My Mom's Slovak Menu at Mother's Bistro & Bar

I'm so excited to announce that after weeks of collaboration with Mother's Bistro & Bar in Downtown Portland, they've launched a special Slovak menu dedicated to my mom, Mira Klein!

Noticing Mother's M.O.M Program (Mother of the Month), I quickly saw this as an opportunity to feature my mom's delicious food as well as to devise a ploy to get her here to see our new home.  The first wish has come true already, and I'm still waiting for the latter, which I'm hoping will materialize as well.

If you're in the Portland area and want to know what true, delicious Slovak food tastes like, do stop in at Mother's during the week for lunch and dinner when they'll be featuring my mom's family recipes such as the one for stuffed cabbage, Segedinsky Goulash or her homemade apple cake she's so well known for.  I'd love to know your feedback, so do let me know how you like these dishes  - and make Mama happy!

Mother's Bistro & Bar - 212 SW Stark Street, Portland OR 97204

503.464.1122

mothersbistro.com

Dynamite Halusky at The Barn

On Friday eve, a few of us headed over to The Barn to celebrate my brother Peter's 28th bday.  I've always wanted to try this place out, even when it was Club 21 but the opportunity never arose until now.  Even though this laid back bar now serves more of an American style menu of drinks and food, there's still a secret Slovak menu that's up for grabs, which is what we tapped into.

Atmosphere:
Located on the corner of 21st Street and 30th Avenue, The Barn is a chilled out place to hang out even though it happens to be a little remote.  The inside is long and spacious with a sizable bar right as you come in and an attractive outdoor garden out back that sits about 30+ people.  This is where we sat and totally dug the temperate weather, the candle lit setting and the attentive service.

Food:
As I already mentioned, we were aware of The Barn's secret Slovak menu, and I made sure to ask our waiter (in Slovak) just what was on it.  Happy to learn that my favorite halusky (aka potato spaetzle) were amongst the highlights, I ordered a portion of bryndzove halusky (spaetzle with sheep's milk cheese) with bacon on top.

Used to the thick halusky at Koliba, I was excited to see that The Barn made a lighter version that were thinner and airier.  The bryndza was excellent too, with a distinct smoky flavor that made me think of being in the Slovak countryside.  A crispy, juicy sprinkling of bacon and vibrant green onions on top completed the dish and made it an overall standout.  Sorry Koliba, but I think this one hit it out of the park!

Service and Cost:
Impressed by the attentive service at The Barn, our drinks flowed liberally and the food came out in good time.  I think there was a little bit of confusion with our first order of halusky but after all was clarified, the dish came out in just a few short minutes and all was forgotten amongst the delicious food coma.

Costs are affordable with the halusky setting us back $13 and most beers and cocktails being between $6 - $10.

3 Mmmms

The Barn - 30-09 21st Street, Astoria NY 11102
718.728.0305
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
thebarnastoria.com

Porkfest this Weekend at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden

One of my very favorite neighborhood food events is back this year, which is Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden's Pork Fest.  Taking place around this time of year, the staff at the Beer Garden create an entire menu, consisting of delicious pork delicacies that originate from the Czech Republic and Slovakia (my mother country!)

I promise you'll fulfill your heart's desire with amazing pork specialties such as pork and dumplings, pork goulash, fried pork cutlet and more!

This tasty pig feast takes place all weekend, starting this Friday at 5 p.m. and goes til Sunday evening at 10 p.m.

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.274.4925
N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd

bohemianhall.com

Slovak Zemlovka for my Nadika

This past weekend was really special for my family, as we got to commemorate my dear grandparents, Nadika and Nadapa who've passed in the last two years.  We loved them so much, and have amazing memories of these dear people (pictured above).  

