Gastronomy, Life and Arts

By Velin Vergiev

Bulgarian CuisineFamous for its rich salads

required at every meal, Bulgarian

cuisine is also noted for thediversity and quality of dairy

products and the variety ofBulgarian wines and local

alcoholic drinks such as rakia,mastika  and menta. Bulgariancuisine features also a variety

ofhot and cold soups, an example

of a cold soup being tarator.There are many different

Bulgarianpastries as well such as

banitsa.

Most Bulgarian dishes areoven baked, steamed, or in

theform of stew. Deep-frying isnot very typical, but grilling –especially different kinds ofmeats - is very common. Porkmeat is the most commonmeat in the Bulgarian

cuisine.Oriental dishes do exist inBulgarian cuisine with mostcommon being moussaka,gyuvetch, baklava, etc.

Main Dishes• Tarator• Bob Chorba• Shkembe

Chorba• Shopska Salad• Meatball• Stuffed

peppers• Moussaka• Banitsa

TARATORTarator is a cold soup made ofyoghurt and cucumber(dill,garlic, walnuts andsunflower oil are sometimesadded) and is served chilled oreven with ice. A salad version of tarator isknown as "Snowwhite salad“,also called  Dry Tarator. It ismade of thick (strained)yogurt, without water. It can beserved as an appetizer or as aside to the main meal. It is aCommon refresher during thesummer. 

BOB CHORBABob chorba is a national

Bulgarian dish. The nametranslates to "bean soup". It is a

soup made from drybeans, onions, tomatoes, 

cubritsa or dzhodzhen(spearmint) and carrots.

Local variations may also exclude the

carrots or include paprika,potatoes or even some kind of

Meat.

SHKEMBE CHORBAHow we made shkembe chorba?

In Bulgaria, a whole pork, beef orlamb tripe is boiled for few hours,chopped in small pieces, andreturned to the broth. The soup isspiced with ground red paprikawhich is briefly fried ,and oftensmall quantity of milk is added.    In some areas it is Traditionally thesoup is served with mashed garlic invinegar and hot red pepper. There isa variant of the soupwith intestines instead of tripe. 

SHOPSKA SALADThe salad is madefrom tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, raw orroasted peppers (preferablyroasted), sirene (white brine cheese), and parsley.

The vegetables are usually diced and salted,followed by a light dressing of sunflower oilor olive oil, which are occasionallycomplemented by vinegar. The addition ofvinegar only contributes, however, to the sourflavour that the tomatoes impart. In restaurants,the dressings are provided separately. Lastly, thevegetables are covered in a thick layer of gratedor diced sirene cheese. This salad is oftenconsumed as an appetiser with rakija.Shopskasalad derives its name from the regional groupcalled Shopi living mostly in parts of Bulgaria.

MEATBALLA meatball is made from an amountof ground meat rolled into a smallball, sometimes along with otheringredients, such as breadcrumbs,minced onion,spices, andpossibly eggs. Meatballs are usuallyprepared and rolled by hand, and arecooked by frying,baking, steaming,or braising in sauce.

There are many kinds of meatball recipesusing different types of meats and spices,including vegetarian and fish alternatives,and various methods of preparation

STUFFED PEPPERSStuffed peppers is a traditional bulgariandish.In the Bulgaria cuisine, is usuallyprepared with bell peppers (or a similarspecies) stuffed with ground meat,usually pork, rice, onion and othervegetables and spices. The peppers arestuffed with the ingredients and thenbaked in a rich, tomato based sauce.

There are many different ways for preparingthe peppers.People usually use freshpeppers but in winter it is more typical to usedried peppers.Stuffed peppers are alsoknown as “palneni chyshki” in Bulgaria

MOUSSAKA Moussaka is an aubergine (eggplant)or potato based dish of Bulgaria. It isprepared with sautéedaubergines, green peppers,tomatoes, onions, and minced meat. InBulgaria people use potatoes instead,pork mince and the top layer is yogurtmixed with raw eggs and a couple of spoons offlour.

In Bulgaria there is also a three-layer version:the bottom layer consists of ground pork andbeef, the middle layer slices of potatoes, the toplayer a custard. Each layer is cooked on its ownand layered in a pan and baked until the top layeris browned.

