Food, Drinks
The characteristic features of Hungarian cuisine are harmonious, substantial dishes flavoured with red paprika, onion, tomatoes, green paprika and sour cream.
 
Goulash

Among the typical dishes are the famous Hungarian Goulash made of beef, vegetables, potatoes and small noodles (the authentic dish is made in a kettle over an open fire; the urban version is served as goulash soup)
Chicken paprikás with gnocchi

Chicken paprikás (stew) with gnocchi, a dish with a delicious sauce, and Stuffed Cabbage, a rice and meat stuffing wrapped in sour cabbage leaves and cooked in a superb sauce.
Fish soup

The soup specialities include Fish soup made of a variety of fish and the golden-yellow Újházy chicken soup made of several kinds of vegetables.

Pastry and sweets include the famous Túróscsusza made of pasta, cottage cheese, sour cream and fried bacon flavouring; delicious Rétes (strudel) with fillings of sour cherry, cottage cheese and ground poppy seed wrapped in pastry as thin as tissue-paper; Somlói Galuska, a wonderful dessert consisting of crumbled sponge cake, vanilla cream, walnuts, raisins, whipped cream and chocolate sauce; and Vargabéles, a baked pudding made of vermicelli cooked in milk, cottage cheese, sour cream and rétes (strudel) pastry. Meals usually begin with a soup, followed by the main course and dessert.

Wines: see under that heading.
Hungarian beers: Dreher, Aranyászok, Kobányai, Soproni, Bak, Borsodi, Szalon.
Spirits include the Kecskemét apricot and cherry brandy, kosher plum brandy and Zwack Unicum.

In addition to Hungaria and Törley, the most famous Hungarian sparkling wines, a large variety of good quality Hungarian products are available.

For information on dining and wines, look for the following monthly guides at hotels or TOURINFORM offices:

  • Budapest Panorama, a monthly programme guide in English, German, Italian, Russian and French: H-1088 Budapest, Múzeum u. 11. Tel: (36) 1/266-5853, Fax: (36) 1/338-4293 
  • Programme In Ungarn/In Hungary, a monthly programme guide in English and German: H-1135 Budapest, Szegedi út 37-39. Tel/fax: (36) 1/350-8677