Taste of Prague II

Towards the end of Charles Bridge lay the Lennon Wall, a symbol of democracy and freedom before the Velvet Revolution in 1989. It is now an art installation perpetually changing and evolving with the graffiti added to it by visitors, and can provide hours of exploration and reading should someone wish to examine it in detail. A personal favourite amongst the renderings was a drawing of a head with a speech bubble bearing the words: “Friends are like potatoes ‐ if you eat them they die.”Our walk took us to the Dancing Building located on the riverside a short walk from the Charles Bridge, which was designed by Frank Gehry in 1996. 

5 foods to try in Prague 

Prague is best known for its bridge, clock, and fairytale-like town square, but there are also plenty of delicious foods to try. Prior to travelling to Prague, I didn’t know much about Czech cuisine. Before visiting a new city, I like to make a list of specific foods to eat. Usually these foods are unique to the location or have a special quality that I would be unable to find elsewhere. Czech food is a tempting mix of the meaty and the carb-laden, but not very vegetarian friendly!

Trdelník – chimney cake

Out of all the foods to eat in Prague, I was most excited about Trdelník, or chimney cakes. These pastries are Transylvanian and Slovakian in origin but commonly found around Central and Eastern Europe in countries such as Hungary, Austria, Romania, and the Czech Republic. Trdelník are made of rolled yeast dough that is wrapped around a stick and roasted over an open flame until golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender and gooey in the middle. The hot dough is then brushed with butter and rolled around in a cinnamon-sugar and nut mixture.  You can also get different flavours spread inside such as Nutella or melted chocolate. I think they are best plain.

Svickova (braised beef) with dumplings at cafe louvre

Cafe Louvre has been in business since 1902 and has welcomed famous thinkers such as Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka. The business hit a brief pause during the 1948 communist coup, when all of the interior fixtures were thrown out the window onto the street below. The cafe has long served as an office for local writers, philosophers, and students. The featured dish consists of sirloin beef that has been marinated and braised a day in advance. The meat is then covered in a root vegetable cream sauce and served with bread dumplings, a slice of lemon, cranberry sauce, and a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream.

Palacinky 

When people think about what to eat in Prague, this is almost always on top of the list. These thin Czech pancakes look similar to French crepes but are prepared with a different cooking method. Typically rolled up and served with fillings such as jam, fruit, cream or nuts, it is an ideal treat for those with a sweet tooth.

Golush 

This dish may have originated in Hungary, but it has been adapted to become a Czech staple. Unlike the Hungarian goulash, the Czech golush is prepared with fewer vegetables and contains greater portions of meat. Beef is typically used, and chicken or pork is sometimes used as alternative ingredients to prepare the dish. The meat is stewed, topped with a generous portion of gravy and served alongside with bread dumplings – a substantial treat that will satisfy meat lovers!

While in Prague, I loved wandering the old medieval streets, photographing the colourful city at dawn and dusk when the Gothic architecture gave the city strong atmosphere, exploring the massive Prague Castle quarter, and capturing the sunrise on the Vltava River from the impressive Charles Bridge. The Czech food was surprising good and diverse — hearty and yet also very flavourful.

Highlights of Prague

• Explore St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle, the largest in Europe.
• Catch the astronomical clock’s hourly show. Climb to the top of the clock tower for the best 360 degree view in town.
• Walk through 1,000 years of history in Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery and Jewish Quarter, the oldest Jewish area in Europe.
• Enjoy bohemian sweets (especially the dumplings!), art and cafes.
• Watch the sunrise over the iconic and atmospheric Charles Bridge, one of the best examples of Gothic Architecture in Europe.
• Take a city walk in Prague. It’s a great way to get up close and personal with the city’s history.
• Don’t miss the dancing lady building, it’s just plain cool 
• Taking pictures of sunset over Prague on Letna Hill.
• Get lost in the twisting, turning cobbled laneways of Prague’s medieval Old Town