food

Hungary’s international cuisine: a taste of the world in Budapest

Budapest, Hungary, known for its vibrant and diverse culinary scene, offers a gateway to a world of flavours. If you’ve ever faced the daunting task of choosing from Hungary’s international cuisine, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll give you a list of Budapest’s best global restaurants, providing a taste of different cultures through their delightful dishes.

101 Tigris – Asian fusion

Starting with 101 Tigris, this restaurant is a fusion of retro design and modern technology. Their innovative QR code service system ensures utmost convenience. While Taiwanese cuisine takes the spotlight, the menu also offers Korean, Chinese and Japanese options. The canteen-style setting creates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for savouring a diverse array of Asian delicacies.

Tifliso – Georgian cuisine on a plate

Tifliso transports you to the exquisite flavours of Georgia with its mouthwatering khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and hearty khinkali (dumplings). It’s also highly recommended to order an assortment of appetisers and share them with your dining companions. Furthermore, the friendly staff and the warm, authentic ambiance add to the restaurant’s charm.

Trattoria Pomo D’oro – flavors of Italy

If you crave delicious Italian food in the heart of Budapest, Trattoria Pomo D’oro is the place for you. With a diverse wine selection and homely atmosphere, this restaurant is known for its unwavering commitment to delivering a truly authentic Italian dining experience.

Blue Agori – Greek cuisine haven

Blue Agori is a haven for lovers of Greek cuisine in Budapest. Authentic Greek dishes, including gyros, moussaka, and fresh seafood, provide a tantalising taste of the Mediterranean. With its super fast service, this place is a convenient option if you’re always on the go.

Unomas Tapas&Bar – Spanish tapas delight

Unomas is a Spanish tapas restaurant in Budapest that provides a genuine taste of Spain. It’s the perfect locale for friends and couples for a lovely dinner after a long day. Also, do not hesitate to seek recommendations from the staff; you will not be disappointed!

Mazel Tov – Mediterranean delights

Mazel Tov, located in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, is renowned for its modern Israeli cuisine. Guests can relish dishes such as falafel, shawarma and mezze in an atmospheric setting, complete with an inviting garden.

Bombay – authentic Indian flavours

For those yearning for the flavours of India in Budapest, Bombay is the place to visit. This Indian restaurant, adorned with trendy and contemporary interior design, boasts an extensive and diverse menu featuring classic dishes such as curry, tandoori and biryani. Thanks to the absolutely delicious food, gorgeous cocktails and stunning decor you will surely leave the restaurant feeling happy and well-fed!

Tereza – a bohemian Mexican haven

Tereza embodies the spirit of leisurely Mexican dining with its motto, “Daytime Siesta, Nighttime Fiesta.” Their signature frozen margarita and grilled avocado are absolute must-tries. The restaurant’s eclectic and artistic ambiance, inspired by Mexican folk art and bohemian chic, creates an ideal setting for free spirits, artists and creative minds.

If you’ve explored traditional Hungarian cuisine and want to be more adventurous, Budapest’s international restaurants offer a passport to different corners of the world. Whether you’re craving Mediterranean, Balkan or Asian cuisine, you’ll find a little piece of the world’s culinary tapestry in the heart of Hungary’s capital. But don’t forget to try the best Hungarian restaurants as well!

October 27, 2023

Hungarian graphic artist created Milka’s iconic purple cow

“Do not judge a book by its cover” – marketing specialists would be infuriated by such a statement. To effectively sell a product, you must have convincing packaging that conveys the message to the customer that they are getting their hands on something exceptional. The product itself must outshine its competitors, and the packaging should be so remarkable that it leaves a lasting impression on buyers. We can all agree that Milka’s iconic purple cow is both endearing and memorable. However, did you know that it was designed by a Hungarian graphic artist?

Milka’s history

According to Origo, the creation of this sweet delicacy dates back to the 19th century to a Swiss confectioner, Philip Suchard. Driven by ambition and a desire to uphold his family’s legacy, Suchard sought success in the States. After a failed stint, he returned to Europe, where he began creating chocolate bars. Many people with a sweet tooth remain grateful for his ingenious creation to this day. However, it’s important to note that chocolate bars of that era completely lacked dairy, and therefore, they carried a bittersweet cocoa flavour. Later on, the company decided to give Milka a distinctive purple packaging to distinguish itself in the market. Aimed to enhance its uniqueness, they even added a cow to the chocolate bar’s appearance, though originally in black and white.

