Coyans in the Czech Republic

life in this republic

kyselo

Last Sunday we were at a friend's house for a goodbye party. My friends Martina and Zbyněk were throwing the party in honour of our friend, Sothie, who is moving back to Singapore. There were many friends there, some old and some new. I made a new friend that day. His name is Honza and he is an actor (he plays Mercutio in our Romeo and Juliet production at the castle), as well as an opera singer and a painter (he presented Sothie with a rendering of the square and fountain in České Budějovice...it is beautiful). He is also an incredible cook. He grew up in a remote mountainous region of the Czech Republic with many poor villages nestled in the valleys. These villagers were isolated and had only what they could produce themselves. He brought to the party a traditional dish from his village called "Kyselo". It was made with ingredients from his area, mushrooms from the forest near his village and so on."Kyselo" consists of mushrooms, eggs, potatoes, milk and yeast and spices. All things which a farmer and isolated villager would have. When his mum found out he was making it she called him to make sure that he had the recipe right because she didn't want him to mess it up thus causing her embarrasment. It was absolutely delicious. His mum would be proud.