RESTAURANT HADJIDRAGANOV'S HOUSES - Sofia, Bulgaria

The diversification of the Bulgarian cuisine, which collected the culinary skills of our nation and brought in dishes from the Balkan region, is unbelievable. The Bulgarian customs and traditions are always related to the rich table piled with dishes, a symbol of fertility, health and prosperity.

As a connoisseur of the Bulgarian cuisine, I would remind its qualities - it is exceptionally appetizing, delicious and healthy. Our nation has known very well and selected various kinds of spices since old time now. One of the most characteristic of them is savory, used in almost all Bulgarian dishes as well as costmary for cooking lamb as well as table salt (samardala) for salads and chicken, chimen (a spice like trefoil) for meat delicatessen (cured and dried in paprika and garlic), peppermint and a lot of other forest herbs.

A unique factor during preparation of dishes is the marinading before each heat treatment, having its specific manner of cooking and traditions in each nook and corner of Bulgaria.

The dishes from the region of Bansko such as "Banski chomlek", "Banska kapama", "Chufki" are exceptionally typical.

I would not miss the region of Melnik, either, with its rich choice of reed wines and wonderful appetizers, such as "Katino Meze" (Kate's appetizer) or "Melnik Klopanitsa". Melnik is famous for its delicious desserts as well - Melnik banitsa (flaky pastry) with Turkish delight, banitsa with pumpkin or home-made biscuit cake.

The locality of Koprivshtitsa is rich in home-made appetizers such as "Kolbasitsa", loukankas (dried sausages), soudzhouks (flat sausages) and sausages, and game cuisine is characteristic of Zheravna region - "Quails Roasted on Fire", "Wild Boar Meat on Roof-Tile", "Deer Meat in Oven" and others.

Our national cuisine is infinite, this is why:
"Be welcome, be our clients, feel our Bulgarian hospitality, taste our menu rich in real Bulgarian dishes and fragrant wines"!

Iliyan Iliev - Chef in the Hadjidragan Houses Restaurant.