The iconic Milka cow

In 1972, the company decided to change things up and commissioned Young & Rubicam to create the new design. Sándor Szabó, a Hungarian graphic artist, was part of the creative team at the advertising agency. Szabó recalled:

… I believed that the use of the purple colour was the way to go. One day, when I chanced upon a herd of grazing cows, an idea struck me. Purple cows! Back in the studio in Düsseldorf, when we were taking pictures of the Milka chocolates available at that time, I captured one photograph. I developed a poster-sized photo of the cow, glued it to thick cardboard, and painted the animal’s spots in purple. I then convinced my boss that, since it was Swiss chocolate, we should find a Swiss cow model.

Without delay, he and his team took to Zurich. There, Szabó and his colleagues found a prize-winning cow in the mountains, an exceptional specimen that instantly captivated them.

About the artist

Sándor Szabó was born in Orosháza, Hungary, in 1934. Following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, he emigrated to England. As previously reported, Hungarians recently commemorated this revolution; you can find more information from the foreign ministry HERE. A commemorative march was also held on the anniversary of this significant event, detailed further in the link provided HERE. Szabó pursued studies in graphic design and subsequently joined the team at Young & Rubicam after his relocation to Düsseldorf. From this point, the rest, as they say, is history…

October 26, 2023

Rail Cargo Hungaria starts exports of grain to Africa

Rail Cargo Hungaria has started delivering Hungarian grain bound for markets in Africa, the Austrian-owned company said on Tuesday.

With the cooperation of the Croatian state railway, Rail Cargo Hungaria has delivered 14,000 tonnes of grain, mostly wheat and barley, on 13 trains to the port of Rijeka in Croatia since the harvest finished in August. That grain is bound for ports in Egypt and Tunisia.

Rail Cargo Hungaria has made preparations to export over 1 million tonnes of Hungarian grain this season. The company is also in talks on transit deliveries of Ukrainian grain.

Read also:

October 25, 2023

Hungary’s renewed first McDonald’s in Budapest downtown reopened

Hungary’s renewed first McDonald’s in Budapest downtown reopened, and a Hungarian Michelin-star chef, Jenő Rácz, prepared the first fine dining meals, using authentic McDonald’s ingredients.

Hungary’s first McDonald’s fast food restaurant opened in 1988, before the fall of the Communist regime. Then, people stood in long queues to taste a tiny bit of the “American dream”. On Saturday, the same happened when the chain reopened the renewed first restaurant in Budapest downtown’s Régi Posta Street (Old Post Office Street).

According to portfolio.hu, the first Hungarian McDonald’s was renewed with unique solutions and natural building materials. Architectural concrete covers its interior. Furthermore, the floor and the walls of the McCafé unit are decorated with natural wood panels. In other parts of the restaurant, there is a terrazzo cover.

The tables were made of granite and wood, just like the lateral wall of the kitchenette. McDonald’s wrote that their first Hungarian restaurant meant more than just a meal serving unit. It was the courier of change. Therefore, people stood in long queues in front of it for days. As a result, they broke sales records in 1988 in Hungary.

Yesterday, the queue was also long despite the rain and bad weather. HERE you can check out a video of it, and HERE are some photos.

On the Saturday opening ceremony, Hungary’s probably most well-known Michelin-star chef, Jenő Rácz, welcomed the guests with a fine-dining menu containing elements of “traditional” McDonald’s food. Thus, guests could taste salmon, caviar, foie gras, and honey-glazed chicken breast. According to telex.hu, it was not the McDonald’s experience we got used to in the previous decades.

The Régi Posta Street McDonald’s looks great but one of the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s is a couple of streets away, near the Nyugati railway station. HERE is our article about it.

And below is another one:

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

October 22, 2023

Hungarian agriculture, food industry may see revival?

Hungary’s agriculture and food industry will see a revival if it can find good solutions to the challenges of the 21st century, the agriculture minister told a special session of parliament’s agricultural committee on Friday.

Speaking ahead of the opening of the National Agriculture and Food Exhibition and Fair (OMEK) at the Hungexpo Budapest Congress and Exhibition Centre, István Nagy called for cooperation and “joint thinking” on agriculture, saying it was determined largely by factors it could not influence or foresee.

“Europe’s internal market has been upended, and Brussels is failing to protect it while tying production to stringent regulations,” he said.

To protect the interests of Hungarian farmers, the government has banned Ukrainian grain from the country. However, cheap Ukrainian products are still making their way into the EU, undercutting Hungarian exports, he said.

Multinational companies producing honey in Ukraine now have access to EU markets without having to adhere to produce regulations, and so their produce is cheap, he said. Hungary worried because of a possible Ukrainian grain dump – Read more HERE.