Nadika (grandma in Hungarian) was very special to me, and she was everyone's favorite cook.  I know many people think this about their grandmother, and I know that in each case it's probably true, but Nadika truly possessed culinary magic.  On our special day where we commemorate both my grandparents, we make a point to get together and cook ALL of the traditional dishes that Nadika was so famous for.  This year was no exception, as my parents' table was filled with sweet family and the most amazing, Slovak and Hungarian food you can ever wish for.  Everyone contributes something that has a special memory for them, and this year, I decided to make Zemlovka (Slovak bread pudding).

Even though this sounds like a dessert-like dish, as it's made of apples, cottage cheese and custardy bread, Slovaks actually serve and eat it as part of a main course.  We did just that, and I got some nice compliments on it, including from my dad who loved Nadika's cooking the most.

It truly was a magical day, and a tradition I hope we continue for many years to come.

You can make Zemlovka at home too!  I adapted mine from the super helpful recipe on the Slovak Cooking blog.  It's chock full of other fantastic Slovak recipes, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did.  Dobru chut prajem (aka bon appetit).

Fall Eats at Koliba Slovak Restaurant

It's been a while since I've been to my favorite Slovak restaurant in the neighborhood, which you guys know to be Koliba.  Every time I go, it's an opportunity to introduce someone new to my culture, which I always love doing.  This time, the introduction was made by my friend Anne (who often  helps contribute to We Heart Astoria), as she introduced me to Jared from the Eat the World NYC blog and his friends.  

Jared's mission is to explore international cuisine, right here in our neck of the woods - whether that means Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan or any other borough that will let him and his comrades sample different things.  I love their fearlessness of trying virtually anything, and it was a lot of fun to dine with them last week, as they exemplified a passion for Slovak food.  I was flattered!

Although I'm pretty familiar with most things on Koliba's menu, there were a few newbies too which I tried.  Here are my highlights:

Dumplings with Eggs and Pickles - It's been years (yes, years) since I've had this dish with my Slovak friends, and it was just as good as I remember.  Made up of delicate little bread dumplings that are intermingled with clouds of scrambled eggs, it's like a late night twist on brunch.  Paired with a sour/sweet pickle on the side, it provides a fun contrast for the more mild dumplings and eggs. Even though it wasn't a strong enough flavor profile for some of my American friends, I continue to enjoy it.

Fried Cheese - One of my all time faves here, it yet again delivered.  My new friends loved the little surprise found in the center, which was the smoky ham. Yeah, it's a ham and cheese in a fried format, so how can you really go wrong with that?!  I continue to love their homemade tartar sauce that comes on the side and makes this dish so comforting.

Grilled Kolbasa - I'm not sure that I've ever had this here, but it's an all-time Slovak staple.  Koliba's version delivered with a smoky rendition of this pork delicacy.  It didn't need much of anything in terms of sauce, since it was as juicy as can be, boasting a blistered exterior.  Dan, who just had klobasa at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden just a few minutes before commented about how much better this one was.

Schnitzel Vihorlat - An unusual take on the pork schnitzel, this one was covered with a variety of veggies and cheese.  It was a very rustic (almost messy dish), which was tasty, but the only bummer was that they skimped out on the schnitzel meat.  We brought this to the staff's attention and they graciously fixed the mistake.  Despite this little mishap, the veggies and the cheese created a fun combo that got me inspired to make something like this at home.

Marlenka Honey Cake - Seeing this cake as part of Koliba's offering really surprised me, as they usually just a have a standard dessert offering of strudel and crepes.  Although this cake isn't baked on premises, it's made in the Czech Republic and ironically comes from an old Armenian recipe.  I liked its many beautiful layers that were bound by a creamy honey glaze.  The walnut topping was delicious, adding an earthy quality that we all appreciated.  My dining companions concurred that this was the most original of desserts.

Service and Cost:
Given that we were a pretty large group of people, the service was on-point.  I was happy to order for everyone in Slovak and the waitress was sweet and very accommodating.  Although we had a little mishap with our schnizel dish, the staff at Koliba more than made up for it, and we left feeling great and pleasantly full.

