By Matthew Boudreau, Contributing Columnist
Swimming in the sea or hiking in the mountains; both activities are possible with less than a three-hour train ride to the capital city of Bucharest in Romania. I had the pleasure of spending a week in the country which boasts a unique culture and culinary experience. Despite its population of roughly twenty million, the country only sees about two million tourists per year. To put that in perspective, Italy has more than eighty million visitors annually. Its eastern geography against the black sea make it one of the lengthier journeys in Europe from Nova Scotia, but no longer than traveling to other countries such as Greece.
One of the staple dishes of Romania is mici. The locals explained it as a “skinless sausage”. It reminded me a lot of Turkish kofta kebab in terms of texture. Mici certainly highlighted the infusion of historical influences on the country from Germany and the Ottoman Empire in one dish. It seemed almost frowned upon to eat one without washing it down with a cold lager.
I certainly learned quickly that pork was a staple element to the Romanian diet. One tour guide went as far as to call pork the national vegetable of Romania. It certainly was hard to find traditional Romanian dishes without the ingredient, though they do specialize in the use of eggplant for those looking for vegetarian or vegan options. As with any major European city, there was no shortage of global inspired food in the major cities which certainly could tailor to a variety of different diets.
Romania sits alongside the Black Sea. Taking a trip to Constanta along the coast you will find plenty of seafood restaurants. There certainly is a different mixture on offer than what we see in Nova Scotia. Octopus and other sea delicacies abound. Any of these meals can be paired with a great selection of white and red wine from the vineyards in Romania. Romanian wine certainly held up to other wine growing countries and often at a fraction of the price. The craft beer scene is still in its early stages but Anagram Brewery as well as Hop Hooligans, both in Bucharest, offer some great brews. The Romanians certainly do fruit beers as well as anyone in the world.
If you are looking for a more unique adventure away from the crowds on your next trip, I certainly recommend taking a look at what Romania has to offer.