Developing irrigation infrastructure

Consumers’ expectations that prices should be kept low while cutting down on pesticides and eliminating mass meat production sites “is hard to fulfil”, he said.

Meanwhile, he said developing seed production was a potential and important breakthrough for Hungary. Developing irrigation infrastructure would also be a key sector in the coming years, and the relevant resources were at hand, he said.

At the same time, water management needs to serve agricultural as well as ecological purposes, he said. That way, “food production will be more secure and the world more liveable,” he said.

October 21, 2023

Hungarikum collection expanding: Szekler gate and lángos!

According to a statement released by the Hungarian government on 17 October, the Hungarikum Collection has been expanded with two new items.

The Hungarikum Collection has been expanded with the Szekler gate (Székelykapu) and famous Hungarian deep fried flat bread, the lángos, in accordance with the decision of the Hungarikum Committee, the government announced on its website.

Szekler gate (Székelykapu)

székelykapu szekler gate — Wooden Szekler gate by Ernő Kiss (2000) at the Geologist garden. – Fekete street, Tata, Komárom-Esztergom County, Hungary. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Globetrotter19

In the statement, the government also defined what a Szekler gate and the perfect lángos are like.

The Szekler gate is a type of large gate with a characteristic carpentry technique, which evolved from the medieval town, castle and manor house gates,

Impress Magazine writes. “From the 17th century onwards, the Szekler gate type became a real attraction and cultural relic of Szeklerland, with its increasingly distinct carved ornamentation and the elaborate decoration of the so-called gate mirror above the small gate.”

Lángos (Hungarian deep fried flat bread)

They also explain how to make the perfect lángos. According to the government, the perfect lángos is medium thick, not too oily, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.

“The tradition of making lángos is closely linked to the tradition of baking bread. The perfect lángos is medium thick, not too oily, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Traditionally eaten with grated cheese, sour cream and garlic to taste, we can now choose from a wide variety of sweet and savoury toppings.”

New addition to the Hungarian Values Directory

The Hungarian Values Directory (Magyar Értéktár, one level below Hungarikums) has also been expanded. The bokortanya (literally “bush ranch”) was added to the list. This unique bokortanya settlement structure was developed in the Nyírség from the mid-18th century (the Nyírség is a central landscape in the north-eastern part of the Great Plain). The people who lived here built dwellings, farm buildings and other facilities for livestock farming on land far from inhabited areas.

Also included in the Directory is the Zselic lime honey (zselici hársméz). It is a special type of honey that has been produced for centuries in the indigenous lime forests of Somogy County.

The Hungarikum Committee’s decision increased the number of items in the Hungarikum Collection to 89, while the Hungarian Values Directory contains 152 outstanding national values, the statement concludes.

As we reported, the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) has unveiled special commemorative coins that pay tribute to one of Hungary’s most influential historical figures Ferenc Deák. Check them out HERE!

October 20, 2023

Tripadvisor and TasteAtlas awarded best desserts spots and restaurants in Hungary

Are you clueless about where to eat after a long day of sightseeing in Hungary? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Based on Tripadvisor’s “Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best Restaurant Awards 2023”, we’ll tell you which three restaurants you must try when visiting our country. However, there is no Hungarian meal without some sweet bites at the end. TasteAtlas has named not one but two “Legendary Dessert Places” in Hungary, which people with a sweet tooth can’t miss during their Budapest vacation. So without further ado, let’s check out the best desserts spots and restaurants in Hungary.

Best restaurants in Hungary

After a long day of exploring the beauties of Hungary, you have surely worked up an appetite. But the real question – more times than not – is not what to eat, instead where to eat. Especially, when you are an out-of-towner or come from abroad. That’s when Tripadvisor comes handy. The site gives countless recommendations based on more than 8 million ratings. Everyone can find something to their liking. In the “Fine Dining” category, the Strand Restaurant in Budapest made it to the 24th place on the list of Tripadvisor’s top fine dining recommendations. This sophisticated restaurant serves avant-garde local dishes and boasts two Michelin stars. Therefore, it’s fair to say that the owners, Szabina Szulló and Tamás Széll did a pretty good job. In the “Hidden Gem” category, another restaurant from Budapest, MADHOUSE Bistro & Craft Beer Bar made it to the top places, precisely to the 16th spot.

However, not only the capital boasts culinary treasures. The third restaurant, which stands on the 18th place on the list, is Csokonai Restaurant from Debrecen. When visiting Hungary, it is worth venturing outside of Budapest to discover the charming rural towns of the country. Who knows, maybe you’ll stumble upon some hidden gems.

