Soup, sarmale, polenta and a glass of țuică: what to expect when a Romanian family invites you to the table.
If a Romanian family invites you for Sunday lunch, cancel your afternoon plans. It is rarely a quick meal.
The welcome
Often a small glass of țuică, the local plum brandy, and something to nibble: cheese, cured meat, pickled vegetables from the cellar.
The soup
Almost always a soup — a sour ciorbă made with vegetables or meat, served with a spoonful of cream and a fresh chilli on the side.
The main course
Sarmale — cabbage leaves rolled around minced meat and rice — served with mămăligă, the Romanian polenta, and more cream.
Dessert
Papanași, cozonac or a homemade cake, and coffee. And then, very likely, someone will ask if you are sure you have had enough.
On our journeys we try to share at least one meal like this with a local family. Our guests usually remember it more than any castle.
