Archive for May, 2010

Instead of a practical hint today, we found this beautiful little film that presents the stunning nature and fabulous landscapes in Transylvania.

The file has been tested virus free and can be downloaded from our website here.

Enjoy and make sure you travel there!

Recommended by many readers, this market is one of the few real organic Earth Markets in the world. So if you don’t know what branza cu carbune vegetal, busuioc cu branza de burduf, hrean cu afine, gem de caise cu dovleac, or miere de rapita means or what they are, this week-end (May 15/16) you have the chance to find out! Open Saturday (9:00-17:00) and Sunday (9:00-14:00)

Being new in town at the beginning of our stay in Bucharest, we considered that one of the most amazing and authentic things in town are the farmers’ markets with their seasonal products. While some of them are little (even in front of supermarkets) and some are larger, all of them are worth being explored! Here we prepared a list of markets for you in our Online Guide- if you find a new one, please let us know!
http://www.citycompass.ro/en/cityguide/54-shopping-and-hypermarkets/141-markets-.html

Are you a bit unsure about exactly who Mircea Eliade was? Are you curious about the ‘real’ facts about Vlad Tepes or Dimitrie Cantemir? Well, look no further. There is a new blog-initiave from the Swedish Association ACTIV SPIRIT that offers very useful information both in English and Romanian about Romanian “superlatives”! They include Romanians from the world over, who have contributed to world history in ways you might be surprised to discover. Click here to read all the rofiles! http://romaniansuperlatives.blogspot.com

Ethic Wines

ADDRESS: Banu Antonache Nr 55
PHONE: +40 0722 388 239

This week as a change of scene I am commenting on a wine shop rather than a wine bar. Ethic Wines is an independent wine shop based opposite Floreasca fruit and vegetable market. The shop is owned and run by Cornel and Lucian, a pair of wine enthusiasts who appreciate the grape.

They carry a wide and diverse range of wines made up of around 50% Romanian and 50% imported wines including French, Italian, Chilean and Australian varieties. For me the interest lies in their fantastic selection of Romanian produce.

Romania is now producing some very inovative and exciting wines and experimenting with blends that you will find nowhere else in the world. A good example of this is a wine I picked out last week with the guidence of Lucian.

It was the Solo Quinta created by wine maker Hartley Smithers at the Recas Estate. A blend of Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Feteasca Regala and Muscat makes a very different and fabulous glass of wine.

The range of Romanian wines starts with many of the commercial labels to be found in the supermarket, all priced very honestly, going up to the small production high quality wines. In an article I read recently, it was saying that the only places left in the world where you can drink very good quality wines at very reasonable prices are Romania and Moldova, and I am making the most of it!

Cornel also owns a vineyard, so there is often the home produce available to taste and to buy. His Feteasca Regala is a good simple crisp dry white, which could invite itself to any BBQ on a hot summers day. If you buy it directly through the store, it is a bargain!
So the moral of my story is, whilst in Romania drink Romanian, and do give Ethic Wines a try.