks to the winning tender, the team that has been working there for 10 years has renovated two rooms of the restaurant to fit in with the Summer on the Lake – Winter on Ice concept. Check out how the revamped restaurant and café looks now!

Tender won: renovation implemented

The Városliget Café & Restaurant, located in one of the most beautiful parts of Budapest, will continue to operate with renewed vigour after its contract was extended through a tender. In line with the seasonal operation of the City Park Ice Rink and Boating Lake, the operator, part of the Eventrend Group, wants to better highlight the attraction values of the facility, Lelépő writes.

The aim is to highlight the historical and cultural past, the built heritage and the fact that Europe’s largest outdoor ice rink can be found here. In terms of the interior, there is a stronger emphasis on the historical and atmospheric presentation of the sporting life of the city of Budapest.

Exceptional themes and decoration

It is an important ambition of the restaurant’s management to better match the atmosphere of the restaurant with the boating and skating experience. One hall, for example, is entirely dedicated to boating. In the middle of the room is a table for twelve, made from a real boat.

There are also water lilies and willows in the hall. The room as a whole has been given warmer lights, adding to the romantic atmosphere.

Main hall is now a winter sports hall

The main hall has been converted into a winter sports hall. Everything here is focused on skating and winter activities such as sledging. The primary aim was to create an interior atmosphere reminiscent of the ice rink and the City Park. A variety of truly curio skates and skis, some of which date back to the 1940s, are displayed in the hall.

The serving of featured dishes is also adapted to the local winter-summer activities: some dishes arrive in boat-shaped bowls, or even with a sledge, Lelépő writes. Dinner is made even more enjoyable by guitar music.

In terms of gastronomic offer, the leaders insist on the need to respond to the demands of the modern age while preserving the Carpathian Basin roots. Some of the restaurant’s recipes are taken from period cookbooks and recipe books of old cooks, combined with the knowledge and innovation of master chefs.

Read also:

December 3, 2023

Hungarian billionaire buys foreign retail chain in Hungary

auchan supermarket chain Auchan Magyarország

French retail chain Auchan is now under Hungarian ownership in the country. It is currently the ninth largest retail chain in Hungary. The Hungarian Indotek Group has now acquired a 47% stake in the chain. Group founder-owner Daniel Jellinek believes it is realistic for Auchan to become a top 3 player in five to six years under their ownership.

Auchan under Hungarian ownership

The short-term changes will not affect the operational management of Auchan. However, Indotek will be involved in strategic decisions. Plans include leveraging the synergies between Auchan and Indotek, as well as their real estate experience and retail network, to open new stores in the future, with a particular focus on rural cities, according to a statement to Index.

“Following the signing of the contract, the transaction was notified to the European Union’s Competition Authority in accordance with the legal requirements, as the consolidated turnover of both parties involved in the deal, i.e. Auchan and Indotek Group, justified this,” Indotek told Economx. Jellinek said that the group has entered the retail market in an increasing number of European countries in recent years, with its investments increasingly open to the agri-food sector.

Now 9th, Auchan plans to become 3rd in 5-6 years

A significant element of this opening was the acquisition of a 47% stake in Auchan Magyarország Ltd, a financial investor in the Hungarian department store operator. The Indotek Group also purchased the the company owning 100% of the retail premises in the shopping area of Auchan stores.

“Our plan is to become the 3rd largest player in the market in terms of market share within five to six years, as we have the capital and presence to do so after the transaction closes,”

Jellinek said. By comparison, Lidl is currently the leader in terms of sales, with SPAR and Tesco following. But for now, Auchan is overtaken by Coop, CBA, Aldi, Penny and even Reál. This means that from ninth position, they would race up to third by 2028-2029.

The competition aspects are still to be clarified. Following a notification to the European Union’s Competition Authority, a procedure is pending, which has not yet been notified to the Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH). The date for the conclusion of the procedure is still unknown.

In assessing the competition barriers, the GVH must take into account the advantages and disadvantages of the merger, the market structure, competition and the impact of the merger on consumers and the undertakings concerned, Portfolio writes. The further plans and strategies of Indotek and Auchan will become known after the competition law process has been completed.

