Czech Food Guide

Czech food is heavy, high in calories and basically meat and starch. The staple is meat- pork or beef, both usually complemented by dumplings (locally called knedliky), rice, potatoes, and sauerkraut. These are served with heavy cream sauces, and generally preceded by a hot soup. Desserts are often a combination of fruit and pastry, such as apple strudel served with ice cream. Most meals- even if they just consist of a sandwich and a soup- are watered down with beer. Czech beer is very good (Pilsner is the best known) and is often even cheaper than coffee or coke. If beer’s not quite your cup of tea, there are a range of liqueurs, most of them flavoured with herbs; and there is coffee, au lait or Turkish- the latter should be attempted only if you like your coffee really strong.