Aug
2012
Guest Post: Taste Something Different: A Review of Romanian Wine & Food
Taste Something Different: A Review of Romanian Wine & Food
Romanian wine and food is very diverse. The pallet of this country has been influenced heavily by the compact nature of the European continent that plays host to a wide range of religions, cultures and also climates. The food can be described as being very rich in flavour as well and being colourful and often an alluring smell.
One of the key benefits of Romanian food is that like Balkan food it is very easy to prepare. The most common dish in Romanian that you could probably call their signature dish is called “hominy”. As with many national dishes this food was originally eaten by only the poorest however it has now become more appreciated by everyone in Romanian society. The meat used most often by Romanians is pork, however they also eat chicken, mutton, lamb and beef. A number of the recipes that are so popular coming out of Romania are strictly tied to a season or a celebrated holiday period, for example on Christmas it is traditional for each family to sacrifice a pig for the festive meal and produce a number of dishes including;
- Blood (or black) pudding, pork sausages.
- Meatballs served with cabbage; this is a delightful mix of meat wrapped in cabbage leaves & garden sorrel.
- Tochitura; a type of stew that is served along with hominy and traditional Romanian wine;
To accompany the foods that they create for the different times of the year the drink of choice is traditional Romanian wine. As the 9th largest producer of wine in the world it is only recently that the Romanian export market for their wine has recently started to grow. A number of deserts and fortified wines are produced, including; Feteasca, Grasa & Tamaioasa. Alongside these wines the Romanians are also producing a number of well known grapes, including; Riesling, Muscat Ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon
To really appreciate the food and wine of this emerging country we recommend you visit the beautiful country itself. The prices are low and the hospitality is fantastic!
Bio: Claire currently works for a Romanian Wine as a buyer. In her spare time she enjoys travel and culture across Eastern Europe, taking in the undiscovered sights and trying new and interesting foods along the way.