Read also:

November 29, 2023

Charming Christmas traditions in Hungarian families – Part 1

The most important Hungarian winter traditions - PART I.

The Advent and Christmas periods are brimming with unique customs and traditions, blending religious origins with influences from other nations. However, we should keep in mind that each family cherishes its own special way of celebrating with distinct practices. Here are some examples of Hungarian Christmas traditions.

Advent wreath

The Advent season starts on the Sunday after St Andrew’s Day, the 30th of November. Many Hungarian families decorate their homes with Advent wreaths, infusing the anticipation for Christmas with an intimate touch. Typically crafted from evergreen materials, Advent wreaths feature four candles symbolising the four weeks leading up to Christmas. The wreath itself also symbolises Jesus’ life and the candles represent the expectation of his birth.

Nativity play

The Nativity play, known as ‘betlehemezés‘, is a play accompanied by singing. It narrates the story of Jesus’ birth, encompassing Herod’s actions, Mary and Joseph’s escape and the visit of the three kings. Sometimes it even includes a handmade nativity scene, carried from house to house. Following the show, hosts invite the dressed-up actors, offering delicious food and drinks as tokens of appreciation. Nativity plays are common in Hungarian schools, where students work on it as a project, learn their lines and perform for their parents.

Christmas tree

The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree traces back to the 16th century, with the belief that evergreens ward off evil spirits and bring health and luck. Initially, people adorned their homes only with cut branches. However, later this practise progressed to entire trees. Christmas decorations in the past involved candles, apples and handmade ornaments crafted from wood or textiles. In Hungary, the widespread adoption of Christmas trees only emerged in the 19th century.

Christmas delicacies

While each family has its unique Christmas meals, certain staples are present in every Hungarian household. Did you know these dishes carry symbolic meanings? The traditional Hungarian Christmas pastry, bejgli, usually comes in two flavours: poppy seeds and walnuts. Back in the day, people believed that poppy seeds bring fortune, while walnut repel malicious intentions. Fish soup is also very important, as fish scales are believed to bring prosperity to the household. Discover the best fish soup in Budapest and learn to make it at home HERE. If you fancy tasting Hungarian wines in Budapest, come and sample special Hungarian drinks and meals in the capital’s marvellous Christmas fairs – explore more HERE.

Hungarian Christmas Superfoods - Fish soup — Source: Facebook / Street Kitchen

November 27, 2023

Iconic American fast-food restaurant to come to Hungary

Iconic American fast food restaurant will come to Hungary

The Five Guys, the favourite dining place of former US President Barack Obama, is ready to start its first restaurant in Budapest. However, we do not know yet exactly when.

According to parameter.sk, a Hungarian media outlet in Slovakia, Monterock International received permission to open Five Guys fast food restaurants in Central and Eastern Europe. The agreement concerns five countries in the region. In Austria, they will get the operation of two already functioning restaurants. Furthermore, by 2028, they are going to open new dining places in Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, the company told the press.

Monterock is to take over two popular Viennese restaurants. The first one is in the district of Graben, close to the Stephansplatz. The second one is in the Millennium City Mall.

The American restaurant may be expensive for us

The bad news is that the prices in the Five Guys are high compared to an average Hungarian salary. A hamburger costs EUR 12, a cheeseburger is EUR 13, while a small fries is EUR 5.5. In Hungary, the average wage was EUR 1,447 in November, but the median is only around EUR 1,000. That is why, for example, a McDonald’s cheeseburger menu (cheeseburger+fries+small drink) costs only about EUR 2.5. Provided Five Guys plans to operate at similar prices to Austria, their restaurants will not be affordable for most Hungarians. Even if the ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and other sauces are included in that price.

Based on the Monterock, Five Guys is one of the world’s fastest-growing and acknowledged fast-food restaurant chains. They have 1,850 places to eat in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The restaurant became world-known after it introduced a system in which guests could assemble their sandwiches and choose from multiple dozens of toppings based on their individual preferences. As a result, you may design and make more than 250 thousand different burgers.

A similar Hungarian initiative is Chef Simon Tóth’s Simon’s Burger.

Operating restaurants is not the only area Monterock International is active in. They invest in property, food and drinks, as well.

