International Cuisine

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Journey by Country
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • My Cookbook
  • Exploring the world through food
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Journey by Country
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • My Cookbook
  • Exploring the world through food
  • Connect with us

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Me
      • Privacy Policy
    • Journey by Country
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • My Cookbook
    • Exploring the world through food
  • Connect with us

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Featured

    Our Journey to Slovakia

    January 3, 2020 By Darlene at International Cuisine

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Symbols of SlovakiaHow did Slovakia get its name?

    The native name, Slovensko, is derived from the older name of the Slovak people.  Sloven was what they were called in 1791.  The name Slovaks stems from the Czech word, Slovaky.  The Germans called it Windischen landen and Windenland, back in the 15th century.  Today the official name is the Slovak Republic, although it is generally referred to as Slovakia.  The Slovakians still call their country Slovensko, in their Slovak language.

    Where is Slovakia located?

    Slovakia is a landlocked country located literally, in the center of Europe.  It has many neighbors, the Czech Republic on the northwest, Poland to the north, Ukraine and Hungary to the east and Austria to the southwest.  The capital city is Bratislava, which lies in the extreme southwestern corner, close to the border with Austria. 

    This small country boasts an astounding variety of scenery, from mountains, canyons, and caves (about 6000 of them), to lakes, forests and lowland meadows.  Slovakia’s natural beauty makes it an ideal year-round destination, for outdoor enthusiasts.  The country enjoys four seasons and belongs to the northern, moderate climatic zone.

    A brief history of Slovakia

    Slavs settled in what is now Slovakia, back in the sixth century AD.  They were taken over by the Avars, until they drove them out at the end of the eighth century.  In the ninth century, they became part of what was known as Great Moravia.  During this time, St. Cyril and St Methodius converted Slovakia to Christianity.  However in the 10th century, a people called the Magyars destroyed the Moravian empire.  They settled down and formed the state of Hungary but they still ruled Slovakia.  Hungary would rule Slovakia for the next 1000 years!

    Sometime after 1526, Hungary was dismembered and Slovakia became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  In the late 19th century, the Hungarians tried to “Hungarianize” Slovakia.  To escape oppression may Slovaks emigrated to the USA.  In 1918 Austria collapsed and the new Czech, Slovak, state was born.  It was called Czechoslovakia.  Many Germans lived in the border region of Czechoslovakia, called Sudetenland.  On March 15, 1939, the German army occupied the rest of what is now known as the Czech Republic.  Slovakia became nominally independent.  The new Slovak government was led by Jozef Tiso who introduced a repressive regime.  During World War II about 73,000 Slovak Jews along, with Romas, were deported to be murdered.  In 1946 the communists emerged as the largest party in the region.  

    In 1993 Slovakia and the Czech Republic separated and became independent.  Slovakia performed poorly at first, suffering from high unemployment in the beginning of the 21st century, but she has recently made good strides.  They became part of the EU in 2004, and joined NATO in 2009.  Zuzana Caputova was elected the first woman president of Slovakia in 2019, and serves a population of 5.4 million Slovakians. Today Slovakia is run as a parliamentary democracy.

    Slovakian Culture

    Slovakia has a rich, folklore tradition with nearly every region, city and municipality, having their own unique character.  Costumes, music, songs, architecture, customs and dances are preserved in festivals that are held all over the country.  They even have the first architectural village in the world, featuring all original gingerbread houses.  The first mention of this village dates back to 1272.  Many Slovak folklore traditions relate to birth and dying, and several in the fear of the unknown and an inability to explain natural events.  With the arrival of Christianity, new customs and traditions took hold, with Christmas and Easter being two of the most important holidays.  Christianity is the predominant religion in Slovakia with 66 percent being Catholic and about 10 percent being part of the Protestant religion.  There are a total of 18 religions and churches registered there. 

    Namedays are another important part of Slovak heritage, with each day of the year representing one or two names.  When your name comes up on the calendar it is a party just like a birthday would be.

    The official language is Slovak and it is a Slavic language like Russian, Polish and many other East European languages.  It is very similar to Czech and they can readily understand each other.  Slovak is said to be one of the most difficult languages to learn.

    Slovakia is home to the largest number of castles and chateaus per capita in the world.  They are also famous for their many natural, thermal spas.  The healing water is said to be very therapeutic.  Kings, politicians and famous people, swear by it.  The water is said to treat the sick, regenerate the tired and bring out a person’s natural beauty.

    Slovakian Cuisine

    Slovakia takes its cuisine’s cues from its neighbors.  It features a hearty cuisine, similar to many Eastern European nations.  Their most famous dish is called halusky, which is a potato type, dumpling that is smothered in cheese, but not just any cheese.  It is a sheep’s cheese called bryndza.  This decadent dish is topped off with bits of bacon and is the ultimate example of a true, comfort food.   

    Nearly every meal in Slovakia will begin with a soup as a starter.  They enjoy soups made from beans, tripe, chicken and noodles.  Their most famous, sauerkraut soup is often served in a bread bowl, called kapustinica.  Goulash is another staple made from various vegetables, potatoes and meat. 

    Pork, beef and poultry are the main meats in Slovakia, with pork being the most popular.  Every part of the pig is used and made into dried meats as well as delicious sausages, some made with pork blood and rice.  Chicken Paprikash is another very popular dish.  Most meat dishes are either breaded or fried in oil, like a schnitzel.  

    The traditional food of Slovakia can be traced back to times when the population lived self-sufficiently in villages with very limited imports.  This gave rise to a cuisine dependent on staple foods like wheat, potatoes, milk and milk products, pork, sauerkraut, onions and wild mushrooms.  Spices are not widely used in their cuisine.  

    The main meal of the day is typically lunch and consists of a soup, main dish and dessert.  Beer is their most popular drink. 

    So let’s enjoy a Slovakian meal:

    The Menu

    Starter

    Kapustinca (Sauerkraut Soup)

    A bread bowl filled with hearty Slovak Sauerkraut Soup

    Main Course

    Bryndzove Halusky (Sheep Cheese Dumplings)

    A bowl full of the national dish of Slovakia bryndzove halusky

    Dessert

    Jablcka V Zupane (Apples in a Bathrobe)

    We set the scene with colors of the Slovakian flag; red white and blue.  We placed a few potatoes in the décor, as it is a true staple ingredient, along with a cross to represent Christianity and a hockey stick to represent one of their most beloved sports.  A candle with a picture of their famous Orava castle on it, dating back to 1267, completed the setting.

    We began the meal by saying, “Do brou chut” which is the cue to begin eating.  We then toasted with a beer and said “Naz dravie” which means “To your health.”  We ate continental style, which is customary there.  We also left our napkins next to the plate as we ate, as opposed to putting them on our lap.

    Our first course was the famous sauerkraut soup, Kapustinca, served in a bread bowl.  This is a hearty soup dish that could easily be a meal unto itself.  It was superb with pieces of sausage in the mix.  We savored every bite and loved the pieces of bread that naturally ended up in the soup from the bread bowl.  Kapustinca is a perfect dish on a cold, winter day.

    For the main course we served the hearty, Bryndzove Halusky.  This dish is made of little potato dumplings that reminded us a little of gnocchi.  It is drenched in a sheep’s cheese for which Slovakia is famous.  It was topped with bacon drippings and bits, which made this a truly decadent bite. 

    For dessert, we had apple slices that were first covered in a batter of egg and flour, fried in oil and then dipped in cinnamon and sugar.  I guess it is the batter covering the apples that gives it the name, “Apples in a Bathrobe.”  They were a true delight.  We enjoyed the apples slices with a cup of robust coffee, which is another beloved drink in Slovakia.  This was another perfect ending to our International Cuisine meal.

    As we say goodbye to this intriguing little country in the middle of Europe, I leave you with a few Slovakian proverbs:

    Consider each day as your best day.

    Not he who begins, but he who finishes is the master.

    Don’t praise what is yours; don’t belittle what is another’s.

    and

    The truth rises to the surface like oil on water.

    Until next time,

    Warmest regards,

    Darlene Longacre

     

     

    More Featured

    • Symbols of Turkmenistan including wheat, a rose, cotton and a tea pot.
      Our Journey to Turkmenistan
    • Symbols of Turkey, the flag, cotton, tulips, whirling dervish, evil eye, and Turkish coffee cups.
      Our Journey to Türkiye
    • Symbols of Tunisa, the flag, citrus, dates, jasmine, camels
      Our Journey to Tunisia
    • Items representing Trinidad and Tobago, their flag, ships, shells, a little drummer.
      Our Journey to Trinidad and Tobago
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Filed Under: Featured

    Welcome to Internationalcuisine.com! thank you for stopping by!

    I'm thrilled to share my passion for food, travel, and cultural exploration with you. My name is Darlene Longacre and I am a culinary enthusiast turned global nomad.

    Imagine a journey where your taste buds can travel the world, experiencing new flavors and aromas of every country on earth.

    More about me →


    My Mission

    At Internationalcuisine.com, my mission is to bring the world to your kitchen and inspire a global culinary adventure. I believe that food is a powerful bridge that connects people, cultures, and traditions. My mission is to celebrate this unity and diversity by sharing authentic recipes, engaging stories, and immersive travel experiences.

    Come join the journey, explore new countries and embark on a fantastic culinary adventure.

    Join the Journey It's Free!

    Sign up for my culinary, travel and cultural adventure delivered right to your inbox so you won't miss a thing.

    Categories

    Genesis Theme Framework for WordPress

    Archives

    • November 2024
    • April 2024
    • August 2023
    • June 2023
    • May 2023
    • October 2022
    • May 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • September 2021
    • May 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • March 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    Genesis Theme Framework for WordPress

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    Featured Posts

    A colorful bowl of Turkmenistan Fried Eggplant Salad

    Turkmenistan Fried Eggplant Salad Recipe

    Slices of Ichlekli- a thin meat pie.

    Ichlekli Recipe - The National Dish of Turkmenistan

    a plateful of Chak-chak fried dough pieces smothered in a honey syrup

    Chak-Chak Honey Cake Recipe

    Get to know Darlene at International Cuisine

    Darlene holding a dish made with Mama Naz and her daughter in law, in Arusha, Tanzania

    Welcome to International Cuisine

    Hello my name is Darlene and thank you for stopping by!

    I am cooking a meal from every country in the world. I do extensive research and choose a menu that I feel best represents the country and their cuisine. Of course that also includes the authentic, delicious recipes. Simply click on the link or the photo in the journey by country posts to get them. I also share important information about the country as well.

    I love to cook, photograph, and especially travel. I hope you enjoy this culinary and cultural adventure around the world. Be sure to join the journey so you don't miss a thing. It's free!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2024 International Cuisine All rights Reserved