Hungarian Cuisine [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION This book, prepared for the English public, is not like other cookery books previously published in foreign languages about Hungarian cuisine and its specialities. It gives more, being the first Hungarian cookery book in English which covers all aspects of Hungarian cuhnary art, including the products of olden times and traditions, together with those borrowed from the cooking of other peoples and adapted to suit the taste and cooking practice of Hungary. We hope that this book—a very popular one in Hungary, already reprinted seven times up till now—will give pleasure to all English specialists and housewives who are looking for variety. Hungarian culinary art has adapted many recipes from other peoples' cooking, in the first place from the French. It has long since been the aim of our qualified specialists, restaurant keepers and trained cooks to learn, and to give their customers, all the products of French cuhnary art. Such an adaptation could not be undertaken, of course, without sometimes changing the ingredients or cooking methods of the meals, according to Hungarian taste, and following the requirements of the raw foodstuffs available in Hungary. Thus it is quite possible that the Enghsh reader may find in the book variations of dishes, well known to him, differing somewhat from similar French recipes. The variations will surely evoke great interest. Next to French cooking Hungarian culinary art was influenced by the cooking of neighbouring countries, and of the peoples living in close proximity. Among these, Viennese cooking should be mentioned first of aU, which played a great role in the development of Hungarian culinary art not only by its recipes, but by acting as intermediary for the specialities of other nations (Italian cookery especially) as well. Hungarian cooking, in the course of time, has adapted many speciahties from the cuisine of the Slav peoples who live in and around the country, and also from the Rumanians, accepting specialities which correspond with Hungarian taste. Hungarian cooking has been composed from all these elements in the course of time and because of its originality and great variety it enjoys great popularity by all who have the opportunity of becoming well acquainted with it. 7