Budapest, Hungary:  Beyond Red Hot Chili Peppers

The hotter the dish, the better it is.  This is the imprint of Turkish influence on Budapest cuisine.  But it is not all hot dishes or goulash for Budapest.  The place has much to offer for the adventurous palate un-intimidated by sky-high calorie count. 

Traditional Foods

The basic staples of Budapest cuisine are flavored with paprika but apart from this, traditional cuisine is laden with rich sour cream, creamy butter, and there is lots of meat.  Their concession to vegetables is the fried mushroom but times they are a-changing and restaurateurs are serving up healthier dishes. 

If you visit Budapest have in mind to sample the tasty Hungarian soups and stews, and game dishes, tasty casseroles, heavenly cakes and pastries. Budapest takes prides in its soups.  No meal is complete without a hearty meat soup or goulash, bean soup, chicken soup, fish soup, or a sweetish fruit soup. 

The main dishes follow the soup.  Sour cream with a mix of red paprika and onion sauce added to pork, beef, or mutton.  A favorite among locals are the goose liver delicacy, stuffed cabbage, pasta with cottage cheese, cheese dumplings, and pancakes.  These goodies can be taken along to the reflecting pool near the art space where tourists unwind with their six-packs and have a good time.      

For those who would want to try their luck on vibrant food trips, meaning traditional food served with a modern twist, they can try the breaded cutlets of mangalica, a local wooly pig breed.  To enjoy the dish, tourists are encouraged to sample the side dish of ginger home fries.  Rustic cuisine can be ordered from nearby Budapest restaurants and there is no shortage of smoky venison sausages to go with the local bread.  

To catch the tourists' attention, there is a restaurant that offers a CCTV viewing of the food preparation while you wait.  If you are wondering about breakfast, you will surely have the traditional ham and eggs and a calorie-laden jam roll.

There is no shortage of meat dishes in Budapest. restaurant menus have a long list of meaty dishes from goulash, tokany to porkolt.  There is a lot of sausages and these are breakfast and snack fares too.  If you want something lighter, try the fish dishes served with a variety of sauces and vegetables.   

Budapest desserts are sinful and these have been inherited from other European countries.  Take a look at this list - decadent chocolate syrup, sponge cake spiced with rum sauce and sponge caked decked with nuts and caramel.  There are also doughnuts, strudels, cakes and pastries that would satisfy the cravings for sweets.    

Accommodations

Budapest is home to several five star hotels and there are Budapest apartments for groups who wish to have cheaper but clean and safe lodging in the city.  

Book a Budapest Tour Online

Use the internet to find the best deals for Budapest tours.  Online booking gives you more choices as you can easily compare tour packages and offers and their prices.  Online booking also saves you the trouble of visiting the local travel agency to get a booking.  You also get discounted prices too when you book for a Budapest tour online and you can arrange for a hotel room under $150.