Romanian gastronomic specialities

Romanian gastronomy is very rich indeed, and this is one of the many arguments for  taking  the decision to offer you exquisite food and wine tours here in Romania. The Romanian gastronomy is also not very original, due to successive  historic influences coming from neighboring Empires (Russian, Turkish, Hungarian and German).

The Gulash is rather Hungarian, no matter, you can eat exquisite Gulash in Romania

In Transilvania you can find very spicy paprika or gulash ( a tasteful spicy mix of meat pieces with sauce). In every corner you can find Kraut mit Wurst (German for cabbage with sausages!) with its local variation "Varza a la Cluj" (Romanian for " Cabage a la Cluj"). Cabbage a la Cluj is mixed with mincemeat and rice.

Varza a la Cluj pairs excellent with a red strong wine, as you can notice!

In Dobrogea you will be able to find the traces of the Turkish kitchen, mainly by the deserts like saraili and baclava! About the musaca (Romanian for Moussakka), it is much better represented Romaniawide, consisting of alternative layers of potatoes thin slices and mincemeat. You may observe, please, that the Romanians eat mainly pig meat, and there is an historical explanation even for that: during the Turkish occupation, the Turks took practically everything better, but they never enjoyed pig, as not recommended by their religion.

Baclavas are Turkish, and are very tasty.

Romanians were a few hundreds years ago mainly a shepherd people, and as a remaining they eat nowadays cheese at almost every meal. One kilo cheese costs 3 Euros, and a kilo tomatoes 0,8 Euros, and so you have a good idea for your menu if you are on a budget.

Sarmalute (  forc-meat rolls in cabbage sau vine leaves ) are present at any feast in Romania

An exquisite Romanian meal present at every meal during the feasts (Christmas, Eastern, etc) are the sarmalute ( forc-meat rolls in cabbage sau vine leaves). They are not very difficult for cook, the mix consisting of mincemeat, rice, eggs and spices, but you may have a problem while cooking, as the leaves go apart. This is a crucial test for the young girls when are just married, and many of them simply sew the leave after rolling! Which would be in your opinion the best wines for all these wines? Many combination possible, but your concrete one is opened for your Romanian Tour!

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Romania Special: Bike Tour of the painted monasteries from Bucovina

I really have a surprise for you, dears. Namely a tour in Romania, which is not a wine tour. This is possible for sure, neither the Romanians, nor you are wine addicted. Anyway, you don't need to worry about: there is plenty of wine in the restaurants, you won't miss it. The explanations and the concrete proposition are to find bellow.

Voronet is simply the pearl, a Madona Sixtina  of the Romanian  middle Age.  The  blue color  is simply  unbelievable, and its recept remains secret, no one could discover it (I give you a tip, is based on lapiz lazuli dust)

This proposition of mine, based on your specific wishes, is a good example in my opinion of sustainable tourism: a bike tour to the painted monasteries of Bucovina (Northern Moldavia). We can put together sport,culture and even some joy of life, tasting a glass of wine (and even drinking it with the right food)

All these monasteries seem to be perfectly set in the environment

The Romanian painted monasteries aimed to bring the faith nearer to the people. They are unique and their original secret vegetable paintings still hold on today. 
These painted monasteries have been made in majority by the Moldavian ruler Stephen the Great, called by the Pope from that time (1457-1504)  " an athlete of Christianity".  He fought against the Turks, being also very cruel! Actually he lives even today in the local legends!
To reach all the above mentioned monasteries you will notice the wonderful wooden hills, and the villages where the ancient traditions still play an important role. Nowadays these monasteries are UNESCO protected, and represent one of the most important attractions of a visit in Romania. 

Sucevita is another noticeable target  for any visitor, put it on your  list! It is a  part of this tour.

They are compact and easy reachable during a short vacations of 4 days, as follows:
The Romanian painted monasteries  by bike

Day 1 Arrival in Bucharest, transfer in Suceava by bus. Good *** hotels for  the next 3 days, breakfast included, any other meals will be extra charged.

Day 2 50 km bike ride with visits in the monasteries of Dragomirna and Putna. Bikes and entrance fees in organizer's charge.

Day 3 50 km bike ride with visits in the monasteries of Sucevita, Moldovita and Voronet

Day 4 Transfer by bus to the Bucharest airport with city breaks in Bacau and Focsani (lunch possibilities, extra charge)

Final prize  is 350 $ comprising hotel, bikes and logistics, guiding, entrance fees. The prize does not comprise any other meals and plane tickets!
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A short history of the wine in Romania

        Raising grapes in vineyards is an old occupation of the mankind, broadly speaking. The old Chaldeans. Egyptians, Greeks and Romans raised grapes and were very aware about making wine, which represented an important asset for every country. Also, the Dacs, ancient inhabitants of the today Romania, had a special taste and tradition for wine. The vineyards represented for sure one of their  most important riches! They used to drink wine in ox horn, or even from human heads. During the Big King Burebista, he took the decision to destroy all the vineyards, being consulted by the big Priest Deceneu. The explanations are quite simple: on one hand, the vineyards made Dacia very atractive for migrants and Romans; on the other hand, the wine drunk with no measure made the Dacs lazzier!

        Nevertheless, when the Romans came to Dacia and conquered it, they found huge vineyards! The Romans brought in Dacia new grapes sortiments, as new methods of cut and wine manufacturing. Afterwards, in the coming centuries, the grapes and the wine represented a main occupations of the locals. Raising grapes never stopped in Romania up to now, neither during the Othoman occupation. The Romanian grapes and wine were very well known in all Europe, and local vineyards from Dragasani, Cotnari, Odobesti, Dealul Mare, Mufatlar, Cotesti very appreciated. I insert  here a contemporary  map of the Romanian vineyards, for your information; the location of the vineyards has not significantly changed since centuries, and you can observe them on the map.

         As you can see, there are many vineyards in Romania, a lot of wine to drink. There are white, red, black and roze wines; there are sweet desert wines, dry or medium dry wines, and there are also budget or premium wines. As you know already, I organize trips to one or more of these vineyards. These wine tours last from 3-4 days to two weeks, for a complet wine tour of Romania.

        About drinking wine, the opinions are divided. Some doctors don't allow any drop of wine! Nevertheless, it has been clinically proved, that the daily consumption of 1-2 glasses of wine makes the life longer (and much nicer, don't forget!). The ancient Greek doctor Hipocrates used to say, that "the wine is a wonderful balanced drink for any man, health or ill, but only if  administrated at the right time and according to individual constitution".

        Nowadays, Romania proudly counts 300 000 hectars of vineyards, being among the first 10 wine producers worldwide. Bellow a more detailed map, choose your favorite vineyard! Further is so simple, tell me about your taste preferences, and we can organize something for sure.

Romanian Vineyards which you can visit!

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