Tripadvisor and TasteAtlas awarded best desserts spots and restaurants in Hungary 2 — Photo: Madhouse Gastropub

For hungry travellers with a sweet tooth

If you still have some room for dessert after a scrumptious, well-deserved meal in one of the top restaurants in Hungary, don’t hold back! We all know that calories don’t count during vacation as they all go to the heart instead of the stomach. But here comes the question: where are the best dessert spots in Hungary? Based on the global list of TasteAtlas, there are two Hungarian dessert spots that deserved to be included in the “150 Most Legendary Dessert Places”. Both places are located in Budapest, so if you don’t have a lot of free time on your hands to explore the Hungarian countryside, you don’t have to go too far. The famed Daubner Confectionery made it to the 14th place on the list of TasteAtlas, thanks to its divine Dobos cake. Apart from being an official Hungarikum, this truly authentic Hungarian dessert also has a fascinating history, which you may read about HERE. TasteAtlas described this sweet treat as a “perfect balance of flavours and textures, faithfully following the traditional recipe”. It certainly is worth a try.

The other top Hungarian dessert spot, New York Café, got the 32nd place on the list of TasteAtlas for its signature New York chocolate cake, which is “not just a dessert but a sensory indulgence”, according to the portal. Despite its confusing name, New York Café is also in Budapest. It was founded a few years earlier than the previously mentioned Daubner Confectionery, over a century ago, and it is often referred to as “the most beautiful café in the world”. It’s not only a dessert shop but a place that oozes culture, a true hideaway to write, read and reflect.

However, there are countless other wonderful gastro spots in Hungary the two portals didn’t mention. If you don’t mind wandering off the beaten path, you’ll discover many equally amazing places in Hungary likes the ones we mentioned in here.

Author: Jázmin Kovács

October 16, 2023

Michelin-starred celebrity chef to reopen Hungary’s very first, iconic McDonald’s

Hungary’s first McDonald’s restaurant has undergone a major transformation. It closed its doors in late June and is now nearly ready for its grand re-opening. However, during the initial days, it won’t be open to the public as a Michelin-starred chef will take the reins.

Iconic McDonald’s undergoes renovation

As we have reported HERE, Hungary’s first restaurant closed for a significant renovation. The eatery originally opened in 1988 in the heart of Budapest’s 5th district on Régi Posta Street. The primary objective of the renovation was to give the 35-year-old restaurant a more contemporary and chic interior design. The interior designers aimed to create something unique using architectural concrete and wood panels. The final design is a brilliant fusion of the classic McDonald’s restaurant style with a modern twist. The restaurant’s reopening was initially scheduled for September, but everyone’s favourite fastfood spot will now open its doors next week.

The grand reopening

First-class reports that the long-anticipated grand reopening is finally approaching. Technically, the iconic restaurant will reopen on the 19th of October. However, it will not be open to the general public during the first two nights. The first Hungarian Golden Arches will host two private dinners on the 19th and 20th of October, starting at 7 pm both days. The renowned Michelin-starred chef, Jenő Rácz, a popular figure in Hungary with a strong presence on social media and Hungarian TV shows, will prepare a mouthwatering fine dining experience for the attendants.

Who can attend the event?

Don’t worry; this extraordinary event might be available even to you. Do you frequently eat at McDonald’s? If the answer is yes, you might have a chance too! There are 30 tickets available for each night for those who have collected 3,000 points using the McDonald’s application. With 3,000 points, you can obtain two tickets. After receiving your 8-digit code, be sure to use it before the 16th of October; otherwise, you won’t secure your actual ticket for the event. According to McDonald’s official website, only individuals over the age of 18 can participate, and there will be a dress code enforced at the event.

As we wrote before, iconic Buda Castle restaurant reopens with traditional Hungarian dishes – details and PHOTOS

October 13, 2023

PHOTOS: Iconic Buda Castle restaurant reopens with traditional Hungarian dishes

An iconic restaurant of the Buda Castle District, the ‘Fekete Holló’ (Black Raven) reopens with traditional Hungarian dishes.

According to turizmus.com, the restaurant will reopen tomorrow (11 October) under 10 Országház Street. The Fekete Holló Kisvendéglő is in the heart of Budapest’s magnificent Castle District. HERE you may check out their official Facebook page.

On the menu, you may find traditional Hungarian dishes. For example, you can choose from traditional pork goulash or farm chicken soups, or you may taste pork marrow toast for a starter. There are Hungarian classics like “Letcho” tomato, onion, pepper ragout & Hungarian sausage, pork stew or pottages made of potato, spinach or lentil. There are many types of schnitzels: chicken thigh, pork, cheese, mushroom, liver or hake. Choosing parsley potato as a side can make you feel as if you were sitting in the kitchen of a Hungarian grandmother on a Sunday afternoon. As for Hungarian grandmas: you may eat Grandma’s pancakes or poppy seed dumplings with vanilla custard as a dessert.