Costs continue to be affordable, and for the above-mentioned feast, including 3 more entrees, apps and a round of beers, we paid a total of $31/person with tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.kolibarestaurant.com 

The Czech and Slovak Festival is Coming this Weekend

For those of you who know me personally, you can vouch for how proud I am of my Slovak heritage.  Although I've lived here most of my life, I stay very true to my roots and visit my relatives in my Mother country at least once a year.

A big part of my culture is of course the food, and that's why I love frequenting the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden.  Although this place has changed a lot since I first started living in Astoria, it's still wonderful and nostalgic to me.  It's exciting to me when they throw their annual Czech & Slovak festival, but unfortunately this year, I won't be in town to enjoy it.  But hopefully you will be, and I can live vicariously through you guys.  Here are the deets:

Annual Czech & Slovak Festival at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Saturday, May 25th - Sunday, May 26th from 12:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Enjoy authentic Czech & Slovak food, drink and festive folk music.  Wear comfy shoes and get ready to boogie (just like my cousin, Camryn pictured above).

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.274.4925
N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd 
www.bohemianhall.com

Easter the Slovak Way at Koliba

Image by Honestcooking.com

There's one more Easter menu that caught my eye today that I just had to post.  It comes from my favorite restaurant in Astoria, which is Koliba, serving Slovak food - my native cuisine.  I like that the menu options are plentiful and also wallet friendly.  See what you think and do make a reservation if you're looking for something meaty and delicious (and if you feel adventurous to boot)!

Koliba Easter Menu

Beef Soup
Slovak egg cheese, "hrudka" (served traditionally on Easter), klobasy, mazanec (sweet yeast bread with raisins, pictured above), beets and  horseradish
Smoked ham with potatoes and vegetables
Roast loin of pork with bread dumplings (aka knedlik) and cabbage
Smoked pork with dumplings and cabbage
Beef in cream sauce and dumplings, with sauerbraten
$20.75/person

Pork or chicken schnitzel with potato salad
Roasted Long Island duckling with dumplings and red cabbage
$22.75/person

Roasted leg of lamb with potatoes and vegetables
$26.75

All orders also come with coffee or tea and homemade strudel

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/Q Train to Ditmars
www.kolibarestaurant.com

Koliba Turns Up the Heat with their Fall Dishes

Image by Koliba

As the weather gets chillier this week, there's nothing like indulging in some comforting, warm, and rich food. One of my favorite places to find this in Astoria is of course at my beloved Koliba Slovak Restaurant, which has been a staple in the community for years.  

Recently noticing some of their weekend specials on Facebook such as this roasted pork with sauerkraut (note - it's slightly sweet) with luscious gravy on top, or this beautiful stuffed chicken with an also sweet red cabbage, it's the perfect way to ring in fall.  You'll also notice foods such as a warm cabbage soup, all sorts of stews made of beef, pork and chicken, as well as their homemade desserts such as a traditional honey cake and apple strudel.  

These are the kinds of foods that say fall to me.  What do you think?

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/Q Train to Ditmars
www.kolibarestaurant.com

Watch Koliba on the Cooking Channel

Well...ladies and gents, the time has finally come for Koliba to have its time in the spotlight.  You may recall that a few months ago, my parents and I visited our favorite Slovak restaurant for the taping of a Cooking Channel show, hosted by Aarti Sequeira.  Well...I'm happy to announce that the program is finally going to air tomorrow on the Cooking Channel and it's called Hidden Eats.  

Aside from Koliba, the program will also feature an Uzbekian-Korean restaurant in Brighton Beach and a gourmet sandwich shop in Charleston, SC, which both sound really promising.  If you remember correctly, my parents and I were interviewed by Aarti herself, so we expect a little cameo.  While I won't hold my breath, I remain hopeful.  Please tune in if you have time, and let me know what you thought.

