While we started a new life abroad with my other half, a dynamic culinary revolution's just started in Hungary. A bunch of great places appeared on the market, but the basic idea was the same: do something great from premium ingredients and inspire people to try something new from all around the world or re-discover their old favourites from Hungarian cuisine. Many of the chefs, professionals, and food bloggers are working together for a flourishing culinary life around us, which I really appreciate, and I planned to visit some of these places in Budapest.


My summer visit was not too long, but I organized a tour for my friends and family members to spend some time together and do something interesting. During this walk, we visited some restaurants, bars, confectioneries, and street food places that I've never tried, but someone recommended them or I was really interested to try their food.


In this blog post, you can read the summary of the first Gastro Adventure event in Budapest.

Butter Brothers

22. Lónyay street, Budapest 1093


If you have a filling breakfast it's always a great start, and I've heard, that two brothers have a small bakery and milk bar where you can try the best chocolate roll in the city.


I love when this bakery product is not dry, and you can find sticky chocolate filling between the buttery puff pastry, in the whole roll not just in the middle. I thought it's best if I bake them at home if I'm craving for this type of perfection, but I've definitely changed my mind after my first visit at Butter Brothers!


Laci picked two gorgeous chocolate rolls for us, with a wide smile on his face. The staff has a great sense of humour, the serving was friendly, kind, fast, and the chocolate roll... OMG! The puff pastry is heavenly: crunchy outside, soft and airy inside because of the butter folded in between the pastry layers. The chocolate filling is made of quality cocoa powder and sugar, but the caramelized sugar doesn't set completely, so it has a sticky-crunchy texture. If you would like to find a matching drink that you will surely enjoy together with your chocolate roll, the guys will serve you silky, free-range whole milk straight from a Hungarian farm.

Butter Brothers Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Butter Brothers Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Great Market Hall

1-3. Vámház Boulevard, Budapest 1093


During our walk I really wanted to visit a market with the guys, so I've chosen the Great Market Hall: the largest and oldest indoor market in the city with plenty of vegetables, fruits meat and charcuterie products produced in Hungary.


Since in the UK I cannot find fresh Hungarian-style pork black pudding or my favorite: a pork liver pudding, which is made of pig meat and organs, mainly from liver and rice with marjoram, paprika, salt, pepper, and cooked onions. I knew there should be a good one here at the market hall! All of my wishes should come true like this, cause we found a really tasty one and bought a spicy fried sausage as well, ate them with fresh bread and pickles... yummyumm! One of us ordered Shashlik.

Great Market Hall Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Great Market Hall Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Liver Pudding - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Liver Pudding - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Shashlik - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Shashlik - Photo by © Reka Csulak

We randomly stopped when I saw giant truffles at one stand called Triffla. If you are lucky enough, you can admire 'Béla Mágnás' the giant 600 g truffle -yes, it has a name!- the biggest Piedmont White Truffle fungus (Tuber magnatum) ever found in Hungary... it worth a fortune!


The shop offers seasonal fresh and dried wild mushrooms, straight from our forests or fields, and truffle-infused dipping oil, jam, and honey. I would like to say thank you to the staff for offering us some truffle-infused plum jam to try and the inspiring chat about these wonderful creatures we call mushrooms!


During the walk around the fruit-, vegetable- and meat stands we bought freshly squeezed orange juice and a cup of chopped fresh fruit as snacks.

Huge Truffle At The Stall Of Triffla - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Huge Truffle At The Stall Of Triffla - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Market Stalls - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Market Stalls - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Bonnie Restro Comics

5. Ferenciek Square, Budapest 1053


Since the day of this tour was quite hot, we tried to fight against the heatwave with ice-cold drinks. At Bonnie, the walls are covered with funny comic scenes and they have freshly prepared lemonades. I've ordered a rhubarb-flavoured one, which instantly became my new favourite, and one of us chose an elderberry-mint one.

Bonnie Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Bonnie Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Cupákos

31. Dob Street, Budapest 1074


Alright. This place is literally heaven for meat-eaters. The interior reminds me of the traditional Hungarian butcher shops with white tiles on the wall, where you can eat freshly prepared food as well, like sausages, pork knuckle or so. Finally, there is a restaurant, where you don't have to feel ashamed if your hands and face are covered with the savory oily fat of the sausage, cause it's all about enjoying your food in the hedonist way.