Foodporn:

Read also:

The best restaurants serving traditional Hungarian food – Read more HERE
THESE are officially the best restaurants in Hungary

Fekete Holló in 1976:

The restaurant has a terrace. Therefore, when the weather is nice, you may taste some good Hungarian beers or a traditional Hungarian fröccs (spritzer = wine + soda water mixed in various proportions) there. Of course, there are draught beers and glass beers as well.

Under 10 Országáz Street, there was a restaurant already in 1930. Pál Alpek opened it when he was only 20. In the 1960s, it reopened as Fekete Holló. Back then, its menu was handwritten, and its chef’s name was Rózsi néni (Aunt Rose). Locals and young university students were among its most frequent guests. Its most popular dish was fish soup, stew and Aunt Rose’s famous Hungarian cottage cheese dumpling.

HERE you can find the opening times. The restaurant has two rooms and can seat 60 people inside, and an additional 60 guests on the terrace, ittlakunk.hu wrote.

The restaurant hopes it will be a new headquarters for locals because they get a 25% price reduction from the not-too-high prices. HERE you may check out some photos taken by turizmus.com which shows the restaurant has a chance to become popular again.

October 10, 2023

PHOTOS: Here is Hungary’s best burger

On the first weekend of September, the 3rd Szaft ‘N Burger competition was held in Debrecen, where the winner of the 2023 Burger of Hungary title was announced.

The winner

Szeretlek Magyarország writes that the best burger was made by Ádám Józsa. Therefore, the award and trophy went to Beer & Burgers in Szolnok. The burger called Alabama has been on the restaurant’s menu for years. Thus, the staff had time to practice the recipe and create the best possible version of this popular meal.

Beer & Burgers is the place where everyone can find something to suit their taste. From burgers to grilled and pulled meat combinations and even vegetarian options. Not to mention a wide selection of drinks, including craft beers.

beer and burgers competition — Source: Instagram / beerandburgers_1

About the restaurant

Beer & Burgers has two other locations as well. One is also in Szolnok (8 Tószegi Street), while the other one is in Törökszentmiklós. The central kitchen is located in Szolnok, at 43 Mártírok Road. The vegetables, sauces and everything else needed to keep the other units running smoothly are prepared here.

The owner was exceptionally trained in all catering areas by the time he opened his first Beer & Burgers restaurant in 2019. His motivation was simple: he wanted to have a good burger restaurant in the area. That year, a blind tasting put him on the Big 7 Travel list. The eatery was ranked 15th out of the top 25 burger restaurants in the country.

beerandburgers restaurant — Source: Instagram / beerandburgers_1

An exceptional burger

The owner thinks that a great burger features many flavours that go well and harmonise with each other. The perfect burger should be a bit spicy (but not too spicy), sweet and savoury at the same time. In addition, the bun should be soft, the meat should be saucy and fresh vegetables should give the burger a nice crunch.

The Alabama Burger consists of the following ingredients: multigrain bun, apple and onion coleslaw, Angus beef patty, cheddar cheese, double bacon, homemade white BBQ sauce and candied jalapeno peppers. The price of this delicacy is HUF 3390 (EUR 8.7). You can also buy it as a menu with spicy steak potatoes, coleslaw and blueberry cabbage salad for HUF 3890 (EUR 10).

beerandburgers craft beers — Source: Instagram / beerandburgers_1

Read also:

October 1, 2023

18+ VIDEO – Hungarian horror slaughterhouse: Rusty saw, bloody floor

The operation of a slaughterhouse in Csongrád-Csanád county, Hungary has been suspended with immediate effect. Several hundred kilograms of unmarked meat and meat products were found in its meat shop. A total of 4.3 tonnes of foodstuffs were withdrawn from the market by National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) inspectors.

The National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) announced on Tuesday that the operation of a slaughterhouse in Csongrád-Csanád county has been suspended with immediate effect due to serious hygiene problems found during an on-site inspection, hvg.hu reports.

The agency’s inspectors checked the slaughterhouse and its meat shop. They found serious hygiene problems, as well as traceability deficiencies.

According to the statement, when the inspectors arrived, an unauthorised vehicle was bringing a cattle in poor condition, unable to stand up on its own, to the slaughterhouse.

The inspectors also found a further 26 pigs in the animal house that did not have the compulsory individual markings. The origin of these pigs could not be verified.