Hidden Eats, hosted by Aarti Sequeira
6/24 at 8 p.m. EST
The Cooking Channel

Back at Koliba Enjoying My Kind of Food

This week, I was so happy to go to Koliba with Meg, our mutual friend Lisa and a few other new friends who were new to the wonders of Czech and Slovak food.  Meg and I were eager to show off the amazing cuisine to our Czech and Slovak newbies and I think they really enjoyed themselves.  Of course, most of the table got a helping of spaetzle (both with sheep's milk cheese and sauerkraut), but we also tried some other things that I must tell you about.

Pickled Herring - We got this on Meg's suggestion, and I was so glad that my dining companions appreciated it.  While most people get turned off by herring, as it's mostly covered in a heavy cream sauce, this one wasn't.  Dressed simply in the vinegar it was pickled in and some really amazing pickled onions, the herring was really fresh and tasted like the sea in the best way.  I put it on top of the peasant bread they gave us at the beginning of our meal, and couldn't help but feel like I was back in my mom's kitchen.

Combination Platter - My dad is usually the one who gets this, but since I typically just steal bites off his plate, I ordered my own this time.  Consisting of roasted pork of loin as well as a smoked pork, I felt that I got the best of both worlds.  Both pieces of meat were incredibly tender and pretty much falling apart upon contact with a fork.  I particularly enjoyed the smoked pork and loved pairing it with a mixture of green and white cabbage, which were both on the sweet side.  Just amazing, and as you can see by the big plate, it was incredibly filling.

Service and Cost:
Cordial and hospitable, the service never disappoints.  I loved that our waitress remembered me from last time and even gave me a helpful update on when the Cooking Channel show they taped there would air (next  Sunday! Don't worry, I'll remind you to watch).  Overall, we got wonderful treatment and I think our new friends were duly impressed.

Costs remain reasonable, as we paid $26 each, including tax and tip for everything, including a round of beers.

3 Mmmms

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/Q Train to Ditmars
www.kolibarestaurant.com

More Easter Goodness at Koliba

Continuing to tell you about more places to eat during Easter Sunday, this post shines a light on my favorite Eastern European eatery, Koliba.  Visiting this quaint restaurant just a week ago, the quality and the freshness of the food can't be beat, and you surely won't go hungry for the value you're getting.  Just take a look at this special Easter menu:

Koliba's Easter Sunday Menu

Course 1:  Beef soup
Course 2:  Slovak "hrudka," (Easter Cheese) klobasy, mazanec (Easter pastry), beets and horseradish
Course 3 option 1: choose 1
Smoked ham with potatoes and vegetables
Roast loin of pork with dumplings and cabbage
Smoked pork with dumplings and cabbage
Beef in cream sauce with dumplings

$20.75

Course 3 option 2: choose 1
Pork or chicken schnitzel with potato salad
Roasted Long Island duckling with dumplings and red cabbage

$22.75

Course 3 option 3: 
Roasted leg of lamb with potatoes and vegetables

$26.75

Course 4:  Coffee/tea and strudel

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/Q Train to Ditmars
www.kolibarestaurant.com

My 15 Minutes of Fame at Koliba

As mentioned to you earlier in the week, this past Friday was a big day for my beloved Koliba Slovak & Czech restaurant.  Reason being is that they were being taped for a segment of a new Food Network pilot, hosted by no other than Aarti Sequeira of the Next Food Network Star and her show, Aarti Party.  My mom was the first one to recognize Aarti, and quickly struck up a conversation with her (as did I).  Long story short, just a few minutes later, we found Aarti sitting at our table, chatting with us and interviewing all three of us, Mami, Oci and me.

Naturally, we were pretty excited, as we let all our enthusiasm and love for Koliba and the Slovak culture pour out of us, answering all of Aarti's questions with a lot of elaboration and gusto.  She was loving it, I can tell, as toward the end of the interview she remarked at just how proud we are to be Slovak. It's true - no secret there, now let's let it spread to other eager foodies too! I hope we make the show.

