Unicum, the richly aromatic bitter that some call "Hungary's national drink,"
is a taste worth acquiring. ...The distilled fruit brandy p?nka is another variety
of Hungarian "fire water," which is often brewed at home from apricots,
plums, or pears; in folk wisdom, it's acclaimed for its medicinal value.---
Did we say the wine was good? The most renowned red wines come from the region
around Vill?, a town to the south of P? by the Croatian border. Red wines from
Eger, especially Egri Bikav?(Eger Bull's Blood). Eger wines, though rich and
fruity, are markedly inferior to Vill?i reds. The country's best white wines
are generally believed to be those from the Lake Balaton region, though some
Hungarians insist that white wines from the Sopron region (by the Austrian border)
are better. Tokaj wines--sz?z (dry) or ?s (sweet)--are popular as ap?tifs and
dessert wines.did you know ...?PUBSPubs in Budapest come in a variety of styles:
some are like German or Austrian beerhalls, some like elegant turn-of-the-century
restaurants, others are modern bars. This all reflects the many and varied political
and cultural forces which have influenced the city. It seems everyone from touring
social rugby sides to pinstripe-suit-wearing yuppies converges at Becketts informal
HQ for Budapest's expatriate scene. If it?s choice you?re after, D-2, Liszt
Ferenc t?and D-6, R?y utca are both lined with fashionable bars and restaurants.
BEERUnlike its Austrian, Czech, and Slovak neighbors, Hungary does not have
a beer culture; as a result its beer is unexceptional. A number of European
beers are now produced under license in Hungary. Among them are German beers
(Holsten and Hofbrau Munchen), Austrian beers (G?r, Steffl, Schwechater, Gold
Fassl, and Kaiser), a Danish beer (Tuborg), a Dutch beer (Amstel), and a Belgian
beer (Stella Artois). Even Rolling Rock is produced in Hungary now! To our taste,
however, all these beers tend to be inferior to those under whose license they
are sold and only marginally better than the best Hungarian beer--Dreher. Your
best bet in Hungary is clearly Czech beer, such as Budvar, Staropramen, or Pilsner
Urquell. Czech beers are not produced in Hungary under license; they are the
real thing. wines, on the other hand, are excellent!!!!...Unicum, the richly
aromatic bitter that some call "Hungary's national drink," is a taste
worth acquiring. ...The distilled fruit brandy p?nka is another variety of Hungarian
"fire water," which is often brewed at home from apricots, plums,
or pears; in folk wisdom, it's acclaimed for its medicinal value.--- Did we
say the wine was good? The most renowned red wines come from the region around
Vill?, a town to the south of P? by the Croatian border. Red wines from Eger,
especially Egri Bikav?(Eger Bull's Blood). Eger wines, though rich and fruity,
are markedly inferior to Vill?i reds. The country's best white wines are generally
believed to be those from the Lake Balaton region, though some Hungarians insist
that white wines from the Sopron region (by the Austrian border) are better.