I've really wanted to try something new, so I ordered Merguez beef sausage with pickles, mustard -served in a tiny enamel mug in the world.. so cute!- and fresh bread. The seasoning of this sausage is so unique because it's heavily spiced with cumin and chili or harissa next to the other spices such as sumac, fennel, and garlic.


One of us ordered something else: ribs with seared onion mash. I've never tried even softer and better ribs than this one. And I really appreciate that the meat didn't get the automatic BBQ sauce on the top, but it got traditional seasoning instead! Very good job guys!

Cupákos Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Cupákos Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

The Sweet by Vintage Garden

21. Dob Street, Budapest, 1074


This hidden gem is one of the new wave Confectioneries of Budapest. The Sweet is the little sis of Vintage Garden, with the same elegant style and high standards in service and quality. This place was our little oasis during a pretty hot day, so we tried some ice cream here and my little cousin tried their chocolate macaron, which he bought from his own pocket money.


The ice creams we tried were: Haiti chocolate which was a pistachio and chocolate flavoured ice cream but it literally reminded me of Nutella, Sugarfree raspberry, Sugarfree chocolate, Raffaello, Salted caramel, and the one called 'Beriolette' berry-violet flavoured ice cream, and finally the Mango. I'm so happy we came and tried the ice cream here because it has the best texture and perfectly balanced flavour I've ever experienced. And just to share one of the cutest things I've discovered here: if you pull out the drawers of the cupboards, they are full of different cookies and meringues!

The Sweet Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

The Sweet Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

The Sweet Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

The Sweet Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

The Sweet Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

The Sweet Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Édesem

33. Kis Rókus Street, Budapest 1024


This little Confectionary is at the bottom of my heart since I really like to follow what is behind their slogan, which is about the same in Hungarian: 'I'm dreaming about it at night then bake it during daytime!' When I've first read this, I fell in love with this concept, and then the creations of Szonja Márk pastry chef. I've discovered her profile after I've moved abroad, so till now, I had no chance to visit her cozy shop.


They set up some tables outdoor as well under the trees in the park, so we ordered, then sat down there. My little cousin chose an ice cream sandwich made of cookies, filled with vanilla ice cream and dipped in dark chocolate. My choices were an avocado-lime ice pop and a slice of Canadian cake, called Nanaimo, which has a biscuit-coconut-cocoa base, then a white choc cream layer, and finally melted chocolate on the top.


You feel that Szonja really knows what is good for you because with every bite you treat yourself with desserts made of quality ingredients, and there are plenty of 'free from' options as well, so I'm sure everyone can find their favourite!

Édesem Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Édesem Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Séf asztala

Westend City Center – Food Court, 1-3. Váci Street, Budapest 1062


This place is a bonus because I’ve eaten my lunch here alone, a day before this Gastro adventure.


You can find this restaurant in one of the most popular malls in Budapest. The neighboring places are mostly fast-food restaurants, so I think it was a true winner idea to open a comfort food restaurant in this environment. I bet you can eat these dishes in different restaurants here as well, but the quality probably won’t be the same as here. Chef András Wolf, who is well known for famous fine dining restaurants of Budapest, turned the classic favourites of Hungarians -like Schnitzel, dinner roll with Schnitzel, fried sausage and potato noodles- into a really enjoyable, tasty and filling food, sometimes with special sauces, dressings, and ingredients.


At the Séf asztala you will get your portion freshly prepared, made of top quality ingredients and every bite will caress your soul. I’ve ordered Wiener Schnitzel from veal with oven-baked fries with Cheddar sauce, then my dessert was potato noodles with vanilla sauce and caramelized walnut sprinkle. It was an interesting discovery to try, what happens if the traditional ingredient was replaced by its even better alternative and how our favourite dish become a better one, with more enjoyable textures.

Séf Asztala Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

Séf Asztala Visit - Photo by © Reka Csulak

The restaurants had no previous information about our visits and

we experienced the same service, quality, and prices as other guests!

In case special service or complimentary meals are offered, we always mention it!

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