Notoriously linked to the infamous Blood Countess, the village of Čachtice is now building a more appetizing reputation

May 26, 2023May 27, 2023 ~ jarmilascooking ~ Leave a comment

Known as Čachtická pani (Čachtice Lady) to Slovaks, Alžbeta Báthory was a powerful 16th-century Hungarian noblewoman (1560 - 1614) who owned a large swath of land in the Csejte region of Upper Hungary (now Čachtice in Slovakia). Though never tried for her crimes, Alžbeta Báthory (referred to as Elizabeth Báthory in English) is said to … Continue reading Notoriously linked to the infamous Blood Countess, the village of Čachtice is now building a more appetizing reputation

Asparagus with Roast Potatoes and Garlicky Bryndza Cheese Sauce

May 12, 2023May 13, 2023 ~ jarmilascooking ~ Leave a comment

I love cooking with seasonal ingredients, especially when they are locally sourced and therefore at their freshest. This recipe is a good example of sustainable cooking: it features the iconic Slovak cheese, the asparagus grown in local farms, and bear garlic - a herb that is widely available in our woods and forests right now. … Continue reading Asparagus with Roast Potatoes and Garlicky Bryndza Cheese Sauce

A sweet delicacy from a hundred years ago brought to life in the historical town of Kremnica

April 15, 2023April 16, 2023 ~ jarmilascooking ~ Leave a comment

At nine o'clock in the morning the roads are surprisingly quiet. It's Good Friday - a public holiday, and most Slovaks have either moved to their holiday destinations, or are getting their homes ready for Easter. We should be officially welcoming spring at this time of year, but the weather has decided to play a … Continue reading A sweet delicacy from a hundred years ago brought to life in the historical town of Kremnica

In search of Slovakia’s sweet and savoury delicacies

March 16, 2023March 19, 2023 ~ jarmilascooking ~ 2 Comments

Spring is in the air! As the winter is going - slowly but surely - and nature is waking up after a long sleep, I feel ready for new adventures. I've set off for another culinary journey recently, collecting material for the last volume of A Taste of Slovakia series - the Spring Book. My … Continue reading In search of Slovakia’s sweet and savoury delicacies

Cheese and Potato Bread Cake from Mačov

February 25, 2023February 26, 2023 ~ jarmilascooking ~ 2 Comments

I first heard about spravovník two years ago, when I was shooting Christmas wafers for the Winter Book at a country house in Mačov. It was one of the few abandoned houses in the village that had been turned into a museum of traditional folk culture. While I was documenting the wafer baking, we chatted … Continue reading Cheese and Potato Bread Cake from Mačov

Minced Pork Potato Balls on Sauerkraut

December 29, 2022December 30, 2022 ~ jarmilascooking ~ Leave a comment

Smoked pork is an essential part of Slovak Christmas. Often in the form of rolled pork shoulder or pork neck, it is cooked in kapustnica (Christmas sauerkraut soup) together with sausages. We also serve slices of smoked pork alongside the potato salad. Mäsové guľky na kyslej kapuste - as this dish would be called in … Continue reading Minced Pork Potato Balls on Sauerkraut

There are gems under the High Tatras you may have not heard about

December 17, 2022December 18, 2022 ~ jarmilascooking ~ Leave a comment

It was a clear and surprisingly warm weekend in mid-November with perfectly blue skies. My family and I had booked self-catering accommodation in a small village under the High Tatras - Slovak most visited mountains. It doesn't happen very often that the Tatras unveil their majestic peaks for longer than a few minutes, because the … Continue reading There are gems under the High Tatras you may have not heard about

Where to buy A Taste of Slovakia books

November 24, 2022January 12, 2023 ~ jarmilascooking ~ 3 Comments

Three volumes of A Taste of Slovakia series have been published to this date. The Summer Book, which came out at the end of 2016, is already sold out. The Autumn/Fall Book followed three years later and the new Winter Book has just come out. If you want to know where the books can be … Continue reading Where to buy A Taste of Slovakia books

Winter tastes of Slovakia are coming to bookshops

October 30, 2022November 1, 2022 ~ jarmilascooking ~ 4 Comments

Have you heard about witches' days and do you know what happens at this time of year in Slovakia? Have you tasted the beautifully crafted medovníky and would you like to know how these honey cookies are made? Or do you want to see what our Christmas dinner looks like? This and much more is … Continue reading Winter tastes of Slovakia are coming to bookshops

The season of cabbage festivals has begun

October 19, 2022 ~ jarmilascooking ~ 1 Comment

It's between September and November when the main cabbage harvest takes place in Slovakia. Although we grow spring and midsummer varieties that are harvested earlier in the year, autumn is the prime season for collecting firm storage cultivars and those that go in sauerkraut. It is also the best time to visit Slovakia if you … Continue reading The season of cabbage festivals has begun