Cholent with goose meatloaf
CREDIT: Hugh Levinson
Jews have lived in what today is Hungary since the 11th century, and despite the devastation of World War II and discrimination under Communism, Hungary is home to the largest Jewish community between Paris and Moscow. Today, roughly 80,000 Jews live in Budapest alone. Over the years, Jewish culture has woven itself deeply into Hungarian life, particularly in the kitchen, where many dishes that are typically thought of as Hungarian actually have Jewish origins. London-based reporter Hugh Levinson took a culinary tour of Budapest with Bob Cohen, an American ethnomusicologist who has lived there for more than 20 years. Cohen writes a foodie blog, plays fiddle in his band, “Di Naye Kapelye,” and is an expert on the tastes and tales of the local cuisine. Their first stop was Kádár, a tiny, legendary restaurant in the heart of the old Jewish district.
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I’ve never had goose meatloaf before, but it looks tasty.
Going to Budapest in June – this is great!
It is possible to eat wonderful Jewish food in the same Budapest neighborhood at a Glatt KOSHER restaurant called Carmel. It is authentic and delicious. Enjoy!
Bravo Bob! (His recent blog posts have been about food in New York).
Thank you so much for this mouth-watering nostalgic taste of Jewish food in my favorite European city. I’m sure we’ve been to this restaurant. However, it is almost impossible to find bad food — or bad music — anywhere in Hungary.