Czech Cuisine

The Czech Republic is a small country in Central Europe. The capital, Prague, is a jewel of a city, and the countryside, sprinkled with small villages set amidst green fields and forests, is equally lovely. Despite hundreds of years of occupation by foreign forces, the Czech Republic has not only managed to retain its unique identity, it has influenced both the cuisine and culture of surrounding countries.

Dining Customs

Czechs tend to eat the main meal of the day in the early afternoon, with only a light supper in the early evening. Czechs dine in the European manner, holding the fork in the left hand and cutting with the right. If you put your utensils down before you are finished, place their tips on either side of the plate. When you are done with the meal, place the utensils to the right on the plate.

Czech Dishes

Czech cuisine is marked by a strong emphasis on meat dishes. Pork is most common, and beef and chicken are also popular. Goose, duck, rabbit and wild game are served. Fish is rare, with the exception of very fine fresh trout or pstruh and carp, which is served at Christmas. Knedliky, or sliced boiled dumplings are a mainstay of Czech cuisine and may be either bread or potato based. Side dishes are carefully paired with the main dish.

Main Dishes

Veprove Knedlik Zeli

The Czech national dish. Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut.

Salad

Shopsky Salat

Tomato and cucumber salad sprinkled with Balkan cheese.

Snacks

Chlebicky

Small, open-faced sandwiches with a variety of different toppings, including ham, salami, cheese and potato salad and garnished with eggs, tomatoes, pickles or peppers. These can be quite elaborate.

Topinky

Toast rubbed with fresh garlic.

Desserts

Palacinky

Rolled crepes with a fruit filling, topped with whipped cream.

Pastries

The fine pastries famous in parts of the former Austrian Hungarian empire originated in the Czech Republic and are served in cafes and confectioner's shops.

Drinks

Beer

Beer or "pivo" is the national drink of the Czech Republic, and a huge variety of beers is brewed in the country. Common brands include Pilsner Urquell, which is widely exported, Czech Budvar or Budweiser, which is totally unlike its American namesake, Staropramen, Gambrinus and Velkopopovicky Kozel.

Becherovka

A strong, traditionally Czech spirit made with a mixture of herbs and spices. It is reported to have medicinal qualities and is sometimes used as a digestive.

Slivovice

Plum Brandy. This is sometimes home-made and it can be quite strong.

Bohemian Sekt

Nice sparkling wine, much like champagne.

Coffee

Coffee is often made in the Turkish manner, with grinds left in the bottom. Make sure to wait until the grinds settle before drinking or you will get a mouthful as I did the first time I tried it. In cafes, various fancy coffee drinks are available such as Viennese and Cappucino.

• Go to Dining Main Page
  
  
• Go to Senior Spin Home Page