Why Bulgaria is worth visiting for the food
When I saw £24 return flights with RyanAir from Liverpool to Sofia I knew it was a great opportunity for a trip. I hadn’t visited the Balkans before so I didn’t know what to expect.
I visited in January and it was very cold and the days were short. However, I soon discovered their traditional food, which more than made up for the cold weather.
Below is a list of must try food and drink when in Bulgaria.
1) Banitsa
This is a traditional Bulgarian food made of savoury pastry with cheese, spinach, ham or leek filling.
It’s a good snack when you’re on the move in Bulgaria, especially when you need something warm in the winter and they’re available from most bakeries. While this pastry isn’t the healthiest, I really enjoyed it.
2) Rakia
My trip to Bulgaria coincided with the Balkan Rakia and Spirits Festival held at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. Rakia is a fruit brandy popular in Eastern Europe. It’s also Bulgaria’s national alcoholic drink.
I grabbed a glass and went round the room to start tasting.
First up was peach rakia. I took a small sip and felt it burn my mouth. I then tried some cherry rakia and this was also hard to drink. Which was a shame as I loved cherry vodka (see Krakow, Poland). I finally tried the most popular type of rakia – grape – and I found this quite pleasant to drink. It didn’t have such a burning sensation.
I continued around the Rakia and Spirits Festival and tried vodka, gin and ouzo. I found the ouzo delicious.
3) Shopska Salad (Bulgarian Salad)
This salad is made of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, grated feta cheese and seasoned with salt and olive oil. Salads are a typical starter dish in Bulgaria.
When I was in Sofia I wanted to try a traditional Bulgarian meal. I went to Hadjidraganov’s Houses Restaurant in the centre of Sofia. It was inside a restored 19th century house and it had an authentic cosy interior which felt like being back in time.
I was keen to try Bulgarian wine so I ordered half a carafe of the house red wine. It was really nice and I could have drunk more.
4) Kebapche
The main course was a selection of meat, including kebapche, grilled minced meat, pork and beef, with spices formed into long cylindrical shape.
On the side we had freshly baked white bread.
If you want more meat then try Meshana skara – mixed grill in Bulgaria.
5) Tarator
Tarator is cold cucumber soup made of yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill.
Bulgarians love their yogurt and I found theirs had a distinctive taste. The consistency was runny and it tasted sour but it’s very healthy for you. Tarator is typically a summer food as it’s meant to be refreshing. However, I found it sharp and salty, something I wouldn’t try again.
6) Rosette macaroons
The Rose Valley in Bulgaria produces 85% of the world’s rose oil. In Sofia I saw rose oil beauty products everywhere. However, I was more interested in the rose flavoured food products.
I visited Chez Fefe and had some of their delicious macaroons. The flavour that stuck out was the Rosette (rose) flavoured macaroons. I recommend anyone with a sweet tooth to give these a try.