Besides chatting with Aarti and enjoying all the hooplah of the taping, we also sat down to a delicious dinner of homemade Slovak cuisine that we simply never tire of.  While I'm notorious for always getting spaetzle with sheep's milk cheese and bacon, this time I opted for something ligther...

Chicken in Natural Gravy with Mushrooms - Even though this dish sounded really simple, I knew it would be flavorful and interesting - and quite frankly, anything with mushrooms is always an easy sell for me.  When it arrived, I was happy, as it was a beautifully browned piece of meat, topped with chunky mushrooms and plenty of gravy.  Gravy that I knew would be awesome for dipping the knedlik or bread dumplings that we ordered on the side.  As you can see here, the portion was quite large, and I took half of it home for Dan to devour.

Vepro Knedlo Zelo (Pork with Cabbage and Dumplings) - This is my dad's favorite meal in any Slovak or Czech restaurant, so naturally he ordered it again.  A few new things that were thrown into the mix was a combination of red and white cabbage - usually you can only get one variety, but they've now mixed the two which is innovative (it's still served separately but you now get the best of both worlds).  The other new thing is that you can also get a side of smoked ham as your second protein, so again, another combination platter option, which we all enjoyed.  I had a bite of the ham, and it was slightly sweet but with a smoky aftertaste. YUM!

Palacinky with Nutella and Bananas - As we were waiting and waiting for the Food Network peeps to arrive, we had to get dessert to keep the meal going and went for the palacinky (or crepes). Traditionally stuffed with jam, we chose the Nutella banana variety this time, which was indulgent and delicious.  The palacinka differs from a traditional French crepe in that the batter is a bit thicker and fluffier, giving it that distinct Slovakness.

Service and Cost:
We couldn't sing our praises louder for the outstanding service that night, even more so given that the restaurant was completely packed and we were being taped.  Our waitress was sweet and very attentive - after we told her that we were interested in staying to check out the Food Network activities, she was happy to let us linger as long as we wanted.  The gesture didn't go unnoticed and we tried to tip generously to show our gratitude.

For the above mentioned meal, including a round of beer and coffee, the bill came out to $90 including tax and tip.

Oh and one more lovely thing I must mention - I ran into one of my readers and her boyfriend as we were leaving.  It was such a pleasant surprise, and I was happy to chat with her about our mutual Astorian food experience. Thank you for introducing yourself!

3 Bready and Delicious Mmmms

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/Q Train to Ditmars
www.kolibarestaurant.com

Koliba on the Food Network!

I wanted to share a really exciting opportunity that's happening at my all-time favorite restaurant in Astoria, Koliba.  Many of you have no doubt heard me rave about it on many occasions, as this unassuming gem boasts some of the best homemade Slovak and Czech specialties that are so near and dear to my heart.

Well I was floored when I read that a Food Network special is being filmed there this coming Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. I may just have to come by when Food Network's staff will be on hand with Koliba's head chef, Jano, as they explore the inner workings of authentic Eastern European specialties such as spaetzle, goulash, bread dumplings, schnitzel and more.  Everyone is welcome to join and hang around when the Food Network folks come by - you may just end up on camera with your favorite dish.  I hope I do!

Food Network Taping: Friday, March 23rd from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.626.0430

N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.kolibarestaurant.com

Porkfest at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden is Back

It's been quite a while since Porkfest has come around to Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, but it's officially back this weekend and I wanted to tell you all about it.  Attending this event a while back, and loving it, I recommend it to all you hard core pork lovers who will relish in a special pork enhanced menu.  Expect Eastern European specialties such as pork & barley soup, pork goulash, a breaded and fried pork cutlet and more.  Dessert will not be porky but still delicious.  Here's more info:

Friday, February 17th - 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. (featuring a live band)
Saturday, February 18th - noon to 11 p.m.
Sunday, February 19th - noon to 10 p.m.

