Conclusion

I find it funny that in class we have learned that all Central Eastern European countries have their own identity, culture, and even ethnicity. Regardless of their past, one of the reasons why all of these countries have chosen to separate is because they have such different cultures and ways of life. However, when I go out to eat, I find it very easy to compare Bratislava and Brno and Viennese cuisine.

In general, the cuisines of all these regions are consist of a large amount of meat, carbohydrates, and fats. Vegetables are limited, as are vegan and vegetarian dishes. Furthermore, people love drinking beer and fruit infused water.

I still do not understand why there are so little veggies here, however I do think that the overabundance of meat could be related to over compensation for the poverty these countries experienced in the early 1900's. Also, it is a bit far fetched, but maybe Central Europeans think that eating a diet rich in meat protein is good for you. Or maybe its an Adkins's diet kind of thing. 

All in all, I found Central European cuisine to be h

eavy, tasty, and filled with comfort and happy memories.

Lemony-goodness

I initially noticed it during our first lunch at a cafe: a cloudy liquid sitting in a pitcher on the middle of the table. Pushing my own boundaries, I decided to take a sip. Ugh. Disgusting. Warm lemon water with pulp. What is this? Why are we drinking it? No. No. I am not having it, I would rather die of thirst than have to drink that water every day.

I soon realized that this terrible liquid was everywhere, it was unavoidable. I either had to drink up or die from dehydration in the sweltering continental heat. So I drank.

Surprisingly this stuff grew on me. I soon found myself having a hankering for a nice cold glass of lemon/lime water. So strange.

But then, of course, I started to wonder why this concoction was a "thing" here in Slovakia, and not in the Netherlands, for instance. of course, at some restaurants, you might receive a lemon wedge with your water... but here it is different. The water is infused with lemon (or lime or some other fruit). After a bit of Googling, I think I found my answer.

Not only is lemon infused water, refreshing, hydrating, and super healthy, it also encourages weight loss. Now, this coincides with something else I noticed here: women are incredibly thin. Could it be that Slovakia, like the USA, has an obsession with weight loss and being thin? In that case, it would make sense that drinking lemon water was so common here.

All this meat!

Honestly, I am a bit frustrated. Where are the vegetables? Although these meals are very tasty, most do not come with any vegetables on the side, or even mixed in? How do people get their vitamins here? Why are all the meals so heavy in carbohydrates and meat?  Five out of six choices we have for breakfast have no vegetables, and the last one has a tiny bit of salad tossed on the side of the plate. It looks depressing.

Why is meat so important in Central European culture? I wonder if it is maybe a battle against their previously impoverished culture? I mean, for a long time, Eastern and Central Europe were seen as this broken down, poor, unfortunate area of Europe. They stood in long lines for bread, and ate whatever was affordable (which probably means lots of veggies and grains). But now, Central and Eastern European economies are flourishing, the people can now afford to buy meat. Could that be the reason that so many choose to eat so much meat?

Also, did anyone else notice the lack of beef in this area? In the USA, beef is the most popular kind of meat, followed closely by chicken. This is similar in the Netherlands. However, in Central Europe, it seems that the most popular type of meat is pork, and maybe chicken. I have never eaten so much pork in my entire life. 

Considering the Jewish history of the Central European area, I would think that the amount of pork being served would be relatively small, however it seems the opposite is true. Was this also true before World War II? Or did the culinary dynamics change as the Jewish population started to dwindle?

So much drinking

9:30 am. We are on a boat travelling down the Danube River, headed towards Devin castle. Most people are either sleeping or attempting to keep themselves awake by making small talk with their friends and family. Almost immediately I notice something a bit strange: people are buying and drinking pints of beer. This is ridiculous and even shocking to me. Have they not heard that they should wait at least until the afternoon to drink any alcohol?

Even the program organizers were drinking.  To me, this is insane. In the US, this kind of behavior is inappropriate and maybe even result in some kind of punishment if caught drinking with their students, on a field trip at 9:30 am.

It seems to me that in Central Europe drinking alcohol is not seen as a naughty activity. Drinking seems to be a social activity that can take place anywhere at any time with anyone, without negative connotations. I wonder why it is that in the USA and even Western Europe, anyone who drinks before noon is seen as someone who is incredibly unhealthy and cannot control themselves.

Maybe it is because of the anti-work attitude that many Central Europeans take. Or it could simply be because beer is so cheap!

Smoking in restaurants

For most of my life time, the dangers of smoking have been emphasized within schools, media, and family life. I have been taught that smoking cigarettes is one of the most disgusting and unhealthy habits one can participate in. Furthermore, smoking can not only harm the person who chooses to do it, but also those around them through second hand smoke. For this reason, laws have been passed in the USA as well as the Netherlands, banning cigarette smoking in restaurants and buildings.

Today, as we walked into a pub in Brno for lunch, I swore I could smell someone smoking cigarettes. As we sat down, I could feel my stomach churning and my lungs tighten; and then I saw it: an ash tray. “You can smoke in here?!?”, I asked excitedly. “I think so…” someone responded, pointing at a woman a few tables over who was puffing away on her fag.

I’m confused. Is smoking still a common leisurely activity in Central Europe? I thought the restaurant smoking ban was European? Even if it is not, why would a Czech pub choose to allow such an activity to take place within closed quarters? What is the point?

Again, this activity would be completely inappropriate in a restaurant in the USA or the Netherlands. In this day and age, most people would find it offensive if someone lit up a cigarette while they were eating. I do not understand why this is different in this area.

Being Veggie

Creamy Pasta Dish

One thing I have noticed throughout this trip is that the vegetarian and vegan food options are very limited. On most menus, I would say about 90% of the choices have meat in them, and 99% would be unsuitable for vegans. Usually the vegetarian and vegan options consist of a garden salad, or some kind of pasta; basic vegetarian/vegan cuisine. There is never anything substantial on the menu for vegetarians nor vegans. 

Typical Vegetarian Cuisine

Considering that the climate is perfect for growing fruits and vegetables, I do not understand why this phenomenon is occurring. Everywhere we went there were fruit trees and gardens filled with tasty vegetables. There is so much potential for the restaurants to use their local produce in a creative, fun, and tasty way. But, for some unknown reason, most restaurants are not taking advantage of this opportunity.

I think being a vegetarian here would be absolutely miserable, especially if you want to dine out often. But why is this happening? Why is there so little appreciation for those who choose not to eat meat/dairy/eggs? How does this benefit anyone in the state? Its sad that there is so much potential for great vegetarian and vegan cuisine that is not being used here.

Allergy-free is for me.

Nothing in this country has made me more happy than seeing this page in a menu at a restaurant. This page is included in most menus in Bratislava; it associates common food allergens with a number. If a dish includes one of the listed allergens, it's associated number will be listed after the description.As a person that suffers from many food allergies, this page saved my life!
Regulations set forth my the European Union requires that all EU countries must clearly list all major allergens on pre-packaged food. But, Slovakia apparently took that requirement one step further and integrated it into some restaurant menus as well. This makes eating out for any person with dietary restrictions much easier and enjoyable.

Another thing that I noticed on the menus here in Bratislava was the various "gluten-free" choices. Even at Italian restaurants, gluten free pasta is offered.. FOR FREE. I cannot imagine this happening in the United States or even the Netherlands. Even if every restaurant offered a gluten free or allergen free choice, there would definitely be extra charges added to your bill!

I wonder why this happens in Slovakia? Is the government trying hard to make its citizens healthier in general? Or is there just a high demand for allergen information and gluten free options in restaurants?