alisonboston.com

Last night I had a traditional Hungarian Christmas meal with a friend and her guests from Italy. My friend is actually Rumanian Hungarian, and the table was covered with a beautiful linen tablecloth trimmed with hand made lace, in a way that is typical of Rumanian artisans.

We started the meal with wine soup, made with a simple white Tokay wine, mulled and mixed with cream. That was followed with a main course of salmon with a dill sauce (made by me) with trimmings, and dessert: banana bread (made by me), traditional Italian low-butter, walnut biscuits (made by the Italians), Hungarian apple pastry and chocolate mousse (made by our hostess).

I learned - after being here three and half years - that the reason Hungarians always have fish at Christmas is because Jesus multiplied the fish(es).

Why did it take three and half years for me to get invited to a Hungarian home for Christmas and
learn that? Perhaps because Hungarians have really strong, close family ties? I think it’s a linguistic thing. Hungarians strongly identify with their language - they are a bit like the Quebecois in that way.

Ahh Christmas!