If you choose to order ahead of time and take stuff home, you can get:

Jiternice/white sausage...$5/piece
Kroupova Jelita/blood sausage and barley...$5/piece
Tlacenka/head cheese...$10/lb

Hope to see you there!

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.274.4925
N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd 
www.bohemianhall.com

Unlimited Sunday Brunch at The Beer Garden

Always on the hunt for a good brunch deal, I noticed a really sweet and unexpected brunch special at The Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden that I wanted to share.  Extremely popular in the warm spring and summer months, "The Beer Garden" as many of us still call it, chills out a bit during the wintertime when their outdoor garden isn't exactly the draw.  For this reason, I see they're working on a couple of interesting specials (including drinks and food deals during sporting events) but also this fabulous all-you-can-eat brunch option on Sundays.  Here goes...

Every Sunday from noon - 2 p.m. enjoy an all-you-can eat breakfast buffet for just $10.95.  What's even better is that this comes with your choice of 2 mimosas or 2 bloody Marys.  How great is that?!

Note that this special is very much seasonal, so when spring and summer arrive, expect that it may not stay put.  But in the meantime, go ahead and enjoy it!

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102

718.274.4925

N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd

www.bohemianhall.com

Koliba's Venison Feast is Coming

Any excuse I can make to get myself over to my beloved Koliba Slovak restaurant, I'm there.  The reason I love it, aside from the fact it deeply connects to my Slovak roots, is the excellent quality Eastern European comfort food they serve.  True that it's beloved by a lot of European ex-pats (including my whole family) but it has to be said that not one of my American friends hasn't embraced it with enthusiasm and an open palette.  

I recently caught wind of the Venison Feast they're hosting this entire weekend.  Just take a gander at this menu, and if it strikes your fancy, I highly recommend making a reservation:

**Caveat - the below menu is not for the faint of heart**

Venison Feast - Friday 1/27 - 1/29

Deer with cream sauce
Sauteed boar's leg
Deer loin in garlic
Hunter's goulash
Wild rabbit in cream sauce
Pheasant in wine sauce

If you prefer ordering off their regular menu, you can do that too, and I highly recommend the spaetzle with sheep's milk cheese and bacon or the beef goulash.

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.626.0430

N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.kolibarestaurant.com

Homemade Slovak Halushky from the Home Country

As you can probably tell from my sparse posts this week, I'm on the go, travelling in Europe for business.  But that of course doesn't mean that the food adventures stop. Quite the opposite actually, they get more interesting.
My first stop on this multi city trip started in my home country of Slovakia.  Visiting my grandparents in Bratislava (Slovakia's capital), I spent most of the day with them and treated myself to a couple of good meals.  On this one in particular, my dad and I had our favorite Slovak specialty called halushky, or most commonly referred to in the U.S. as spaetzle.

If you know me pretty well, you'll know that my favorite halushky in Astoria come from Koliba.  That and my mom's homemade version of course, makes any others tough to live up to.  I'm happy to say that the ones at Film Hotel's outdoor cafe really measured up.  And then some.

Atmosphere:
Located on a quiet street that's just off a main road near the "old city" we happened to run into this cafe randomly, and due to the fact it was Sunday, it was one of the only ones open.  With it being such a gorgeous day, we naturally decided to take a seat outside in the narrow yet lovely courtyard that was embellished with lots of greenery.  Able to look up and see the charming balconies that belonged to hotel guests, it was a pleasant and relaxing view, offering a very quiet and laid back atmosphere.

Food:
Even for such an off-the-beaten-path place, they had everything that a proper traditional Slovak restaurant should, including nostalgic favorites such as halushky.  My dad and I ordered different version of this dish, both with successful results.

