Gourmet festival 2015

The dirty weather of the last weekend almost could frighten me away from going to the Gourmet festival, but luckily I stayed strong and took my courage to confront the rain. Bringing the umbrella and leaving at home the sunglasses made the rain stop, and the sun to shine.

As it was my third time on the Gourmet festival, it was obvious where I had to go first and start my little, gastronomical lunch trip. It was the Aranykaviár restaurant, which represent the highest quality among the Russian restaurants in Budapest. I couldn't skip the opportunity of trying their delicious meal. 

Pelmeni from the Aranykaviár

The pelmeni, which is a Russian dumpling made from unleavened dough, was stuffed with shrimps, served with sour cream and caviar. I definitely wouldn't mind eating it every week, it's excellent.

In the price of the entrance ticket a small street food was included which you could get at the Electrolux, who were the sponsors of the event. For this reason I was not expecting anything special. But at the end it turned out they were also supporting the high level of quality.

My other favorite meal was the duck burger, prepared by the Chianti restaurant from Veszprém. It was a perfect combination of many ingredients, of which all of them were making an essential part of the dish. After it, I've decided I have to go to Veszprém and see their restaurant.

Duck burger from the Chianti restaurant

From a gourmet festival, some fish or mussel can't be missing, so I decided to check what the Sarki Fűszeres was offering. Originally you can find their idyllic store on the Pozsonyi út. The place is a little heaven for the gourmands: you can find the best cheese, ham product, spices and many other delicacies. On the festival they were preparing bouchot mussels with onions, white wine, parsley and a little pepper. It definitely made me feel like I was on a seashore, smelling the sea in the air.

Bouchet mussels

After all these delicacies only some desserts were missing for having a complete lunch. But about them, let me tell in other article. ;)

Bontxo, the Basque bistro

This article is not based on one visit at a restaurant. It is about one of my favorite restaurant in Budapest, which I still trust and visit after more than a year.

This little bistro, the Bontxo, is located next to the Jászai square, in the calm and peaceful Falk Miksa utca. As the restaurant is representing the Basque gastronomy, I think it deserves a little introduction.

The Basque Country is an autonomous community in Northern Spain with a climate similar to the north of France or England.Therefore we can't expect from it having the same gastronomy as Andalusia, in the south of Spain. Its cuisine is influenced by the freshest fishes from the sea and by the mountainous nature's treasures, like vegetables, freshwater fishes and an endless assortment of fresh and cured meats.

Also the tapas has a Basque adaptation, which name is Pintxo. It's even smaller than a tapa, served with a small slice of bread spiked with a toothpick (pincho=spike).

For trying these pintxos, there is no need any more to travel to the Basque country. Although it's challenging to give the same quality in a country where there is no sea or the same vegetables, the Bontxo is definitely delivering a little Spain in the Falk Miksa utca. I would prefer say Spain, not only Basque country, because in my opinion the food they offer has influences of other regions of Spain as well, although their main inspirations come from the Basque cuisine. 

I have tried already almost everything from the menu, and I didn't regret any choice.

Some Basque pintxos and padrón pepper (a must try)

Croquettes with ham or cod fish and some anchovies

Risotto with squid and its ink

Gambas al ajillo (unfortunately this dish became smaller with the time although the quality remains the same) 

An amazing fish soup which was a weekly offer, but I really hope it will be back once

More and more pintxos

My top favorite of the desserts is the chocolate mousse but you won't get disappointed neither with the cheesecake and the crema catalana.

For accompanying the dishes you also can choose from a wide variety of wines and ciders.

I would really recommend the Bontxo bistro if you wish to eat something delicious, light and fast (and Spanish).

Am I going to return? - Definitely, more times

Do they speak English? - Yes and one of the owners speaks Spanish pretty well

M. Restaurant, a little French bistro

The last years I've realized that compared to some other European countries (like Spain, Italy, Finland or Portugal) in Hungary, the restaurant owners use not only the food, the service and the exterior for attracting more guests, but the interior too. They are so well designed that whenever you are eating in an Italian or Greek restaurant, for example, you can almost feel the fresh air and the quietness of Tuscany or Santorini. Most of the restaurant have something special, something what makes you feel comfortable and makes you stay longer (what is - to be honest - is quite useful for a catering establishment).

The M. Restaurant, located in the Kertész utca, wants to stand out with its interior even more than its competitors. From outside looks like a charming, little bistro, the kind one you have seen hundreds of times around Budapest, but once you step inside you will find a cardboared coloured wall with some drawings on it. I wouldn't say it's the most welcoming bistrot design I have ever seen but it has an own delightful character which makes you feel even more curious about the dishes.

The menu is different every week, is always update for the current season, and as we could confirm once we were settled in, that is a real guarantee of fresh dishes.

For a starter we decided to share Squid with aioli and green salad but as you can see on the picture, there wasn’t a lot quantity to share. Though, the dish was excellent: soft baby squids; tasty, real aioli and some fresh salad. I would have loved to continue eating more from it.

For a main course we ordered a Duck breast with some salad and Pig cheek wih new potatoes.

The duck breast could have been a little softer. But still it was a nicely prepared dish with really fresh ingredients.

The pig cheek was ideal: totally soft and melting in the mouth with a perfect taste fusion between meet and red wine.

The icing on the cake were the desserts. I have to say that they couldn’t have been better for finishing the dinner: a yummy chocolate fondant and a refreshing parfet. Unfortunately they sell them as separate dishes, although the combination of them is outstanding. 

The M. Restaurant represents a higher quality, compared to the usual offer of the bistros in Budapest. His charming indoor design, small but delicious starters, soft main courses and perfect desserts make you feel a little bit closer to France even though you are still in the center of Budapest.

Am I going to return? - Yes

Do they speak English? - Yes, and the service is really nice

The last minute suggestion for today - Food Truck Festival

In case you still don't have a plan for today's lunch or dinner and the fridge is empty, I would stronly recommend to visit the Food Truck Festival in Budapest.

In parallel with the appearance of the street food, the food trucks are also becoming something popular and very trendy. The festival's main target is to represent the hungarian mobile food service's main participants.

You can find the event in the Dürer Park, next to the Városliget in a nice, shady, green place. Surpisingly the place is not that crowdy, so you can still enjoy the time without stepping on each other's toes.

Everything is set for having a pleasent lunch: sausages, meat, fish and chips, ice creams, desserts and of course craft beer, wine and pálinka for the thirsty ones.

And now let the photos speak and I hope for some of you the festival could save the lunch or dinner.