Great news for Christmas! A Hungarian favourite may get cheaper

In contrast to 2022, fish products in Hungary are expected to be 10-12% cheaper this year.

The significant drop in feed prices, coupled with wetter weather, has yielded positive results for fish farms. Labour and energy costs have continued to rise this year, but producers are still able to sell fish to traders 10-12% cheaper than last year.

It remains to be seen to what extent this will be passed on to consumers by traders. Preliminary expectations are that the price of live carp will be between HUF 1,800-2,200 (EUR 5.27) per kilogram, while sliced carp will cost between HUF 3,500-4,000 (EUR 9.87). The price of fillets of African catfish will be around HUF 4,000 (10.53), while the price of filleted grey catfish will range between HUF 7,500-8,000 (EUR 21.07) per kilo this season, vg.hu reports.

According to a survey of Agroinform.hu, 85% of Christmas fish consumers prefer carp, but 32% also buy catfish for the Christmas feast. African catfish also sells well at this time of year (13%), as do bream and salmon (11-11%).

One of the most popular dishes among Hungarians at Christmas is fish soup, but fried fish is also a common dish on Hungarian tables. And if you’re in the mood for fine wine, here are some of the best ones in Budapest.

Read also: Christmas approaching: novelties at popular Christmas fair, ice rinks open in Budapest

November 23, 2023

Restaurant opened on the top of Budapest’s ‘skyscraper’, the MOL Campus

New restaurant on the rooftop of Budapest's MOL Campus

VIRTU Restaurant opened its doors on the 28th floor of Budapest’s towering ‘skyscraper’, the MOL Campus, on 22nd November. The panoramic spectacle offers a breathtaking vista of Budapest and its surrounding hills, elevating guests to an awe-inspiring 120 metres above the majestic River Danube.

As reported by portfolio.hu, this new culinary gem boasts a fine dining experience with a seating capacity of 150. Accessible via a striking elevator from the MOL Campus Visitor’s Centre or a separate ground-floor entrance, the restaurant promises not only a feast for the palate but also a feast for the eyes.

Breathtaking view from the restaurant:

With an open-air area and multiple separate spaces, VIRTU caters to gatherings ranging from intimate parties of 6-8 to larger events accommodating up to 150 individuals. The VIRTU team offers a bespoke culinary experience, tailoring menus for both small and large groups. Additionally, guests can savour cakes, coffee or refreshments in a lounge-like ambience.

VIRTU’s kitchen is led by 26-year-old Levente Lendvai, who arrived from the Arany Kaviár Hungarian restaurant.

Read also:

Budapest McDonald’s among most elegant worldwide – Read more HERE
Hungary’s international cuisine: a taste of the world in Budapest – Details in THIS article

November 23, 2023

Famous Hungarian restaurant to close its doors for the last time

The Petrus restaurant in Ferencváros declared that it is closing permanently. The responsible chef, Zoltán Feke, has posted on Facebook announcing the closure.

The popular Petrus restaurant is a special French- influenced restaurant located in the ninth district. It offered excellent quality foods at a lower price for guests, which is why it has received a Michelin Bib Gourmand nomination no less than eight times. Zoltán Feke didn’t explain the reasons behind the closing; however, he highlighted that the decision was extremely hard to make.

One possible reason could be the decreased tourism this year, even though that could only be felt mostly in the holiday destinations. As such, the Lake Balaton region didn’t have a strong start to the summer season. In contrast, Budapest didn’t flounder, the restaurants are doing well, as long as they are located near tourist attractions. Now, the main income for most is from tourists, as many Hungarians have decided to cut back on expenses due to inflation. You can read more about the restaurant industry’s crisis HERE.

In the case of the Petrus closing, it’s not impossible that one of the contributing factors was the lack of tourists. The restaurant will close its doors for the last time in the middle of November, according to Blikk. Zoltán Feke also added that he’s not quitting the culinary scene. He wrote, “There will be a continuation, elsewhere, a bit differently, but the French line is eternal!”

Read about a brand new restaurant in Budapest HERE.

