Food and Drink

Budapest Food And Drink

Introduction:
Recent years have seen an expansion in the range of cuisines on offer but traditional Magyar cooking still dominates Budapest menus.

In common with most Central European countries, meat dishes in Hungary are the staple, portions are generous and desserts rich. Prices are, on the whole, extremely reasonable even in the best of Budapest’s many restaurants.

Hungarians are especially passionate about their soups, desserts and pastries and stuffed pancakes (palacsinta), with fierce rivalries between regional variations of the same dish, (like the Hungarian hot fish soup called Fisherman’s Soup or halaszle, cooked differently on the banks of Hungary’s two main rivers: the Danube and the tisza). Other famous Hungarian dishes would be Paprikash (stew) with nokedli (small dumplings), Goulash, Gundel Pancake and Dobos Cake.

two remarkable elements of Hungarian cuisine that are hardly noticed by locals, but usually conjure up much enthusiasm amongst foreigners, are different forms of vegetable stews called fzelek as well as cold fruit soups, like cold sour cherry soup (hideg meggyleves).

Meat stews, casseroles, steaks, roasted pork, beef, poultry, lamb or game and the Hungarian sausages (kolbasz) and winter salami are a major part of Hungarian cuisine. the mixing of different varieties of meat is a traditionall feature of the Hungarian cuisine. Goulash, stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbages or pecsenye (Hungarian mixed grill on wooden platter) can combine both beef and pork, sometimes even mutton. In very exclusive dishes fruits like plums and apricots are cooked with meat or in piquant sauces/stuffings for game, roasts and other cuts. Various kinds of noodles and dumplings, potatoes and rice are commonly served as a side dish. the Hungarian cuisine uses a large variety of cheeses, but the most common are túro (a fresh quark cheese), cream cheeses, ewe-chese (juhturo), Emmentaler, Edam and the Hungarian cheese trappista.

Bars:
Budapest has a healthy cafe culture, ranging from the warming camaraderie of the beer hall, to the elegance of a grand cafe. there are several international bars of American and Australian origin but many new stylish bars are popping up on the roads leading off Andrassy street and along the fashionable Raday street.

Cafe Gerbeaud:
Vorosmarty ter 7
tel: +36 (06)1-429-9000
this legendary Budapest cafe has been the last word on timeless style and elegance for the last 140 years. the sumptuous interior is finished with noble woods, marble and bronze, while the furnishings are original Art Deco. Superb pastries, coffees and light meals.

Leroy Cafe and Bar:
Raday Utca 11-13
tel: +36 (06)30-207-9220
Leroy cafe is part of a small chain of cafe cum bars in the city. You will also find branches on Vaci Utca and Sas utca. 11. the cafes are stylishly decorated with wooden floors and brightly painted walls and lots of funky artwork on show. the menu is Mediterranean and the drinks menu lengthy.

Amstel River Cafe:
Parizsi ut 6
tel: +36 (06)1-266-4334.
A favourite with just about everyone, the centrally located Amstel is a fantastic bar, open until late and always full of a lively mix of tourists, locals and expats. Open: Mon-Sat 08h00-06h00, Sun 10h00-06h00.

Muvesz:
Andrassy ut 29
tel: +36 (06)1-352-1337
A reminder of Budapest’s former status as Europe’s coffeehouse capital, Muvesz is located next to the Opera House and retains its original interior.

Mandarin Bar and Etterem:
o utca 24
tel: +36 (06)1-688-1696
Bright, modern cafe bar with a Mediterranean inspired menu. Relax on one of the brightly coloured sofas and sample the excellent cocktail list.

White Heaven:
Szent Istvan ter 4-5
tel: +36 (06)30-963-1963
Hip bar overlooking St Stephens Basilica. As the name suggests its interior has a white theme running through it with white walls, stalls and ornaments, you get the idea, but that doesn’t mean it lacks atmosphere, this place attracts a young vibrant crowd, and offers a delicious sushi menu.

Copycat Restaurant Recipes
Copycat restaurant recipes are a great way to get the dining out experience without all the costs. It’s a well known fact that eating out can get very expensive over time, not to mention the negative health effects that can arise. The average American eats out more than 3 times per week. Over the course of a year, that adds up to over 7 thousand dollars! Then when you consider that most restaurant dishes contain over a days worth of sodium and saturated fat, the damages really start to add up. That’s why many are turning to copycat restaurant recipes so that they can enjoy their favorite restaurant dishes without punishing their wallet and waistline.

Many of Americas most popular restaurant dishes are actually quite easy to duplicate and taste amazingly similar to restaurant prepared meals. Many of the ingredients you need are already in your kitchen. Not only that, but you can also reduce the salt and fat content of these dishes without sacrificing the flavor. This allows you to enjoy your favorite restaurant meals from the comfort of your home, while at the same time saving money and calories! It’s really an excellent option if you’re on a budget, a diet, or just don’t feel like sitting in traffic.

Here are some of my favorite cooking secrets that can help reduce sodium and fat content without harming the taste of my favorite restaurant foods:
Replace cooking oil with olive oil or reduce fat oils
Pan fry rather than deep frying
Replace 80/20 ground beef with 90/10
Replace bacon with turkey bacon
Reduce added salt by 1/2
Use sodium free spices
Replace processed breads with whole grain

These are just a few of the ways you can make your dishes healthy without giving up the taste.

Want to talk about cost savings? Eating out just one time normally costs upwards of dollars per person. That’s not including wine and other alcoholic beverages. By preparing the same dish at home, you’re generally looking at less than dollars per serving. That’s 1/6 the cost, conservatively! Over time, those savings really add up. Not to mention, you can eat your favorite dishes any time you want without having to drive to the restaurant. That’s convenience and cost savings.

So whether you’re looking to save money, cut calories, save time, or just impress your friends and family, copycat restaurant recipes are the way to go. Cut out the waiting, tipping, and driving, and cut straight to the delicious meal. It takes less time, and best of all, it’s fun! You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to cook your favorite dishes from all of America’s most famous chains and restaurants. Impress your friends, amaze your family, and save time and money in the process. Unleash your inner chef and try out some copycat restaurant recipes.