It was a week of exploration and discoveries, sublime food and new friendships. At the beginning of September last year my daughter Monika was married to a wonderful man, and they had chosen Villa Medicea di Lilliano in beautiful Tuscany as a location for their wedding. For me and some others from our family it … Continue reading What Slovak and Italian cuisine have in common
Despite the latest trends and fashions, which have put this ingredient on the list of most evil enemies in our diets, the Slovaks are not ready yet to have flour removed from their kitchens. Very few of them would think of replacing traditional wheat flour with gluten-free substitutes unless gluten is a serious health issue. … Continue reading Choosing the right flour
An English-speaking lady with Slovak roots has contacted me recently asking for two 'very Slovak' recipes her Grandma used to make. Although I didn't recognize them by the names given, they sounded like some sort of pasta dishes, so I asked for their description. It turned out that the first one was, in fact, a … Continue reading Shoolantze – Slovak rolled pasta
When the Communist regime was toppled in Central Europe at the turn of 1980s and 1990s, our borders opened both ways, so we could not only travel to the 'Western paradise', but also had the first English-speaking tourists coming to Slovakia (part of Czechoslovakia at the time). When asked about our national dish, we found … Continue reading How to make ‘halushki’
This is another variation on the traditional Slovak pasta. Yes, our halushki can also be served with sauerkraut, and topped with fried bacon. The old name for the dish is Strapačky (pronounced as strapatchki), which would translate as 'curly halushki' - the name very likely derived from the look these small potato dumplings get from the sauerkraut. … Continue reading Strapatchki
This is another recipe I remember from the summers we spent at our grandparents' house in the south of Slovakia - a warm, sunny region with rich soil and a long history of farming. There was a farmyard in between the house and a large back garden, where we could watch and help care for … Continue reading Braised Rabbit Thighs with Halushki