November 20, 2023

Permanent price reductions at Lidl Hungary in two crucial categories

Lidl has made significant price cuts in two product categories. According to the supermarket chain, the discounted prices for bakery products and poultry meat will remain in place for the long term.

Lidl has cut the prices of dozens of bakery products as part of its year-long price reduction programme. What is more, the price of most Hungarian fresh poultry meat has also been permanently reduced. In total, more than 600 products have been reduced since January as part of the price reduction programme, Pénzcentrum reports.

Lidl informed Pénzcentrum that in line with the government’s efforts, it is continuously working to bring down food inflation. Among the products that have been cut in price are basic foodstuffs and a number of popular and sought-after items.

Poultry meat and bakery products cheaper

bread bakery croissant — Source: Pixabay

The supermarket chain has permanently reduced the prices of most of its Hungarian fresh poultry meat, which can be as much as 10% lower for some products.

This means paying less for meat such as turkey breast, turkey leg fillet, turkey wing, turkey neck, turkey gizzard, turkey liver, turkey minced meat and chicken liver, chicken neck, chicken gizzard, chicken leg fillets, chicken soup packets, chicken drumsticks, duck legs and duck breast fillets, but also GMO-free poultry products will be cheaper.

“We have permanently reduced the consumer prices of 30 Hungarian poultry products, which are a staple of Hungarian cuisine and are included in the shopping basket of almost every customer,” said Judit Tőzsér, Head of Corporate Communications.

The supermarket chain has a wide range of bakery products, dozens of which have been priced even lower than before. Judit Tőzsér said that a quarter of the current bakery supply is affected by the latest measure. Several bakery products are up to 15 percent cheaper.

Pénzcentrum has also learned that in addition to its weekly promotions, the chain also offers additional discounts to its customers. The “We give more” (“Többet adunk”) promotions offer a 20-50% discount on products instead of the mandatory 15%.

Read also:

November 16, 2023

A Hungarian favourite: poppy seed bread pudding (mákos guba) cake for Christmas! – recipe

I’m sure I’m not the only one who can’t wait for Christmas: who could resist all those delicious foods and drinks on the table? Especially if you’re Hungarian or spend the winter holiday in Hungary, you’re most likely in for a treat in the dining room. Among many traditional Hungarian Christmas dishes, mákos guba (poppy seed bread pudding) is one of my favourites. Even more so if it’s made as a cake! Find the recipe of the mákos guba cake below.

Ingredients of the mákos guba cake

mákos guba recipe — Mákos guba. Source: YouTube/Nosalty

8 dried (or just old) bread rolls (kifli)
1 l milk for the base, 2,5 dl milk for the cream
3 egg yolks for the base, 2 egg yolks for the cream
15 dkg icing sugar for the base, 15 dkg icing sugar for the cream
2 packets vanilla sugar for the base, 2 packets vanilla sugar for the cream
10 dkg butter for the base, 20 dkg butter for the cream
15 dkg ground poppy seeds for the base
10 dkg raisins for the base
grated zest of 1 lemon for the base
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon for the base
3-4 tablespoons apricot jam for the base
1 packet vanilla pudding powder for the cream
2-3 dl whipped cream on top

How to prepared the mákos guba cake

According to magyarorszagom.hu, this is how you make the perfect mákos guba cake:

It’s worth buying the bread rolls the day before, so that they’re a bit dry rather than fresh. These rolls should be evenly sliced first, as this is the basis for the mákos guba.
Then, after cutting up the rolls, we start preparing the milk sauce as follows: add 10 dkg of butter to a litre of milk and heat it. Mix the 3 egg yolks with the 15 dkg of icing sugar and the 2 packets of vanilla sugar until smooth. Then, add to the milk, stirring slowly, and cook over a steam until thick.
Return to the bread rolls, sprinkle with the ground poppy seeds, cinnamon, raisins and grated lemon zest and mix. Once this is done, pour the boiled milk over the top, mix, making sure that the bread roll slices stay intact, and leave to stand for a while. The buns need a few minutes to absorb the liquid.
Sprinkle a buttered cake pan with breadcrumbs. Then, pour the poppy seedy and milky rolls into it. Spoon the jam over the top, spread it evenly and place in the preheated 100°C oven for 15-20 minutes.
When it is nicely browned, let it cool in the pan and then place it on a tray.
Time to make the cream. Mix 20 dkg butter with half the amount of icing sugar (7.5 dkg) until smooth and set aside.Mix the other half of the icing sugar with the 2 egg yolks, 2 packets of vanilla sugar and the pudding powder, then add the milk and cook for a few minutes, stirring continuously, until thick and then cool completely.
Add the sugared butter to the cooled pudding. When you have a smooth cream, you can spread it on top of the cooled poppy seedy rolls and put the whole thing in the fridge to cool and set.
Finally, whip the cream until stiff and decorate the cake with it.

