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Gastronomic adventures

Nógrád has its own unique flavours and its typical gas-
tronomy.
Soup is of special importance in the diet of the Palóc peo-

ple. The old saying, expressing this richness, is relevant
here: “only of soups, there were seven kinds”. Th e simplest

soup is the so-called “magalevi”. The soups were mainly
thickened with a thickener, for which milk, whey, and less
often, sour cream were used. A typical fasting dish – even

today – is cabbage soup with mushrooms.

The potato dishes are more dominant in this region than
Festival, the Kazár Laska (Pasta) Festival, or the Érsekvad-
kert Nagygönc (Dumplings).
We have a special respect for fruit. A good example is the
Kozárd Apple Blossom Festival and the Kétbodony Plum
Sunday. The culture of berry growing in Nógrád is pre-

served and kept alive by the former Frankish Germans of
Berkenye. The men here believe that the best fruit is the

one that can be drunk. The good ‘pálinka’ (fruit brandy) is
very popular. Today, the Öregetesi Palóc Pálinka Manufac-
tory, which also processes berries, is nationally renowned.

in the Great Plain. Most often pastry, ganca (dumplings),

haluska (noodles), strapacky or potato pancakes were

made using boiled potatoes and a little wheat fl our. Th ey
were served with roasted onions, crackers, butt er, cott age
cheese, poppy seeds, or stewed cabbage. A typical Palóc
dish is the morvan or morvan kalach, a braided kalach

(sweet bread). The home-made strudel is still a favourite
treat on the tables during festivities.
Dishes made from potatoes, are now the basis of gastro-
nomic festivals, such as the Vanyarc Haluska (Noodles)

Due to the lack of grapes, the wine culture has not taken
root here. Beer, however, sells well, especially if it is home-

brewed. This is why Palóc beers from Balassagyarmat and
the locomotive-labelled products of the Rétsági Fűtőház
(Locomotive Shed) Brewery are popular.
Still, if someone does not like either the pálinka or the
beer, they can drink delicious and healthy drinks made
from the local fruits. One example is the variety of fruit
juices called Tarjáni Zamatos. The water from the springs

of the Csevice stream is a medicine for the upset stomach.

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