The lure of Hungarian cuisine reached a Brooklyn restaurant

Agi’s Counter serves a tasty menu inspired by Hungarian cuisine.  

“The chef Jeremy Salamon’s grandmothers provide inspiration for impeccable pastries and exceptionally thoughtful dishes at this breakfast-and-lunch counter-service spot in Crown Heights.” – the New Yorker wrote about the Brooklyn restaurant, which offers a variety of delicious Hungarian dishes.

The place was named after Salamon’s paternal grandmother, Agi. The 94-year-old grandmother lives in Boca Raton. She arrived in the United States when she fled Hungary in 1956.

This year marks a revolution in Hungary, a time when many Hungarians left their beloved country for good. Many of them found their new home and started writing the next chapters of their lives in America.

“She came to America when she fled Hungary in ’56, during the revolution. So she has a very different idea of Hungarian cuisine than I think it’s like now. She would cook a mish-mosh of stuff—goulash next to eggplant Parmesan, or steak Diane next to paprikash.” – Salamon told the New Yorker.

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People who wish to get a taste of Hungarian-inspired food can enjoy huge crackers, Leberkase, open-faced sandwiches, palacsinta or crêpes, and sodas of house-made syrups.

Famous Hungarian pastries can also be purchased. The menu offers Gerbeaud cake and shortbread cookies. But the real traditional treat may be the Hungarian fánk.

This is similar to a doughnut yet a little different. “They have this cotton-candy-like texture. They’re super fluffy. When you pull it apart, it’s very wispy.” – chef Jeremy Salamon described their difference.

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The place’s website also tells its story. “Agi’s is a breakfast, lunch and pastry shop offering market driven cuisine with heavy Jewish & Eastern European influence. Agi’s boasts dishes such as Leberkase (Pork Pate, Roasted Apricot Jam, Fried Egg on a Soft Potato Bun) and Palacsinta (Rolled Crêpes) with Fresh Cheese, Brown Butter and Toasted Caraway. Executive Pastry Chef Renee Hudson creates a variety of pastries such as whole Linzer Torte and Sacher Torte that are displayed at the front for to-go access. Agi’s will also serve a selection of Hungarian & Austrian wines in the new year!”

Fortunately, Hungarian restaurants or restaurants that serve Hungarian food can be found in almost everywhere around the globe.

While a lángos truck in Ireland shut down its business, other places may still be offering Hungarian food to hungry guests. We did some research a few months ago and happily found out that Hungarian restaurants were available in Canada, the United States, and even in Laos. To see where you can find these places, click on this link.

Read also3 traditional Hungarian desserts you need to try with a twist – Recipes

Source: New Yorker, Daily News Hungary