The following problems were found in the unit:

no follow-up documentation was kept;
no records of cutting and chopping activities were kept;
all meat was unmarked;
storage conditions did not comply with food safety standards.

In addition, inspectors discovered 766 kilos of unmarked meat and meat products in the meat shop Arany Húsáruház of Arany Hús 2016 Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Ltd. (Golden Meat 2016 Trade and Service Ltd.). In total, more than 4.3 tonnes of foodstuffs were withdrawn from the market, Index writes.

Many of the tools used for the activity were dirty and rusty, the bandsaw blades and stand in the chopping room were corroded and the untreated wooden board was uneven and dirty. Hygienic hand-washing was not possible in the factory premises.

The door frame of the cold storage room was rusted, the floor was stained with blood, the walls and ceiling were dirty, and the walls, ceiling and floor of the other rooms in the slaughterhouse had not been cleaned either. The untidy, uncleaned yard of the slaughterhouse also contained items unrelated to the unit’s activities and contaminated meat crates, the Nébih statement said.

Video footage of the slaughterhouse was also released. It shows, among other things, knives stuck behind a water pipe, pigs’ feet falling next to brooms, meat hanging on concrete floors and general mayhem.

Attention! The following footage may disturb your peace! Viewing is not recommended for persons under 18!

Read also:

September 27, 2023

Recipes: Heart-warming Hungarian dishes for the autumn season – VIDEOS

The weather in Hungary might not remind you of autumn yet, but it is better to be prepared for chilly days. What could be better than a warm meal on a cold autumn day? Whether you are a fan of sweet meals or soups, we have the perfect recipes for you! These Hungarian dishes are quick to make: you will love them!

Traditional cocoa buns/swirls

As you have probably noticed by now, Hungarians love cocoa buns. They are available at every single bakery in the country. Baking these tasty treats is not overly complicated either.

Ingredients for the dough:

0.5 kg flour
25 g fresh yeast
2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour (optional)
1 egg yolk
1 egg
0.25 l milk
4 tbsp sugar
70 g butter
1 pinch of salt

Ingredients for the filling:

100 g unsweetened cocoa powder
100 g icing sugar
100 g butter

Preparation:

Using the kneading head of a food processor (or by hand), mix the flour, a pinch of salt, sugar, and the grated yeast, then add the whole egg and the extra egg yolk and start kneading.
Add the milk, and when you have a smooth dough, add the room-temperature butter.
Continue kneading, after about 10 minutes, the dough will not change. It will be gooey and sticky, but that’s how it should be.
Using floured hands, take out the dough, and put flour all around it to prevent it from sticking. Then, cover it with a kitchen towel, leave it in a warm place and let it rise for about an hour until it doubles in size.
Knead the dough very lightly, then stretch it out on a floured board into a rectangle and make it very thin.
Brush the rolled-out dough thoroughly with melted butter. Sprinkle the sweetened cocoa powder over the butter. Don’t spare any of this, it should be everywhere, right up to the edges.
Sprinkle some melted butter over it so that the cocoa powder does not transfer while rolling the dough up.
Roll up the dough. It should not be too loose, but not too tight either. Next, cut the dough into 4–5 cm pieces.
Let the chopped buns rise for another 20 minutes, sprinkle the tops loosely with milk and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 20 minutes. Do not pack the buns too tightly, as they will rise in the oven!
After it cools down a bit, sprinkle with icing sugar. Fresh, lukewarm, cold, and even on the next day, it is delicious either way!

You can find the original recipe in Hungarian on Nosalty.

Lebbencs soup

If you are not in the mood for a sweet treat, this delicious soup might be the perfect choice for you! It does not require many ingredients and it is easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of parsley
1 medium-sized onion
0.25 kg potatoes
0.1 kg smoked bacon
0.2 kg of pasta
salt
pepper
ground cumin
bay leaf
paprika
1 l water (approximately)

Preparation:

Prepare the vegetables and bacon, cut into cubes or smaller pieces.
Take a large pan and brown the bacon.
Remove the browned bacon from the pan using a strainer, then sauté the chopped onion in the rendered fat until translucent.
Add the pasta, which you can fry a little on the onion.
Add the spices, stir gently and add about 0.2 l of water. Allow the base to simmer for a short time.
Add the diced potatoes and add enough water to cover them.
If needed, you can add more spices.
When the potatoes and the pasta are tender, sprinkle with parsley and fried bacon, and serve!

You can find the original article in Hungary on Nosalty.

