A
few weeks ago I took a whirl wind tour of Budapest. It was my first trip to
Hungary despite the fact that I have been to Frankfurt many a times and it’s
just an hour’s flight away. Heading over for a few days, I wasn’t too sure of
what to expect. My trip was a peek into Hungarian lifestyle and a chance to
feel the pulse of Budapest. My first impression was that it is a city of
contrasts with some stunning Buildings and the flush Danube with a gorgeous
bridge, not to mention the market square that is found everywhere in Europe
which is very much a large part of the regular Hungarian everyday life.
A TASTE OF HUNGARY
The
best ways to explore the city is by foot and wander in wonder on its streets,
admiring the architecture and discovering the tiny, quirky shops and cafés. And
it gets better if you plan your walks around town with food and drink as your
focus, and you’ll slowly discover why Budapest is right there on the culinary
map. Traditional dishes are largely focused around meats, pork in particular,
seasonal vegetables, fresh bread, cheese and honey. However, there’s one thing
that most people associate with Hungarian cuisine is the heavy use of paprika.
Interestingly the Ottoman Turks had a major impact on the gastronomy of the
region, paprika being one of its symbols. The gastronomic influence of the
Turks also spans to the introduction of rice pilaf, strudel, tobacco, tomatoes,
corn and cherries and coffee of course! The goulash, a soup or stew of meat
(can be of any kind), noodles and vegetables (mostly potatoes) seasoned with
paprika as well as other spices is another dish Budapest is very famous for.
Hungarians in general are fond of soups, desserts and pastries, as well as
stuffed pancakes. The most iconic traditional main courses are chicken
paprikás, stuffed cabbage and stuffed peppers, the stews, Foie Gras and pork
dishes. Definitely save room for dessert. Visit a cukrászda (bakery) or a
kávéház (café) and try the rétes (strudel), krémes, Eszterházy torta, or Dobos
torta. For those who do not know Hungary has many local wines, so even if you
are a connoisseur, you would discover new flavours here, such as the
full-bodied reds from the southern regions (notably Szekszárd and Villány), the
lovely rosés, the increasing number of traditionally produced sparkling wines,
the fresh whites (like Irsai Olivér and Olaszrizling), and of course the wines
from Tokaj (both dry and sweet). I would highly recommend furmint, a grape
varietal grown mainly in Tokaj and Somló, which is made into both a dry wine
and is used for the sweet Tokaji aszús.
FOODIE STOP
A
robust combination of sounds and colours lit up my morning at the Central
Market Hall in true local Hungarian style as I discovered that Hungary is a
foodie’s haven and Budapest is no exception. The market is expansive- two
floors of celebrated Hungarian merchants, farmers, and local chefs. The first
floor includes farmers galore that offer fresh produce to butcher’s hanging
slabs of meat.
I could also see peppers in a wide range of colours, shapes and
flavours running the gamut from the sweet tomato paprika, mild apple pepper to
the lethal cherry chilli. I also enjoyed my stroll through the local artists’
handmade crafts and was amazed to note the detail on the porcelain! And of
course there are plenty of souvenirs to buy as well. A good idea is to sit
among the locals and enjoy the Hungarian fare and sip a beer, at any time of
the day, mind you! Be sure to try the Mangalica pork if you come across it and
you could also try the lángos, a big piece of fried dough topped with garlic,
sour cream or cheese. This bustling hall will have you entertained for an hour
or two, a must see while in the city!
THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS
Budapest
doesn’t exactly seem to hide its charms, “If you’ve got it flaunt it” could
well be the city’s motto. Even more famed for its vibrant nightlife, it is a
popular vacation destination. As far as nightlife is concerned Budapest caters for
all tastes and does not disappoint at all. If you really want to see the
gorgeous city, you need to go out at night. Climbing up to Citadella on the
Gellert Hill, taking a walk by the Danube, sitting in a limo riding around the
City or going for a night ride in a boat on the Danube are all surely worth a
try. ‘Ruin pubs’ aka meeting places of local people of all ages are the
hottest in the city and the ambience includes worn-down pieces of furniture,
psychedelic interiors, and tons of people and this essential charm changes from
venue to venue, and guarantees an enviable assortment. Situated
in Kazinczy utca, ‘Szimpla kert’ is one of the busiest party streets
of downtown Budapest, is the ‘Baap’ of all ruin pubs. The interior,
courtesy of contemporary artists, looks like as if it was put together from the
selection of a second hand shop selling electronic devices, prehistoric toys,
old bikes, and even vintage Russian cars. The crowd is mostly foreigners,
although locals also frequent the place owing to the diverse selection of
concerts. The booze assortment holds no surprises, while the menu consists of
bar dishes. It’s just the place to get to know heaps of exciting people during
an all-nighter. Interestingly the diverse, upscale crowd included something
that most pubs aspire to – more girls than the boys!
FAST
FACTS
Best Way to
Reach- Fly Lufthansa from Delhi or
Mumbai, It’s about an Hour’s flight from Frankfurt.
Best Place
to Stay- (Apaczai Csere Janos utca 12-24)
with a breath-taking view of the vibrant life of Budapest, Hotel InterContinental
provides its guests with a feeling of exclusivity. Located in the old city
centre, on the right of the River Danube and parallel to the Market Square it’s
the perfect place. For more info log on to http://www.budapest.intercontinental.com/en/start.html
Must Try -
Gerloczy Restaurant (http://www.gerbeaud.hu/en),
Halaszbastya Restaurant (http://halaszbastya.ey/),
Pierrot Restaurant http://www.pierrot.hu/
and the ruin pubs (http://ruinpubs.com/)
published in tlf