BANITSABanitsa is a traditional Bulgarian foodprepared by layering a mixture ofwhisked eggs and piecesof cheese between filo pastry and thenbaking it in an oven.Traditionally, luckycharms are put into the pastry on certainoccasions, particularly on New Year’s Eve. Banitsa isserved for breakfast with plain yogurt, ayrian, orboza. It can be eaten hot or cold. Some varietiesinclude banitsa with spinach or the sweet version,banitsa with milk or pumpkin.

Traditionally, banitsa is made with homemade orcommercially made pastry sheets that are preparedfrom a baker's hard dough including flour,eggs,and water. The filling is made of crushed whitecheese ,yoghurt, and eggs. Sometimes baking soda

isadded to the yogurt, which makes the yogurt rise

EtiquetteIn Bulgaria, gestures for indicating "yes" and "no" are essentially opposite from those common in most of the rest of Europe. A sideways shaking of the head indicates "Yes," and a short upward and downward movement (nod) of the head indicates "No."Bulgarians generally pride themselves on their hospitality and neighborliness. An uninvited visitor will first be greeted with a handshake or verbal greeting at the outermost doorway or gateway, and will be invited further into the private domestic space depending on the nature of the visit. At mealtimes, a guest will be offered food and drink, and at other times a drink (often homemade rakiya); it is impolite not to accept this hospitality. The obligation to accept a host's offer extends to situations outside of the home, such as when invited for a meal or a drink in a restaurant or other establishment. When visiting someone's home, it is customary to bring flowers or sweets.On the street or in other public places, strangers will usually avoid making eye contact. In public transportation, it is expected that younger people will give up a seat to an older woman or to a parent with a young child. Failure to do so invites public censure from other passengers.In ethnically-mixed areas, it is considered polite to greet a neighbor or acquaintance in that person's own language.

The Arts and Humanities Support for the Arts. During the state socialist period, the arts were state funded (and regulated). State-sponsored folk ensembles were charged not only with preserving heritage, but also with the task of transforming folk art forms to the level of high culture. State sponsorship allowed the arts to flourish, and ideological limits did not necessarily compromise artistry. Puppet theater, for instance, developed to a high standard of excellence. Since the fall of state socialism in 1989, state funding has evaporated, and entrepreneurship on the part of individuals and ensembles has become necessary for survival, where before salaries and programming emanated largely from the Ministry of Culture. This has been a tough transition for many practitioners of the arts. What state funding remains is granted subject to open competition.

Literature Bulgarian literature begins with the advent of literacy in Old Church Slavonic (Old Bulgarian) in the late-ninth century C.E. The earliest writings were religious in nature. In the late-eighteenth century, secular writings began to be written using a more accessible modern vernacular Bulgarian. Several important writings on the history of the Bulgarian nation date from this period. In the early nineteenth century, the modern standard language developed through the promotion of literacy in the schools.Literature and journalism flourished around the theme of national emancipation. Ethnologists began to collect and publish folklore, another vehicle for the development of national consciousness. Bulgarian Revival and early modern literature continues to form the core of literature studies within the Bulgarian education system. Several Bulgarian authors and poets have achieved international fame.

Graphic Arts. Bulgaria's graphic art traditions have their roots in Orthodox Christian icon and fresco painting, and some Bulgarian medieval works are world famous and significant in the history of world art, particularly the frescos in the Boyana church near Sofia. Folk arts and crafts thrive, and distinctive and beautiful traditions exist in wood carving, ceramics, and weaving and other textile arts.

 Bulgaria boasts a rich palette of music, dance, and theater, ranging from folk music and dance to classical and modern opera, jazz, and Western-style popular music. Of particular note here are the varieties of folk and folk-influenced musics, many of which have become well-known in the outside world since the mid-1980s, achieving status as virtual icons of Bulgarian national culture. Particularly prominent are women's vocal (choral) music and wedding band music. Traditionally, folk musicians are often gypsies, the music is sensuous, and performances involve a high degree of spontaneity, particularly at events such as weddings. In theater, opera, and ballet, the repertoire of Bulgarian artists includes a range of international and local productions. Bulgarian cinema had its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s under state sponsorship, but now produces only between five and ten films annually.

Performance Arts

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