Read also:

September 23, 2023

Paul Taylor in Budapest, be part of a special gastronomic experience in Hungary

Paul Taylor’s Bisoubye x in Budapest! For this big event Tcholélé Production have the chance to team up with Tcholélé Productions to bring you this amazing experience to Budapest on the 22nd of September 2023.

The show will take place in the French Institute’s amphitheater with the capacity of 200 seats from 8 pm to 10 pm.

A bilingual show by an English artist living in France about the process of, as the title suggests it, letting go and moving on to a new chapter in his life. After the show we’ll organize a small talk at the bistrot with the artist. The tickets are selling fast, you can book your ticket here.

The location is the amphitheater of the French Institute of Budapest for the show: 200 seats. There will be:

At Le Troquet for a talk with the artist after the show.
Warm and cozy inside wine bar
1 minute from Tram stop, 5 minutes from Batthyány tér metro station
Terrace with Parliament view
Friday, 22nd of September 2023, starting at 8pm.

The porgram:

Paul Taylor’s Bisoubye x show from 6pm in the amphitheater.
Talk with Paul Taylor at Le Troquet French Bistro.
Come join us and have a lovely time of laughter while enjoying delicious French wine.

Food and drinks

French Wine bar, of course
Gin Bar, coffee, and french cocktail
Croissant, croque-monsieur, French bakery & french board to share with ham & french cheese.

The event is open to all customers who want to have a great time full of laughter and joy, Paul Taylor fans, Comedy show lovers, English, French or bilinguals. Anyone who wants to have a great start to her/his weekend.
Don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance.

September 20, 2023

Try it yourself: the dessert of Budapest 2023 has been chosen!

Sugar Design Cukrászda’s blackcurrant-tonka bean-black sesame cake was this year’s dessert of Budapest. You can try it as early as this week.

The Sweet Days is one of Europe’s largest chocolate and confectionery themed trade fairs, with over forty exhibitors’ sweets on display in front of the St Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, the Hungarian capital.

Csaba Rebrus, President of the Hungarian Chocolate and Confectionery Association, said that the main aim of the event is to help Hungarian confectioners and confectionery manufacturers to strengthen their position.

The Budapest Dessert of Confectioners competition also contributes to this. “We cannot allow Hungarian desserts to disappear from restaurant menus,” Rebrus said.

The cake, selected by anonymous voting, will traditionally debut at the Sweet Days, so the makers can get feedback from consumers right away. The two mandatory ingredients chosen by the 2022 winner this year were blackcurrant and tonka bean.

The winning dessert is made up of blackcurrant sponge cakes filled with blackcurrant soft jelly on the bottom, topped with a blueberry blackcurrant mousse with tonka bean, Belgian dark chocolate ganache and crunchy corkant praline, reports penzcentrum.hu.

September 20, 2023

Mark your calendars: Chimney Cake Festival in Hungary!

chimney cake kürtőskalács festival Hungarian dish

The public can taste thirty different flavours and shapes of chimney cakes (kürtőskalács) at the Chimney Cake Festival (Kürtőskalács Fesztivál). The event will be held at the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden (Fővárosi Állat- és Növénykert) between 13-15 October.

In addition to the gastronomic programme, two stages and a number of programmes await the visitors, said the organiser of the programme, the Vitéz Kürtős company.

Those with a sweet tooth will be able to try again, for example, the long unavailable chimney cake bearing (kürtős csapágy), the cherry-poppy seed chimney cake or the pistachio flavoured chimney cake, Turizmus.com reports. In addition to the many flavour variations, the public can also try the chimney cake dessert speciality, the “kürtősbon”.

The festival will also feature a Make It Yourself! tent, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and vegan chimney cakes. As an invited guest, the Lehel Chimney Cake House (Lehel Kürtősház) from Odorheiu Secuiesc will be present, where traditional, large-scale chimney cakes will be available in authentic design.

Among others, Ildikó Keresztes, Réka Farkasházi, Éva Bolba and the JAZZterlánc will perform on the stages.

At the 10th Chimney Cake Festival, the main stage will entertain visitors at the main entrance, while storytellers and puppet performances will be on the small stage on the side of the Holnemvolt Castle for families with young children.

Find the Facebook page of the festival HERE.

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September 19, 2023

Half-price pizzas in Hungary: Night of the Neapolitan Pizzerias is tonight!

Fancy a real Neapolitan pizza – at half price? If so, tonight is your night! As part of the Night of the Neapolitan Pizzerias programme, several restaurants in the Hungarian capital and in the countryside are offering Neapolitan pizzas at half price.

The first Naples Night of Pizzerias will kick off on 19 September to launch a tradition-building event celebrating the pizzerias and pizza masters of Budapest, the agglomeration and the countryside, Travelo reports.