Enjoy! Do let us know if you decide to try this delicacy.

Last year, we shared the recipe of the simple mákos guba – find it HERE.

November 14, 2023

Everybody knows and loves it: story of the Pöttyös Túró Rudi

There’s a timeless classic sweet, that has captured the heart of most Hungarians. Small ones and grown-ups alike, everybody knows and loves it. This sweet is none other than the Pöttyös Túró Rudi, which has been an integral part of the Hungarian life. This tasty treat was created roughly a lifetime ago and has been a national success story ever since.

A legend is made

In the 60’s a group of dairy specialists went on a visit to Moscow, where they discovered syrok, which is widely regarded as the forebear of the Túró Rudi. Once home, they started developing their own version. At the end of the initial testing period, they created a new product, but they couldn’t settle on a name. According to the group, they asked Sándor Klein for help. He came up with one, which upset the papers so much that they outright refused to advertise the product altogether. The scandalous name, you must have guessed it, is Túró Rudi. ‘Túró‘ stands for curd while ‘Rudi’ means small bar (or the nickname of Rudolf).

The final product, which did end up bearing the name ‘Túró Rudi’ featured sweet notes that came down to a slightly lemon-flavoured cottage cheese enveloped in a dark chocolate coating. Despite the lack of advertising, the product was a massive hit.
So much so that it quickly became a constant shortage item in shops. A noteworthy accomplishment even in an era characterised by shortages. To meet escalating demand, Túró Rudi relocated its operations to a larger facility in Mátészalka.

Demands were soaring, even though Túró Rudi used to have an extremely short shelf life of three days back in the day. In fact, it was even shorter since one out of the three days was spent in logistics. The company made its utmost to catch up with the demand.

Innovation is key

At the beginning of production, only one flavour existed. Still people flocked to the shops to get their hands on it.
However, the product had to undergo some important changes to keep up with customer trends. These changes came to pass, for example, as a longer shelf life, which lasted up to 14 days. In the 80s, the brand evolved to produce Túró Rudi in three separate factories, not only supplying the country but also delivering to the West.
The changes and the success story of Túró Rudi didn’t stop there. The company started experimenting with new products a well as flavours. Shortly, people with a sweet tooth could choose from hazelnut, strawberry and apricot varieties in the supermarkets.

The competition

Despite numerous attempts by rival companies to emulate the original Túró Rudi, none endured. Variously named Robi, with honey or walnut flavours, and even a vitamin-enriched version, these imitations weren’t long-lasting. Beyond Hungary’s borders, there are several other versions of the Pöttyös product. For example, the Austrians have Dots, that is widely known to be based on the Hungarian sweet. However, everybody knows that “Pöttyös az igazi”, which is the slogan of the Hungarian company, meaning that there is but one true Pöttyös.

Read more about Hungarian food specialties HERE.
Read more about Hungarian legacies HERE.

November 13, 2023

VIDEO: Disgusting worms crawling out from premium chocolate of a Hungarian shop

A customer made a video of disgusting worms crawling out from premium chocolate at the Hungarian Tesco shop in Tatabánya.

According to hvg.hu, the products were destroyed after the footage was published, and Tesco cleaned and fertilised the unit. The affected products were Lindt chocolate, and the worms came from the wrapping. The footage uploaded on Facebook has been viewed 440 thousand times since it appeared. Below, you can watch it:

Tesco said they destroyed the products visible in the video. Afterwards, the crew in the retail unit carried out a fertilising cleaning. Moreover, they will conduct a joint examination with the supply of the chocolate to evade such events. Tesco also examined their Tatabánya unit with their contracted exterminator partner.