Traditional Halushky - The traditional dish that my dad ordered were the familiar sheep's milk cheese dumplings that were also topped with glistening bacon. I had a bite of course and loved the smoky quality of the bacon and the delicious way that the sheep's milk cheese enveloped everything on the plate.  The dish was a heavy one, no doubt, but it was worth every calorie.

Farmer's Halushky - I picked a slightly different variety of halushky that used the same type of dumplings as my dad's, yet instead of bacon, it substituted homemade cured sausage.  As you can see, this colored the halushky a pale orange color.  The overall effect was quite different than my dad's dish - it was smokier and a tad spicier too. I loved the paprika used in the sausage, which reminded me of something my mom would commonly make.  Paprika is used a lot in Eastern European cooking!

Service and Cost:
The service at Film Hotel's cafe was as laid back as could be.  Since it wasn't at all crowded, the restaurant had just one waitress who's attitude was very matter-of-fact but still appropriate for the type of setting we were in.  She let us take our time in general and we felt as if we could've hung around for hours without anyone objecting.

Since we were a ways off the main street near Bratislava's Old City, the prices were a bit friendlier and for both of our dishes, including drinks, we paid a total of 15 Euro.  If you translate that into dollars, you'd figure about $20 bucks.

Film Hotel Cafe - 27 Vysoka, Bratislava, Slovakia
02 5293 2794

Koliba Gets Ready for Easter

Although it might seem far away, Easter is right around the corner - next week actually.  It's nice to see that some Astoria restaurants are getting ready ahead of time and planning special menus, such as one of my all-time favorites, Koliba.  It's a marvel to see that they'll remain open on Easter Sunday and will serve the following yummy menu:

Course 1: choice of
Beef soup
Slovak kielbasa with dumplings and turnip pepper sauce

Course 2: choice of
Smoked pork with potatoes and veggies
Baked pork with bread dumplings and greens
Chicken in natural gravy, bread dumplings and mushrooms
$20.75

Course 3: choice of
Roasted duck with red cabbage and bread dumplings
Pork or chicken cutlet with veggies
$22.75

Chicken shish-kebab a la Baca (fried)
$26.75

Course 4:
Coffee, tea and strudel

Enjoy these delicious eats, and do let me know what you liked and didn't. 

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.kolibarestaurant.com

Karczma Mlyn - Bryndza, Halusky, Smoked Sausage and All that Good Stuff

Karczma Mlyn - Hlavna 82, Kosice Slovakia
055 622 05 47
www.karczmamlyn.sk

Even though I'm happy to be back from my trip to Slovakia, I'll certainly miss the delicious food that has a special place in my heart, as it's what I grew up eating.  I wanted to bring you a little taste of that here, and being that we have 2 Slovak & Czech  restaurants in Astoria (Koliba and Zlata Praha), you can actually experience these specialties right here in our hood.

Karczma Mlyn is an authentic Slovak Restaurant recommended by my friend Ivanka. Not only did it deliver tasty Slovak specialties that I so craved, it also surpassed my expectations with respect to ambiance.

Atmosphere:
Located off the main street (Hlavna Ulica) in Kosice's town square, Karczma Mlyn is easy to find, but only if you're looking for it.  Since the signange is displayed visibly, it's not easy to miss but to enter the restaurant, you must walk through a short alley and then go down a winding staircase which leads to the actual restaurant, located in the cellar of an old building.

Once you get there, it feels as if you've entered a secret world where magical creatures (like hobbits) reside.  All furniture is rustic and handmade, with wooden tables and stools that look like they came out of a country cottage.  The ceilings are on the low side, which totally works and there are a couple of crescent shaped alcoves that lead to other equally charming dining rooms.  If you appreciate wood craftsmanship, you're going to love it here.

