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By Barbara Penny Angelakis
In the fashionable Castle District on the Buda side of the Danube - behind Fishermen’s Bastion and just across the road from the Hilton Hotel - is a restaurant and café called Apetito. The restaurant is decorated in what I call European chic, which to me means simple clean lines, a monotone color scheme, and original contemporary art adorning the walls. The wait staff is attentive with expert knowledge of the menu, and from Apetito’s exemplary kitchen I enjoyed one of the finest dinners I had in Budapest. It began with a delicious amuse bouche of chopped marinated smoked salmon and vegetables over chopped onion and spicy goat cheese wrapped in deer ham. This was followed by an appetizer of soft goat cheese cream on grilled aubergine with marinated fairy-ring mushroom and smoked duck breast, that was accompanied by a 2007 Pannonhalmi Rajnai Rizling from Pannonhalmi Apátsági Winery. Grapefruit sorbet and a rosé sparkling wine cleared the palate for the entrée of saddle of wild boar, served with roasted peanut flavored cranberry ragout and polenta. A 2006 Sinai-hegyi cabernet Sauvignon from the Garamvári Winery nicely balanced the richness of the boar. And for desert, a Hungarian specialty “Somlói” sponge cake with a 2003 Béres 5 puttonyos Aszú from Béres Vineyard. All dishes are Hungarian favorites but were prepared with an international twist that elevated the food from simple ethnic to gourmet fare. Apetito, 1014 Budapest, Hess András Square 6. www.apetito.hu
For a more traditional Hungarian dining experience, in both food and décor, try the Museum Café (Múzeum Krávéház Étterem) at Múzeum Boulevard 12, 1088 Budapest www.muzeumkavehaz.hu This handsome restaurant with its vaulted ceilings, decorative tiles, leaded glass windows, hanging circle chandeliers and dark wood wainscoting; transports you back to a more gracious era where dining on duck, goose, pheasant, boar and pork was a celebratory treat. The Museum Café dates to 1885 but is still serving those time-honored specialties… and more. It is conveniently located in the heart of the Pest side of Budapest, just a short walk from the National Museum, and is a perfect stop for lunch or dinner after sightseeing or visiting the museum. The food is robust and the service is professional.
For Hungarian food with an up-to-date twist try Dió Restaurant & Bar at 1051 Budapest, Sas Street 4. www.diorestaurant.com This restaurant is centrally situated on the Pest side of Budapest and introduces Hungarian food and décor to the 21st century; unifying folk motifs with contemporary design and blending traditional cuisine with modern innovation. Make sure you save room for their tasty deserts or stop in to socialize and sample specialty cocktails from their well-stocked bar.
© February 2009 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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