Of all the Central European cuisines, Hungarian is the most distinctive. This is thanks to its liberal use of paprika. The pungent spice is derived from capsicum peppers and can be mild and sweet or hot and zesty. Hungarian paprika is known for its rich red hue and robust flavor which can elevate any common […]
Exploring Budapest: Andrassy Avenue and Heroes’ Square
Andrássy út is probably the most famous street in Budapest, the equivalent of Madison Avenue in New York City or Nanjing Road in Shanghai. Named as part of Budapest’s UNESCO World Heritage listing, the wide boulevard is lined with high-end designer shops and leafy trees which provide a welcome bit of shade on a hot […]
Budapest Castle Hill: A Guide to the Top Attractions
Budapest Castle Hill District is dominated by an impressively sprawling green-domed Royal Palace originally built for the Hapsburg rulers in the 18th century. Sadly, like the rest of the city, the palace took a serious beating from artillery fire during World War II. It was eventually rebuilt in the 1960s – a major achievement given […]
Budapest: From Rubble to Remarkable
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a beautifully peaceful city straddling the Danube River, with Buda on the western bank and Pest in the east. Originally two separate cities, Buda and Pest were joined in 1873 when Hungary was part of the Austrian Hapsburg empire.Like much of Eastern Europe, Budapest took a beating during World […]
Lao Beijing: the Best Peking Duck in Shanghai
Peking duck is one of China’s most famous dishes for good reason. Specially-bred and fattened ducks are glazed and hung in a wood fire to roast until the browned skin is crisp and the meat succulent. A specialty of Beijing, roast duck was first mentioned in a cookbook for the royal kitchen in the 14th […]