You'll probably agree that the best way to learn about a country is to explore it through all your senses. Whether it's sightseeing, visiting festivals and listening to local folklore, learning traditional crafts or tasting regional specialities, you're bound to get something new and exciting. The manor house in Bytča and an adjacent wedding palace … Continue reading Bytča Palace – food for the mind, body and soul
I'm planning to include a chapter about Slovak wines in the next cookbook - a daunting task for someone as inexperienced in the field as I am. All I knew about wine until recently was that it came in two colours - red and white. After last weekend's wine tasting event at Červený Kameň Castle (Red … Continue reading Wine tasting at Červený Kameň Castle
Although we are getting more English-speaking visitors to Slovakia than before the Fall of Communism, this little country in the heart of Europe is still largely unknown by a mainstream tourist. Yet those who come and stay long enough to explore and make friends will often return for more. Luke Waterson - a travel writer … Continue reading How ‘A Taste of Slovakia’ was born
I usually survive the Slovak flu season, which peaks at the turn of January and February, with a raspy throat and a headache that normally eases off after taking a paracetamol and drinking plenty of hot lemon tea. But this year my husband had brought home a particularly viscious strain of the virus, which caught … Continue reading Honey – our sweet medicine
There's nothing more rewarding for an author than to see their book on a shelf in a real bookstore. More even, if this is a first-time author who has published the book herself after years of working on it and wondering whether all her efforts ever materialize. I'm quite good at containing my emotions (either … Continue reading Good news!
It was born - at long last! The book I've been struggling to publish for so long has finally seen the light of day. As you can see in the slideshow above, A Taste of Slovakia is much more than a list of our traditional recipes. It's a journey into this small country's culture, the way of … Continue reading A Taste of Slovakia
I don't drink beer myself (it's too bitter for my liking), but when I was documenting its history and production in Slovakia, I met so many wonderful people with such a great passion for what they did that I really feel tempted to give it another try. If I do, I'll certainly go for small … Continue reading For beer gourmets
Summer is an ideal time for outdoor parties, isn't it? I wonder what they look like in your country. In mine, they often take the form of cooking competitions like the one I described in the post on Goulash parties last year. But it's not only goulash that you can get to taste when touring … Continue reading Cooking in the great outdoors
If you've already been to Slovakia, the chances are you have tried our korbáčik, parenica or oštiepok - the three cheeses that are still being made the traditional way at salashes and small mountain farms. Depending on the place and time of year, they can be more or less salty, but that's exactly how most Slovaks like their … Continue reading Traditional Slovak cheeses
The season of food festivals, outdoor parties and dancing shows has already started here in Slovakia. It's that time of year when we like to get together and spend weekends out in the open, have a mug of beer and a good chat with friends, or enjoy a family meal at a village fair. More … Continue reading Let’s dance!
