Bibliography:
“ÉTTEREM ÉS BOR KALAUZ 2008” - One of the most independent and authoritative restaurant guides for Hungary
“TOKAJ - A Companion for the Bibulous Traveller” by David Copp
In English:
CHEW - A well-written and up-to-date website devoted to Hungarian gastronomy
FOOD POLICE - Incisive, balanced and rated restaurant reviews with emphasis on haute cuisine; newer articles written in Hungarian
In Hungarian:
CHILI&VANILIA - In-depth haute cuisine at home from a Hungarian cook who lived in Belgium. Some posts in English
BŰVÖS SZAKÁCS - A wide-ranging adventure focussing on Hungarian and French cuisine
HUNGARIAN CULINARY CHARTER - The industry unites to express their vision. In Hungarian and French
FŰSZER ÉS LÉLEK - A gastroblog concentrating on Kosher recipes
Recommended Food Shops in Budapest:
Central Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok) (V. Vámház körút 1-3.) In the past this most famous of market halls was connected to the River Danube by a tunnel so that goods could be directly offloaded from barges and taken inside to the stalls for sale. This is the place to go if you cook frequently. Open until 3pm on a Saturday (but get there before 1pm while every one of the 180 stalls are still open). You can get fresh (Tuesday & Friday) sea fish downstairs. There are some tourist stalls but walk through and you will find very much a functional farmers market. It’s worth walking all the way to the back for the dairy products from individual creameries. (Click here to see a promotional video of the Central Market.)
Hunyadi tér Market (VI. Hunyadi tér) Dating from 1897, this is the only one that has not been renovated since the political changes in 1990. Until the afternoon, old ladies sell a variety of produce outside the market itself, often hard-to-find vegetables, honey etc. The kolbász stand towards the back of the market is quite good; there is a fresh-water fishmonger too.
Féni utca Market (II. Lövőház utca 12 (Behind Mammut I shopping centre). About the only place to get Hungarian Grey beef “szurkemarha” (sometimes available at Nagyvásárcsarnok as well). Has one of the best lángos stands in the city.
Rákóczi tér Market (VIII. Rákóczi tér 7-9.) More representative of everyday Budapest, rarely frequented by tourists.
Garay tér Market (VII. Garay tér). Newly opened, near Városliget (Park), in a new building. A little lacking in terms of choice when compared to Hunyadi Market, this is a rather decent market if you live in the area. Complete with bakery which produces giant loaves of bread...
Hold utca (Belvárosi) Market (V. Hold utca 13.) Like a jewel in the centre of Pest, quite close to the Parliament.
Klauzál tér Market (VII. Klauzál tér) In the centre of the old Jewish Quarter.
Batthyány tér Market (I. Batthyány tér 5.) This, the only one in Buda, was lovingly restored in 2003. Upstairs there are shops, a café and a view over one of the city’s finest squares and across the River Danube towards the Parliament.
Lehel tér Market (XIII, Lehel tér). Open on Sunday mornings too.
Recommended Wine Shops in Budapest:
