At the beginning of this
month, I had the chance to visit Romania for a week. My visits there tend to be
hectic as I’m rushing from one place to another, but they are so worth it. I can
usually count on being spoiled by delicious food every day I’m there.
My family sits down to
breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and cake as well as dinner together. Breakfast and
dinner are similar, consisting of bread, cheese and salami. During breakfast
there are also boiled eggs, jams, honey and yogurt and during dinner those
things are omitted for sliced veggies (bell peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers),
pickled veggies (olives, cucumbers, bell peppers, etc.) and lots more dried and
cured meats. Sometimes even hot dogs make it onto the table.
Lunch is the big meal of
the day offering soup and an entrée of meat and starch. Always filling and nap-inducing.
In the afternoon there
is always, and I mean always, cake or dessert with coffee or tea, depending on
which one you drink.
A few times we ate out
as well and indulged in shawarma, a Middle-Eastern gyro, and traditional
Romanian cuisine at an underground tavern. Everyone asks me what traditional
Romanian food is and to sum it up, it is pork, pork, pork, and starches. Mashed
potatoes are a favorite but also pasta, noodles and of course the staple,
polenta or cornmeal. With pretty much any main meal people eat pickled veggies,
the same way someone would eat ketchup with fries for example.
Desserts consist of
everything from fancy cakes to custard-filled pastries and cookies. I was there
during Lent, which meant that about half to a third of the population was
fasting for Easter. At every food establishment you could pretty much buy
regular food or food for Lent. Very considerate of them. I ended up liking the
apple dessert best which was meant for those religious folks.
Food prices at
restaurants tend to be affordable for tourists, although high-priced for
locals. That explains why most people eat at home and know how to cook. Traditional
recipes are passed down from generation to generation and the kitchen is mostly
a women’s domain. I always have the good intention of watching my family cook
when I’m there to learn those precious recipes, and inadvertently I end up
eating the outcome more than learning the making of it.
The first cafe we went to - almost everyone got the eclairs
Meatball soup made by my aunt
Custard-filled puff pastry - also home made
Table set for afternoon coffee
Stuffed cabbage roll as big as my head
The much-loved pickled veggies (bell peppers, cucumbers, jalapenos and cabbage)
Another tradition - sausage links made out of beef, pork and lamp meat
When in Romania, do as they do and get the links
The apple dessert for Lent (covered with powdered sugar)
Most desserts are filled with some kind of cream
Got hungry inside a huge store and thankfully they had food - the bottom, middle item is stuffed bell pepper which is one of my favorites there
Polenta with pork stew - restaurants don't skimp on the portions
Meat and potatoes - a staple
Beef and noodle soup - home style
Dumplings with chicken stew - we eat lots of stews there
