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
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
Just six kilometres north of the historical town of Bardejov - one of the Slovak UNESCO sights - lies a spa resort of Bardejovské kúpele. Set amid rolling hills and lush woodlands, it is a place of exceptional beauty, peace and calm. No wonder that some historical documents list it as 'the spa of tranquility'. … Continue reading Life and delicious smells have returned to the spa town of Bardejov
On my last visit to the Tekov region in the south of Slovakia, I went to see my late grandparents' house. It is now the home of my widowed aunt, and my cousins live close by with their families, so it was a good opportunity to meet them all after a long time. It was … Continue reading What kitchens of our grandmas looked like
If you visit Slovakia in January or February, the chances are that you'll get to see one of our Fašiangy carnivals. They take place all around the country, but their form may vary from region to region, sometimes even from village to village. Despite the low, often sub-zero temperatures, most of these winter carnivals are … Continue reading Pork feasts are part of the Slovak Fašiangy season
The Slovak word for Christmas has no mention of Christ in its name, although for many Slovaks it is a religious festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The Slovak Vianoce is similar to the Czech Vánoce, which is believed to have evolved from the German word Weihnachten, meaning 'holy night'. The face of our … Continue reading When you say Christmas in Slovakia
The smallest town in Slovakia has 1526 inhabitants, a medieval castle and a splendid chestnut festival that takes place on the first weekend in October. But how did Modrý Kameň become the Slovak capital of the chestnut? To find the answer, we have to go back to the 16th century, when Modrý Kameň (Blue Stone) Castle was … Continue reading Chestnut desserts from Modrý Kameň
If you made a list of ingredients that most frequently appear in typical Slovak dishes, cabbage would certainly come in a prominent place. Cooked or fermented, it is a staple we use in our kitchens all through the year. To experience the best of Slovak cabbage cuisine and tradition, you need to be in the … Continue reading The best time to visit Slovakia’s capital of cabbage is in October
I have mentioned it on a few occasions and now it's official: the second book of A Taste of Slovakia series was launched in Artforum Košice bookshop last week. It looks like the event marked the end of our summer, as the temperatures have dropped sharply in the last couple of days and the strong winds have … Continue reading Introducing autumnal tastes of Slovakia
The Slovaks have always held bread in high esteem. The old custom of welcoming precious guests with bread and salt is still alive, and so is dožinky (a celebration of cereal harvest) at the end of the summer, which stemmed from a mixture of pagan rituals and religious beliefs associated with gathering in of cereal crops. Under … Continue reading With bread and wine in Trebišov
cookslovak 