Anthony Bourdain’s Budapest

In the last episode of “Parts Unknown”- a CNN Sunday night travel program- Anthony Bourdain visited Budapest. The American chef, writer and media personality does not commonly report from Europe: only Lyon, Copenhagen and Spain were once features of the show. He visited the New York Café, Pléh Csárda, and Pesti Disznótoros while strolling down Budapest’s streets. Fine dining with fois gras, and low-cost gigantic wiener schnitzel were represented in the show, just like in a typical Hungarian diet. Pesti Diszótoros, a city center butcher and buffet,  is famous for its sausages and pork products; black pudding preparation is followed up here. The alternatives of dining places and dishes were well chosen, with places offering reliable, great-quality food, although there are more levels between fine dining and low-budget street food in Budapest. (I would mention the growing number of great bistros, the market halls, or the excellence of Hungarian cakes)

The Oscar-winning cameraman of Hungarian origin, Zsigmond Vilmos, was Anthony Bourdain’s interlocutor in the subjects of Hungarian history and the beauties of Budapest. Through his early life story we discover the ’56 revolution, buildings and locations of the fights. Luckily they also visit Szeged, the town on the Tisza river,  where Zsigmond Vilmos is from, (as I am also, and am very glad that Szeged was part of the show). The famous Szeged fish soup/halászlé is served in Öreg Kőrössy Halászcsárda, which the best place to try it!

The other main characteristics of Hungary -like gipsy music or the thermal water in Gellért fürdő – were also shown in an interesting informative way. The atmosphere of the show was a little gray, but hopefully that was because of the unpleasant weather conditions.

You can watch the program here:

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