Syrniki are traditional Russian and Ukrainian pancakes made from quark cheese (similar to cottage cheese), eggs, flour, and sugar. They are often fried until golden brown and served as a sweet breakfast or dessert, typically accompanied by sour cream, jam, honey, or fruit. Syrniki are an extremely appetizing mix of Central European boiled cheese doughnuts and American pancakes. They are slightly crunchy on the outside, but the inside is, although dense, somewhat creamy. The blueberries are unexpectedly tasty and a perfect addition. These pancakes are just as good as they look and well worth ma ..read more

Breakfast is an important meal in Romania, and there’s nothing better than starting the day with a traditional Romanian breakfast. When you visit the country, make sure to try some of these most popular Romanian breakfast foods. Many are served at local restaurants, but some are only prepared at home. 1. Traditional Cold Cuts and Cheese If you have breakfast at a Romanian hotel, a selection of traditional cold cuts and cheese is almost always on the menu. Romanians love their variaties of cold cuts, and you will usually find a couple of types of salami (dry-aged and cooked), pastrama (ie. pas ..read more

Ever wondered what Romanians serve when they have guests over, celebrate Easter or Christmas, or for special occasions like birthday parties and weddings? This article unveils the top 15 popular Romanian appetizers that you must try while in Romania. Let’s start with some trivia on the local appetizer’s culture, called “antreuri”. In Romania, appetizers are generally served on special occasions like Christmas, Easter, birthday parties, baptism parties and weddings. It’s the first meal served when all the guests gather at the tables, marking the beginning of a delightful night. However, unlike ..read more

One of the best ways to get to know a country’s culture is through its cuisine. Every nation has something that makes its food special. Serbian cuisine, similar to other Balkan cuisines, is rich in flavors and history, due to the intersecting influences of Greek, Turkish, Hungarian, and of course, Slavic cultures. Serbia also has a strong fast-food culture, partly because the country is well-known for its nightlife, Belgrade in particular, and its capital is one of those that never sleeps. In Belgrade you can eat well at any time of the day. And although most of the dishes listed below are not ..read more

Bulgaria is a country in southeast Europe. It is bordered by Romania, the Black Sea, Serbia and North Macedonia. Many of Bulgaria’s important culinary influences come from Greece and Turkey.  Bulgarian cuisine has similarities to Middle Eastern food, sharing similar staple dishes with the Greeks, Turkish and Serbians but with a local flavor that sets them apart. Characteristic of the Bulgarian kitchen is the simultaneous heat treatment of most products with a beautiful balance between meat, yogurt, cheese, and vegetables.  Cattle are raised mainly for milk rather than meat, and the m ..read more

A Brief Hungarian Culinary History Paprika anyone? Whenever paprika is mentioned, Hungarian food probably comes to mind first as it’s the nation’s quintessential spice. However, Hungarian gastronomy food is so much more than paprika and gulyas (aka goulash), which is Hungarian cuisine’s most popular export. Let’s take a quick lesson on Hungarian history and geography. Hungary lies in Central Europe, surrounded by Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Serbia, and Romania. In Europe, neighboring countries and minority groups typically have a profound influence on the development o ..read more

Transylvania is a land of legends, made famous by Bram Stoker with his masterpiece creation, Count Dracula. But the real Transylvania is nothing like the picture painted in books and films  – this picturesque region of central Romania is surrounded by spectacular mountains and still blessed with stunning fourteenth-century architecture, gothic churches and medieval fortresses.  Transylvania cuisine is acknowledged as playing a vital part in the gastronomic heritage of Romania which reflects its rich and varied past.  Transylvania was part of or ruled as an autonomous region by m ..read more

Easter has a long history in Armenia as it was the first country, in 301, to adopt Christianity as the state religion. The holiday therefore has a special place in the heart of most Armenians. It is both the brightest and the most solemn holiday in the Armenian Apostolic Church calendar. It is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, deliverance from sin, and return to God. Armenians enjoy the whole palate of activities: from going to church to fasting before Easter, from fun games with colorful eggs to all the delicious food served in celebration.  The cuisine is probably the most c ..read more

Polish people are known for religiousness and family values. They do not only associate Easter with making a feast but also, and primarily, with cleaning the house, going to church to bless nicely decorated Easter baskets, and gathering around a large, lush table with the extended family to share food and love. Even non-believers tend to partake in traditional celebrations and rituals and prepare themselves for this holiday both physically and spiritually.  Easter is filled with symbols and implications. Thus, the basket and table are covered with a white cloth, reminiscent of Christ’s sh ..read more

Orthodox Easter is one of the biggest Russian religious holidays. As Russians follow the old Julian calendar, they usually celebrate Easter a week later than Protestants or Roman Catholics, who follow the newer Gregorian calendar. For religious households in Russia, Easter preparations start well in advance – with fasting and cleaning their houses. For them, the holiday begins on Saturday evening, when people gather in dark churches for a collective prayer, waiting for Christ’s Resurrection. A religious legend has it that it is a day when Jesus put on rags and walked among people asking for fo ..read more