Why a Booktrail?
2000s: As the country changes, so does its cuisine….
Elza’s Kitchen
What you need to know before your trail
For years, Elza has managed to get by. She has her own little restaurant in the Hungarian city of Delibab cooking quality versions of her country’s classics and serving them with a smile. But lately her smile has become tired. She is weary of serving the same customers the same dishes, and the loveless affair with her sous-chef is now an irritation.
With her country in a state of transition from communism to capitalism, Elza embarks upon her own change. She decides to woo The Critic, one of the harshest, most powerful restaurant columnists in Europe, in the hope of landing a glowing review that will push her above the competition. But as relationships in the kitchen sour, the food threatens to turn with them, and not even Elza’s strained composure can prevent the chaos that seems fated to engulf her.
Travel Guide
Taste and BookTrail travel your way through Hungary
Set in post Soviet Hungary, Elza’s Kitchen is about an ambitious cook who dreams of getting a good review in Europe’s top foody magazine.
The town of Delibab is fictional but the menu of Hungarian food isn’t and there are some typical ‘grandmother’ dishes to be enjoyed!
“Elza needed challenges in her life, needed to be occupied. Without walls to climb or windmills to attack she was the type of person who became depressed. She knew this. The feeling lived inside her somewhere – probably nestled close to her solar plexus. Yes, it seemed like that was the case. She felt it right in her chest. So, to escape dwelling on her anxieties – which she was prone to do – Elza lived in a state of perpetual movement. If she slowed down or was obstructed, even for a moment, she would suffer being left alone with herself, and then all would be lost.”
Booktrail Boarding Pass: Elza’s Kitchen
Destination/Location : Budapest, Hungary Author/Guide: Marc Fitten Departure Time: 2000s
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