Fortunately, the gastronomic culture of the area goes far beyond fish dishes. Every year, the wine regions of Csopak and Badacsony have surprises in store for wine lovers, while in Tihany, gourmet tourists can sample a wide variety of lavender dishes and drinks. The variety of ice creams on offer everywhere makes it hard to choose, and Balaton's pastry shops offer the best desserts and pastries all year round. The Káli-medence in the Balaton-felvidék is home to gastronomic treasures such as the Pálffy winery, the Mi a Kő and the Kővirág restaurant in Köveskál.
KÁLI-MEDENCE
Almost every part of Lake Balaton is a gastronomically exciting place to visit, but the Káli-medence is perhaps the most spectacular. In Köveskál, which can be considered the jewel of the area, there are two very popular and unique places to visit. The Kővirág Restaurant is a true romantic country restaurant, located in a renovated farmhouse with a pleasant garden, a rapidly changing menu and quality home-made ingredients. Next door is the MiaKő Restaurant, a gastronomic gem transformed from a simple village liquor store, with a short but varied seasonal menu and a rich wine list. Both are an unforgettable experience for those looking for gastronomic specialities!
WINE FROM THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY
Many of the country's best wineries are located around Lake Balaton. That's why, wherever you go on holiday, you'll find a wine terrace nearby to discover the wonderful Olaszrizlings and cuvées. There are also small local producers everywhere, offering lesser-known but all the more special wines. And at the estates that are nationally renowned and popular, a cellar tour or wine tasting with the winemakers can be a great experience. In the Balaton-felvidék, you should visit the Istvándy wine cellar, the Kristinus wine estate, the Laposa winery, the Jásdi wine terrace, the Szent Donát estate, the Skizo wine house, among others (without claiming completeness).
LEVANDER IN ALL FORMS
The Herb of the Year 2018 has a deep-rooted culture in Lake Balaton and to this day there are still great traditions of lavender cultivation and processing. Tihany, Kőröshegy, Pannonhalma, Káptalanfüred, Lesenceistvánd and Szent Balázs Hill all offer tourists the fragrant lavender. The special plant can be found in the gardens of most houses, and some places even use the lavender pattern as an accessory. You can find it in ice cream, cakes, lemonades, as well as in soaps and painted on ceramics. Nearly 8 hectares of lavender can be harvested on Kőrösberg, a picturesque setting and idyllic landscape await lovers of the plant for two months. The lavender farm is open every day from 12 June to 22 August 2021 from 09:00 to 17:00.
GASTRONOMY AT LAKE BALATON BEYOND THE LÁNGOS
Although it's a shame to miss out on Balaton's lángos and fisherman's soup during your holiday, it's also worth trying other local dishes. Legend has it that Jókai bean soup became a staple of Hungarian cuisine when Mór Jókai once ordered one of his favourites, bean soup cooked to his own taste, which his mother and his wife Róza Laborfalvi often made. It was the time when the use of onions and paprika lightly fried in fat was becoming popular. It is also worth trying the Csáky stuffed roast beef, created by Sándor Csáky, a famous Balatonfüred native of the early 20th century. This speciality is a roast beef stuffed with egg lecsó and served in a sour cream and paprika sauce.