Read also:

The 5 most disgusting Hungarian dishes according to foreigners – Read more HERE
Disgusting scenes from a restaurant in Budapest – Details, photos and video in THIS article

November 12, 2023

Budapest McDonald’s among most elegant worldwide

Almost every aspect of Hungary’s first McDonald’s restaurant on Régiposta (Olt Post) Street has been renovated. The project was completed for the 35th anniversary of the brand’s presence in Hungary. The renovation was completed with globally unique interior design solutions.

The first McDonald’s in the country, rebuilt by Market, has opened with interior design solutions that are unique in the world, Magyar Építők reports. The interior design is based on high quality materials used in exclusive restaurants. The project lasted four months and cost nearly HUF one billion (EUR 2.5 million). We wrote about the closure HERE, and about the reopening HERE. We also reported that the revamped fast food restaurant was opened by a Michelin-starred Hungarian star chef.

The first McDonald’s in the Eastern bloc:

budapest mcdonalds régiposta street — Hungary’s first McDonald’s on Régiposta Street, Budapest. Source: Wikimedia/Sarah Stierch (CC BY 4.0)

The redevelopment of McDonald’s iconic restaurant goes beyond the usual refurbishments of the rest of the chain. Using real natural elements, it reopened its doors in an exclusive new design. The interiors are dominated by black and gold, which add elegance and luxury to the space, Magyar Építők adds. The interior, a collaboration between Australian design studio Landini and Hungarian interior designer Géza Sass, echoes the elegant stone exterior of the restaurant.

The tables are not only made of real wood, but also of granite, like the side wall of the service counter. The exclusive look also extended to the lampshades, which were made of copper.

This use of materials is completely unique in the McDonald’s world, even by international standards.

Check out some breathtaking photos of the renovated McDonald’s HERE!

Read more:

McDonald’s in danger? Brand new fast food chain could take Hungary by storm

November 8, 2023

This is how much a Christmas tree and fish will cost in Hungary approaching the holidays

Neither pine trees nor fish are expected to become more expensive in Hungary over the Christmas period.

Farmers from Surdon, the largest pine-growing region of the country, spoke to ATV News about the expected price of pine wood in Hungary.

The region produces a significant portion of the country’s pine trees. Cutting will start in the second half of November, with preparations for the season already underway. Producers said that this year they may charge up to 20% more compared to the previous year due to rising expenses. Nonetheless, they believe that customers would no longer be willing to pay this price.

Fish is another essential aspect of the Christmas festivities in Hungary. The head of the Hortobágy fish farm said that the fish market is not expected to experience a surge in prices. Following last year’s price shock, feed costs have dropped this year, and energy prices have normalised, so we can buy Hungarian fish at affordable prices as early as November.

Károly Simon, CEO of Hortobágy Fish Farm, informed the television crew, ‘We will see roughly the same prices in the Christmas fish market as last year.’

November 7, 2023

200-year-old confectionery in Buda Castle closes doors after mayor’s bribery scandal

The Ruszwurm confectionery has been the talk of the city for the last two centuries. However, these past weeks, they surpassed themselves.

To say the least, the Ruszwurm has been a well-known spot that has survived multiple historical events. The building itself sustained some damage, but they kept open through every ordeal so far. This persistence seems to come to an end this year. The owner, Miklós Szamos, provided insight into the happenings at Ruszwurm and the Budavár district. You can read more about Ruszwurm HERE.

According to Miklós Szamos, the districtal mayor candidate of 2019, Márta V. Naszályi approached him and asked him for financial support for her campaign, which he promptly refused. Upon elaboration, he said he was aked for money a total of two times, and offered protection in exchange. This protection would mean that his confectionery can’t be closed for good. He refused both times.

Turns out, there’s actually an ongoing enforcement procedure against both Ruszwurm and the other concerned confectionery, Korona. There have been speculation flying around whether this enforcement is the doing of the present districtal mayor. Márta V. Naszályi denies these allegations. We wrote about the scandal around the confectionery a couple days ago, which you can read HERE.

