About Czech Republic

GASTRONOMY

Czech cuisine and drinks

Czech cuisine – the art of creating superb dishes from simple ingredients
Czech cuisine will come as a pleasant surprise to gourmets. Although the cuisine shows influences from neighbouring countries (Hungary, Austria and Germany), the greatest inspiration remains traditional old Bohemian recipes.

Soup forms the foundations

The eating habits of those who inhabit the Czech lands differ little from those in other European countries. Three meals are eaten in the course of the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. The main meal of the day for most Czechs is lunch. Whether at home or in a restaurant, lunch usually consists of three courses: soup, a main dish and dessert (or salad).

Meat in czech cuisine

Meat (maso) is an ever-present on Czech menus. The most common types of meat to appear on your plate will be pork (vepřové), poultry (drůbež) and beef (hovězí). Less common are lamb (skopové), game (zvěřina) and fish (ryba).

Dumplings or french fries?

If we want to identify a phenomenon peculiar to Czech cuisine, somewhat surprisingly neither meat nor any other special ingredient comes into the equation. It is a side dish! Dumplings are made in other places other than the Czech Republic, but the Czech version has the right to be called unique. Apart from the classic dumpling made from dough, there are Carlsbad dumplings, so-called ‘hairy’ (chlupaté) dumplings (made with raw potatoes) and potato dumplings (bramborové).

For vegeterians

There are many meat dishes in the Czech cookbook, but vegetarians also have much to choose from. Diners can order vegetarian versions of mushy peas, lentil soup and various sauces (these dishes usually contain meat). Czech vegetarian dishes include fried cauliflower (smažený květák), mushroom omelette (smaženice z hub), egg and dumplings (knedlíky s vejcem) and fried cheese (smažený sýr).

Regional specialities

Regional specialities are one reason to take off on a gastronomic tour of the Czech Republic. In Prague there is Prague Ham (pražská šunka); South Bohemia is the centre of attention around Christmas time thanks to its Carp farms; Pardubice gingerbread (pardubický perník) is a favourite among children across the country.

Festive meals

Christmas dinner wouldn’t be the same without Carp and potato salad. Another integral part of the Czech Christmas celebrations are Christmas cookies. Some of the ever-presents on Czech Christmas tables are honey gingerbread (medové perníčky) decorated with icing, vanilla rolls, Linz pastry and Christmas loaf (vánočka) with raisins. Baked sweet dishes at Easter reflect Christian symbols: Lamb shaped sponge cake are baked in special moulds and other types of cakes and doughnuts are also prepared.

Traditional Czech Sweets

Even in the dessert category we begin with dumplings. Sweet dumplings (made with dough, semolina or cottage cheese) are filled with fruit, sprinkled with poppy seeds, grated cottage cheese or nuts and dowsed in melted butter. If this has got the juices flowing, what about buns (buchtičky) filled with vanilla sauce, potato cones (bramborové šišky) sprinkled with fried breadcrumbs or pancakes (palačinky) with fruit or marmalade.

Beer

Beer is regarded by the Czechs themselves as their national drink – whether dark, light, mixed, wheat… There are over 470 different types of beer in the Czech lands. In all Czech restaurants, beer gardens and clubs quality beer is an essential part of the experience. The very best types are the world-renowned light and dark lagers. The atmosphere of a typical Czech pub and the sense of a relaxed conversation among friends are essential for the beer consumption ‘ceremony’.

Wine

The best wine producing regions can be found in South Moravia. White wines from the area have won awards at international competitions, and some of the most popular types are Veltlínské zelené, Müller-Thurgau and Moravian Muscat. Red wines such as Frankovka and Svatovavřinecké are not far behind.

Becherovka

A bottle of Becherovka makes a great souvenir for visitors to the Czech Republic to take home. This bitter herb liqueur hails from the famous spa town of Carlsbad, where thanks to its curative properties, people call it the ‘13th spring’ (www.becherovka.com).

International cuisine

In the past, Czech cuisine was criticised for lacking fresh vegetables and fish and for being too high in calories. In the past few years a lot has changed. The influence of international cuisine can now be felt in restaurants and on dinner tables in ordinary Czech families.