Food:
Mlyn's menu reflects all the typical Slovak peasant dishes that we came for, including the usual suspects such as fried cheese, halusky (spaetzle), sausage, pirohy, roasted pig, roasted goose and much more.  We indulged in the following:

Fried Olomouc Cheese - Never having tried this Czech cheese before, known for its strong scent and low fat content, Peter and I decided to go for it.  What also drew us to it was its egg flour coating, which sounded decadent and yummy.  I loved its taste and texture - the former was strong and earthy and its aroma was like a stinky cheese (OK by me, but if you're not a stinky cheese lover, you might want to stay away) and the latter was smooth and stringy.  It was nice to pair this dense cheese with fresh vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers which were served on the side.

Grandma Plate - Peter spotted this option, which provided all the goodies we were looking for on 1 plate, including halusky with bryndza cheese as well as meat and cheese pirohy.  We ended up splitting it because it was large and contained very filling food. 

The halusky were hands-down my favorite. They were the perfect size (maybe a half inch long) and were dripping with melted bryndza that was spectacularly creamy and tangy.  The decadence didn't stop there, as the halusky were also topped with smoked sausage that actually tasted better than bacon.

Two types of pirohy that were found on each side of the halusky didn't disappoint either.  The meat pirohy had sauerkraut and onions on top, which reminded me of the ones at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden.  And the other bryndza variety was simpler - topped with fried onions, it didn't need anything else.

To wash all this cheesy goodness down, we ordered giant glasses of Staropramen beer (with foam on top), which was the perfect way to complete this wonderful meal.

Service and Cost:
As is customary in Europe, the service at Mlyn was good but unobtrusive.  The waitstaff really lets you take your time and decide when you'd like to pay the check.  They won't bring the check to you unless you ask, which can be nice if you're not in a hurry but slightly annoying if you've got someplace to be. Not the case here and we enjoyed ourselves at a leisurely pace.

Costs are very inexpensive and for all the food I mention above (including drinks) we paid a total of 13 Euro, which is roughly $16.  A steal? I think SO!

3 Mmmms

Koliba - Food with Flava at Great Value

It's no secret that Koliba Slovak restaurant remains near and dear to my heart. Although I'm partial to it because of my Slovak upbringing, even my American friends (and husband!) absolutely love this unassuming culinary gem.

I know, I know...I've mentioned their food before but here are some new, excellent dishes that I tried just last week--and that you shouldn't miss. And while food like this is probably a bit heavy during hot summer months, it's absolutely perfect for the cooler weather we're now experiencing.

Sauerkraut Soup with Kielbasa - I could probably guess what you're thinking..."sauerkraut in soup?" But please trust me when I tell you that it's excellent. The flavor of the sauerkraut is really gentle and it's mixed in with a hearty meat broth, interlaced with much pork goodness in the form of smoky kielbasa. The kielbasa chunks are small but their flavor is distinct. A spoonful of this soup will make you think of being in the mountains on a crisp winter day.

NOTE - If you want this soup, it probably won't be listed on the menu, so call ahead and ask if they have it as a special.

Pork Schnitzel with Potato Salad - Usually opting for chicken schnitzel, I changed things up by choosing pork. Hey, I already started with great kielbasa so why not ride out the wave?

I was absolutely amazed by the sheer size of the portion, which included two giant pork pieces that easily could've fed two or three people. The meat was tender and breaded perfectly on the outside--the coating was thin, crispy and not oily. It came with a side of creamy European-style potato salad with peas, carrots, onions and a mayonnaise sauce. Everything tasted fresh and delicious--my only suggestion would be to go lighter on the mayo.

Service and Cost:
I've never experienced a big crowd at Koliba and therefore, service is always good. Our waitress was friendly and gave us her personal recommendations. The thing that I love about Koliba, which I think they've gotten better at, is accepting new customers that are not Slovak or Czech natives. They're understanding and welcoming to new visitors, which is more than I could say for some other ethnic eateries in the nabe.

Prices remain affordable, especially given the big portions. The above two dishes set me back $22 including tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105
718.626.0430
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.kolibarestaurant.com