She and the Budavár District have published an official response to the scandal and the speculation stemming from it. In this official response, they address the enforcement procedure and outline the happenings in a clear chronological order. Based on this account, the events were not so black and white as described above.

It started in 2015, when the, back then Fidesz-led, Budavár district terminated the lease agreement of the Ruszwurm premises. When the premises were not vacated, the district filed for eviction in 2019. This was still under the previous mayor, whom Márta V. Naszályi succeeded that same year.

The lawsuit was inherited by the new mayor, who has suspended the lawsuit on Ruszwurm Ltd.’s initiative to try and settle for an out-of-court agreement. When no preliminary agreement was reached, the lawsuit continued and was won by the district. When Ruszwurm Ltd. did not cooperate with the final judgement of the court, the enforcement procedure was set in motion. This enforcement procedure includes the suspending of their commercial licence and a lock change on the premises.

The cherry on top of the cake? Districtal mayor Márta V. Naszályi has filed for a defamation complaint against Miklós Szamos.

Seems like it’s not a good year for the Szamos company. Even more so, because with this official report, we can be sure that the Ruszwurm and Korona confectionaries will close for good. Make sure you visit them before the 4th of December!

November 6, 2023

Foodora surprises customers in Hungary with huge announcement

There’s a significant change in Foodora’s delivery system, that’s in effect from the 1st of November. To be exact, the company announced the considerable reducement of their delivery costs. In the beginning, these decreased prices will only affect Budapest, but they plan on expanding them outside of the city too.

Foodora announced a big price drop in delivery fees, with an average of 16% reduction. This way, the so far lowest delivery fee of HUF 599 will go even lower to HUF 399. Read more about shocking price changes HERE.

The cut will be limited at first, so that it only applies to Budapest. Zsolt Szauter, head of Marketing at Foodora commented on their costumer-centric approach to the inflation. “We at Foodora aim to help as many people as possible, by making food deliveries affordable, to have more time for the important things in life.”

The delivery fee price depends on the distance of the chosen restaurant. The further the restaurant, the higher the price. Consequently, the price drop will be the most noticeable in close distances. According to the Foodora zones, most orders are in a maximum of 3 kilometer distance from the chosen restaurant. This is why they tried to make the changes affect these distances the most.

When measured, the busiest districts with the most orders coming in are the 11th, 13th and 14th, although the 3rd and 9th districts also get an honorable mention.

“We hope, that with this step, our partner restaurants may be able to generate back some of their business, this way compensating for the costumers lost due to the recession.” Read more about the financial situation in Hungary HERE.

They hope this solution will be a win-win situation for both costumers and restaurants.
Zsolt Szauter added that Foodora plans to expand the delivery fee reducement outside the capital by 2024.

November 4, 2023

Sorrowful: Popular Hungarian restaurant in Canada closes for good – PHOTOS

Hungarian restaurant in Toronto Black Tulip Restaurant

A famous Hungarian restaurant in Canada’s biggest city, Toronto, will close for good because the owners decided to spend more time with their family. Even though it survived COVID-19 thanks to its enthusiastic patrons, Toronto will soon lose a Hungarian spot.

“It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that we are closing the Black Tulip Hungarian Restaurant“, the Instagram post talking about the closure starts. Black Tulip opened in February 2020, just a couple of weeks before the global coronavirus pandemic broke out.

Even so, the place survived, thanks to the owners’ kindness, the high-quality dishes they served and some loyal patrons who regularly flocked to the restaurant to taste some traditional Hungarian dishes “with sprinkles of North American favourites”, blogto.com wrote.

However, after four years of business, it seems that Gréta and Kornél, the Hungarian couple running the restaurant, decided to close permanently. The menu of the former diner included traditional dishes like goulash soup, stuffed cabbage rolls, chicken paprikash, pork stew, Hungarian-style meatballs, and schnitzel.

Chance to eat traditional Hungarian food even after the closure

“We had to make this hard decision with our family’s future in mind”, the couple continued in their sad Instagram post. They added the last opening day was last Sunday, 29 October.

But not all is lost. “If you are going to miss our Hungarian food, we have started selling our frozen food stock, which you can store in the freezer and enjoy even after a few months”, they added.

