Bulgarian food and drink. Living in a Bulgarian property means discovering a new cuisine.
One of the many delights of buying a Bulgarian property is the chance to discover the local cuisine. Bulgarian food specialities include a tasty mixture of Greek, Slavonic and Turkish influences with a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients. Brits living in Bulgaria gradually come to appreciate the seasonal pattern of fruit and vegetable availability, but there is rarely any delay in learning to savour the country´s most famous produce: wine.
Living in Bulgaria - first steps in Bulgarian food and drink
When they first start living in a Bulgarian property, most expats try to buy familiar grocery brands. Being imported, these push up the costs of living in Bulgaria dramatically. However, after a while many Brits start to go native and even switch to preparing Bulgarian food and meals.
The most enjoyable way to learn out about Bulgarian food and wine is to taste it! Traditional folk style restaurants are called mehanas. They can be found in the basements of old (and sometimes new) Bulgarian property and allow the novice to sample a variety of Bulgarian foods and wines at one sitting. There are also Bulgarian food recipes on the Internet.
Bulgarian food - the basic ingredients
Bulgarian food is spicy, hearty and wholesome. A traditional Bulgarian menu includes bread (the diet staple for most people living in Bulgaria), yogurt (known as kiselo mlyako), cheese, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, paprika, beans and fruits, and red or white wine. The choice of meat is usually chicken, lamb or pork. Fish is plentiful on the coast and in some parts of the mountains.
Living in Bulgaria - where to buy Bulgarian food
Bulgarian food does not travel huge distances. Fresh foods, including meat, fruit, vegetables, yoghurt and wine is produced locally (often organically) and consumed locally. People living in a Bulgarian property in a village or small town will find a varied selection of seasonal Bulgarian foods and drinks available in their local market or grocery shop.
Larger grocery stores and markets fulfil the same functions for people living in Bulgaria´s towns and cities. Supermarkets are relatively new. The biggest names are Billa, Praktiker, Fantastico and Piccadilly and all sell Bulgarian food and drink and a range of imported goods.
Bulgarian food: breakfast
The first Bulgarian food of the day is usually cheese, fruit and yoghurt. One of the most popular ways to awake the tastebuds is a baked cheese pasty called banitsa but if your Bulgarian property is in the mountains, you might prefer the regional speciality: pancake topped with fresh berries and a sweet syrup.
Bulgarian food : lunch
Practically everyone living in Bulgaria used to eat their main meal at noon. Tradition is changing; increasingly the main meal is dinner. But the Bulgarian food served at lunchtime has not altered much. Typically, it consists of a salad or soup (especially Bop, a bean soup), followed by meat or fish with one hot vegetable.
Bulgarian food: dinner
The evening meal is more substantial than lunch and consists of meat or fish and additional vegetable choices. A traditional Bulgarian food menu might start with cold yoghurt soup with cucumbers and be followed by Kavarna, a casserole of meat and vegetables baked with garlic, onions, tomatoes, oil and spices; kebahche, a spicy grilled or barbecued sausage; or plakiya, a rich fish stew.
Living in Bulgaria - soft drinks
Turkish coffee is the pick-me-up of choice for most people living in Bulgaria, but expresso and instant coffee is also available. It is often served sweetened or accompanied by a sweet juice (sok). Bulgarian fruit juices made from apricot, peach and plum are excellent.
Living in Bulgaria - wine, beer and brandy
Bulgarian wines are a happy bonus for expats living in Bulgarian property. Not only do they taste good, they are one of the many luxuries that prove just how low the cost of living in Bulgaria really is. Among the varieties are Gamza, a light-bodied red to accompany simple foods, and Mavrud and Melnik, both of which are full-bodied reds.
Local white wines are not of very high quality so most Brits living in Bulgarian property choose to enjoy their Bulgarian food with either a red wine or one of the country´s finest beers: Zagorka, Astika and Shumensko pivo. All are stronger that lagers sold in the UK. So, too, is the local plum brandy known as Sliviva which is guaranteed to blow your socks off! Naz drave! Cheers!
