Drawn in by the promise of top quality champagnes, delicious wine and gourmet food, I couldn’t help but mosey on down to the fifth annual Budai Gourmet Festival at Millenáris.
Having been spoilt by previous festivals in the beautiful castle district, I wasn’t quite sure how everything would pan out at Millenáris, but was willing to give it a go. Well, first impressions were good as the entry fee was just 1,500 HUF (a snip compared to many other gastro-festivals in the capital) and for that I got a whopping great wine glass thrown in too. With my coupon from FUNZINE in hand I made a beeline for the Bor és Más stand where I got a free sample (for sample, read glass) of Sauvignon Blanc – refreshing and flavorsome.
It was Sunday, the final day of the festival, and as a result it was fairly quiet, although I have to admit that I preferred it this way. Kids splashed in the shallow manmade lake, gents ogled the classic car “beauty contest” competitors (don’t ask), young couples chatted over a bottle of Tokaji on the covered benches and wafts of delicious food caught my attention. I have to admit, the food on offer wasn’t exactly gourmet, think sztrapacza, sausages and pogácsa, but it was tasty nevertheless. My partner and I treated ourselves to a paprika and sausage pasta dish followed by a piece of Deák cake. There was an impressive cheese stand at the end of the festival ground too, offering cheese from all around the world – but at 300 HUF for a teeny tiny square of brie – we decided to pass…and made our way to the champagne tent instead. Several glasses or red, white, rosé, champagne and Tokaji later, we basked in the sun and made a note to come the following year…and to bring our own cheese.
To see what you missed out on go to www.budaigourmet.hu