“There are so few Hungarian restaurants around. Wishing you the best!”, one of the comment writers said under the post. Here are some photos of their dishes:

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

BlackTulipRestaurant (@blacktuliprestaurant) által megosztott bejegyzés

You could even taste lángos in the Canadian metropolis:

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

BlackTulipRestaurant (@blacktuliprestaurant) által megosztott bejegyzés

Traditional Hungarian pastries:

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

BlackTulipRestaurant (@blacktuliprestaurant) által megosztott bejegyzés

The interior:

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

BlackTulipRestaurant (@blacktuliprestaurant) által megosztott bejegyzés

November 4, 2023

Budapest’s birthday cake coming soon!

The city of Budapest has turned 150 years in 2023. That’s why there’s a great deal of festivity throughout the year. However, it’s not a real birthday, unless there’s cake. Now, we have that too!

To mark the special occasion of the unification of the three parts of the city, Pest, Buda and Óbuda, a mere 150 years ago, the official birthday cake had to be exceptional.

You can take a step back in time to Budapest 150 years ago by visiting this LINK.

For more details about Budapest’s birthday celebration, please read HERE.

Who takes the cake?

The open competition was announced by Budapest Brand and the Hungarian Confectioners’ Association on behalf of the City Council of Budapest. The cakes submitted by the contestants had to adhere to specific conditions to fit the theme. These cakes had to feature flavours from the era of the city’s founding, incorporating spices typical of that period, while maintaining a modern appearance. During the semi-finals, the judges had the challenging task of evaluating 20 cakes, with only five advancing to the finals.

The judging panel primarily consisted of master confectioners, such as Nóra Balogh, Ádám Pataki and Zoltán Andrész. However, not all judges needed to be master pastry chefs. For instance, Gergely Karácsony, the current Mayor of Budapest, and Csaba Faix, the CEO of Budapest Brand, had the opportunity to taste the cakes as well.

In the end, the ‘Budapest 150 Cake’ title was awarded to “Natalis,” created by Csilla Müller of the August Confectionery. An especially nice aspect of this victory is that the August Confectionery itself recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, making this win even sweeter.

In the spirit of celebration, let’s eat cake!

The “Natalis” or ‘Birth’ (‘Születés’) is very much on brand for the birthday, from its flavours and appearance to its inspiration and name. The creator, Csilla Müller, said that they drew inspiration from classic cakes of the era, such as Dobos and Esterházy, but the taste of “Natalis” is truly unique. They aimed to take the main ingredients required by the competition and present them in a contemporary manner.

These ingredients are reminiscent of those used when Budapest was founded 150 years ago. The winning cake boasts a mouth-watering combination of chocolate, coffee and hazelnut. What sets this cake apart is the inclusion of blueberries, which adds a savoury twist, enhancing the overall flavour, as commented by Csilla Müller. This cake specialty is sure to add a vibrant flavour to the birthday festivities.

The ‘Budapest 150 Cake’ title-winning cake will be available in Hungarian confectioneries starting on the 17th of November.

November 2, 2023

Just what we needed: Beloved iconic Hungarian dessert to become cheaper

The Ministry of Finance has submitted the 2024 tax package to Parliament on Tuesday night. The package includes an interesting surprise. The government will reduce VAT on some cheese products, including te iconic Hungarian dessert Túró Rudi (cottage cheese bar with chocolate on the outside).

Before the 1 November holiday, on Tuesday night, the Ministry of Finance published the 2024 tax package on the Parliament’s website. In it, Portfolio has spotted an interesting detail:

the government cuts VAT on Túró Rudi from 27% to 18%.

The Ministry of Finance is amending the annex to the VAT Act, which lists the products that are taxed at a reduced rate of 18% VAT. This would reduce the VAT rate on this iconic dessert from 27% to 18% from 1 January 2024.

Thus, the current price of a standard (30g) most popular Pöttyös Túró Rudi, typically HUF 240-260 (EUR 0.63-0.68), would be somewhere between HUF 223-242 (EUR 0.58-0.63). We would thus see a 7% price reduction.

Read more news on chocolate and other foods below:

November 2, 2023