BEYOND Budapest

48 www.budapestinfo.hu
▲
CENTRAL MARKET HALL
Continuing up Váci Street, we finally reach the ever-buzzing
Budapest Central Market Hall [1] with its incredible
variety of quality foods. Encompassed within a building more
than 100 years old, the market with its paprika garlands,
strings of garlic, the fruits, vegetables, and on the first floor
the flower-sellers and snack bars offering true tastes of
Hungary create a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds, aromas,
sights. Typical Hungarian merchandise, for instance the
world famous Tokaj Aszú, is to be found in the market. The
remarkable bouquet of the “Wine of Kings, King of Wines” is
given by the grapes being left on the vine to shrivel in the
sun, during which process they sweeten and wither. The
number of puttony (panniers) which go into a barrel gives
the Aszú’s puttony number, and the more puttony, the
sweeter (and more expensive) the wine is. Unicum is one of
the top bitters spirits in the world. Its absolutely unique
flavour derives from a secret blend of aromatic herbs.
Apricot and plum brandies faithfully preserve the scent
and flavour of the fruits they are distilled from. Whether
marketed tinned or in an earthenware pot, Hungarian
goose liver is excellent, and Herz and Pick salamis are
similarly “hungaricum” products! Daily from 10 am in the
“Fakanál” restaurant: cooking class [2] under the guidance
of a master chef. Learn how to cook some of the most
popular Hungarian dishes. An expert sommelier holds a wine
tasting session and at the same time speaks about the most
famous wines from the Hungarian wine regions.
SHOPPING MALLS
The plaza [3] opens up a different sort of entertainment
and shopping experience. Virtually everything can be
found in one place, the shops are open, enticing one to
wander around, try out the scents, feel the quality of
materials, try on clothes and so on. The most successful
malls tempt the buyer in with some special feature,
whether this be a waterfall Tropicarium, or Westernstyle
setup. There is a skating rink on the roof of one of
the buildings, with an ice disco in the evenings. Plazas,
generally open throughout the weekend too, have
become the favoured haunt of the young. Over the
past few years malls have been springing up all over the
capital, most at major intersections and metro stations
(Western Railway Station, Váci Road, Könyves Kálmán
Boulevard, Bécsi Road, Margit Boulevard etc.).
Folkart Centrum
V., Váci utca 58 ≥ 318-5840 ó 10 am–7 pm
www.folkartcentrum.hu
Hungary’s largest folk handicrafts shop selling a
huge range of authentic hand-made items,
embroidery, hand-woven fabrics, costumes,
pottery, porcelain, wood carvings, flasks,
traditional painted Easter eggs and other gifts
from every ethnographical region in Hungary.
House of Hungarian Wines
I., Szentháromság tér ≥ 212-1030 ó midday–8 pm
700 different types of wine from 22 Hungarian
wine regions. Wine tasting of 50 fine wines.
▲