Kitchen Connection - Kitchen Connection Goes to: Moldova!
Moldova’s most important historical site, Orheiul Vechi, is a crumbling open-air monastic complex that dates back more than 2,000 years. It is arguably one of the most beautiful historic sites throughout the country. The rambling ruins feature ancient fortifications, baths and monasteries.
During the first weekend in October, there is a wine festival known as National Wine Day. It celebrates Moldova’s rich winemaking traditions dating back to the 15th century.
For being the least visited country in Europe, it’s home to Europe’s most unlikely tourist attraction. Although it is surrounded by poverty, rich residents in Soroca have taken to flaunting their wealth by building flamboyant homes inspired by famous landmarks.
Insider Footage
Country: Republic of Moldova
Continent: Eastern Europe
Capital: Chișinău
Sarmale
Sarmale is essentially a cabbage roll. The dish consists of cooked cabbage leaves wrapped around a variety of fillings.
Largest City (ies): Chișinău & Tiraspolul
Culinary travel destination(s):
Primary Language(s): Romanian
%Urban to Rural: 45% Urban vs. 55% Rural
Primary Agricultural Exports: Wheat and Corn
Population: 3.559 million
Solyanka
Solyanka is a thick, spicy and sour soup that is common in Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union and certain parts of the former Eastern Bloc.
*Food expenditure for one week: €36 or ~$41
*Caloric intake available daily per person: 2,850
*Alcohol consumption per person: 16.8 litres
*Obese population: male 17.8% /female 28.5%
*Big Mac Price: $3.32 (65 Leu)
*Meat consumption per person per year: 26.8 kg
Prevalence of Hunger: <5%
Mititei, or mici, is a traditional Romanian dish made of grilled ground meat rolls. They are made from a mixture of beef, lamb and pork with spices, such as garlic, black pepper, thyme, coriander, anise, savory, and sometimes a touch of paprika.
Culture: The culture of Moldova is a combination of Romanian culture and Soviet culture. The traditional Latin origins of Romanian culture reach back to the 2nd century, the period of Roman colonization in Dacia.
National Dish (es): Moldova is considered to be a country of grapes, fruits and plentiful vegetables, sheep breeding and poultry farming. Favorite dishes of Moldovans are brynza (a cheese-like dairy product), polenta (mamaliga, a mash from corn flour), and dishes from vegetables, fruits and meat.
National Drink(s): Non-alcoholic beverages include stewed-fruit compotes and fruit juice. Popular alcoholic beverages are divin (Moldovan brandy), beer, and local wine.
Special Holiday Foods: Holiday foods will depend on the holiday and the family’s ethnicity. The following are just some examples:
- Easter: Pasca is traditional Easter bread, central to the holiday, made from leavened dough and filled with cheese. Traditional savory Easter dishes include unsalted cheese, spring greens, various meat preparations of lamb, pork, or poultry, racitura (meat jelly), cabbage, and painted Easter eggs, which according to tradition, people bump together to see whose egg is strongest.
- Christmas: By tradition, Moldovans serve pork at Christmas. Pork tocana and mamaliga is a common dish. It is also common to make and serve homemade sausages, ham, saltison (pork stomach stuffed with chopped meat), pork-foot racitura (jelly), and many other delicacies depending on the local tradition. Meals are accompanied by red sparkling wine or izvar, mulled red wine with sugar or honey, black pepper, and cinnamon.
Fun foodie facts: The largest underground wine cellar in the world, Cricoa, is “hidden” in Moldova and the Milestii Mici’s wine collection of 1.5 million bottles has been included in the Guinness Book of World Records in the category “The Largest Quality Wine Collection in the World."
Tags : Kitchen Connection Moldova Featured Country Moldovian Food Travel
Kitchen Connection
Using this space to Connect you with the world, your world!