All participating restaurants will stay open for two hours longer and offer at least three types of Neapolitan pizza at half price. The special feature is that the pizzerias will not be lined up in one place like a festival, but each one will be waiting for guests in its own restaurant.

Participants of the event in Budapest

Kemencés Pizza;
A Pizza Sztori;
Amore di Napoli;
Digó (Kazinczy Street és Városliget (City Park);
Donna Mamma Pizza Napoletana;
Fermento Pizzéria;
Forni di Napoli (Szent István Boulevard and Basilica);
IGEN;
MOTO Pizza Budapest (Madách Square, Rákóczi Street and Bartók Béla Street);
SALVE.

Pizzerias in the agglomeration

Bazsalikom Nápolyi Pizzéria (Kistarcsa);
Cukorborsó Kertvendéglő (Páty);
Daniele Urban Nápolyi Pizzéria (Diósd);
Ittali (Vác);
Passata (Szentendre);
Pizza Mamma (Dunakeszi).

Rural restaurants

A Pizza Sztori (Balatonmáriafürdő);
Amo la pizza (Szolnok);
Arany24 (Úrhida);
Ciao Napoli (Komárom);
D-bisztró (Mikepércs);
Magtár Diner (Derecske);
Mauro Étterem (Székesfehérvár);
Más tészta (Herend);
Banditos Pizza Napoletana (Márkháza);
Pivo Bár és Pizzéria (Szeged).

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September 19, 2023

New café chain taking over Hungary? Here is their first shop

The first Hungarian member of the Stop Cafe network of ORLEN petrol stations has opened to the public. Stop Cafe offers a mix of local and international cuisine. The café was first introduced to motorists in Hungary at the ORLEN petrol station on the south side of the M3 motorway at Gödöllő. However, the service is now also available at locations along the M7 and M1 motorways.

Stop Cafe appears in Hungary

The Stop Cafe at ORLEN service stations is already present in Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovakia, and has now arrived in Hungary. The range includes hot dogs, sandwiches, coffee, energy drinks and other soft drinks, Pénzcentrum writes.

The first ORLEN Stop Cafe in Hungary is located on the southern section of the M3 motorway between Gödöllő and Mogyoród, at the service station at the Jakabpuszta rest stop.

Stop Cafe expanding

This was followed by the redevelopment of service stations on the M7 motorway near Tárnok and on the northern and southern sides of the M1 motorway at Zsámbék. Since then, the station cafés have been part of the Stop Cafe brand in six other locations.

Stop Cafe roll-out is expected to be completed at six more petrol stations by the end of the year, according to Pénzcentrum.

Popular international fast-fashion chain also takes off in Hungary

As we reported earlier, the Irish Primark retail chain will be opening its first store in Hungary early next year. Contrary to the first news that emerged earlier in the press, Primark will not open its Budapest shop this September.

Primark’s first store in Hungary will be located in one of the city’s largest shopping malls, Aréna Mall. The shop is expected to open in 2024, with an official date which will be announced by the company later. Primark welcomes the public’s interest in the upcoming launch in Hungary,

Primark wrote.

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September 18, 2023

Restaurant prices hit astronomical levels in Hungary

Restaurant prices reached psychological barrier (Copy)

The number of restaurant goers in Hungary has drastically dropped after the COVID pandemic – the Hungarian Central Statistical Office wrote. The main reason is obviously the sky-high prices, which reached astronomical levels due to the rising operating expenses.

According to portfolio.hu, in H1 2023, traffic in Hungarian restaurants decreased by 5.5% compared to pre-pandemic figures. László Kovács, the president of the trade union of the Hungarian caterers (MVI), believes that restaurant owners increased prices disproportionately in light of the sudden jump in domestic demand. However, that strikes back because people have less spending power due to the decrease in real wages.

The president said that restaurant traffic is thin at the beginning of the week, and it rather picks up towards the weekend. The good news is that utility, energy and food prices began to ease, however.

Nevertheless, Hungarian restaurant prices reached astronomical levels in Hungary. An average meal costs around HUF 10,000 (EUR 26), but it can even rise to HUF 20,000 (EUR 52), even if you do not dine at a high-class place. Let alone to mention luxury and Michelin-star restaurants. Mr Kovács reported changing consumer trends: people no longer spare money on drinks or coffee. Instead, they go out to eat less frequently, but then they treat themselves to more.

Read also:

New Michelin Guide: these are the best Hungarian restaurants – Read more HERE
Another Hungarian restaurant awarded a green Michelin star

September 18, 2023