The Washington times., 1895-01-13
DINNER CUSTOMS OF HUNGARY.

A great deal might be written on the sub
ieet OF Hungarian meals. which are peculiar
and boldly violate every law of dietetics.
good course of them would be an excellent
cure for hypochondriacs. Superabundance
and richness are the main features: nothing
whatever is plain, or what the doctors cali
wholesome. Breakfast is the simplest meal
it usually consists of coffee ALWAYS admira-
bly, made, and little fancy rolls or cakes.
Butter is rarely eaten-no doubt because %
much OF 1t enters into the composition of
other things, says writer in the St. James
Gazette
l have seen a solid breakfast after the
English fashion. consisting of hot dish and
two or three cold meats, washed down with
several glasses OF an an excellent homemade
spirit Drewed from wainuts. but that is ex-
ceptlonal. Hungarian ladies, by the way,
are most accomplished housewives and past
mistresses in the art of making conserves,
sweets. spiri.s and appetizing deIicacies of
every kind They seem to have an infinite
variety OF dishes at their command and if any
OF our gastronomic journalists are hard up
fer novelty, as they surely must be by this
time, / recommend them TO turn their atten-
ton TO the Hungarian kitchen.
The chief meal of the day is o'clock din
ner, which begins with soup and works
through three or four courses of fish and
]
at s clock ia like dinner, only less so. Plain
joints are utterly eschewed and nothing is
carved. Meat of every kind, including game
and other birds. is served up in the form of
made dishes, with a thousand kinds OF
piquant sauce, in which paprika, the beloved
red pepper made from capsicums, plays
great part.
Not content with the aadacious quality and
quantity of their food, Hungarians still fur
ther defy the ministry of the interior by
eating with incredible rapidity, and this
habit is universal Everything disappears in
the turn of hand. and a meal which would
last an hour and half in England hardly
takes third OF the time with them.
Aet they are not bit dyspeptic. Far from
II; they bear the signs of a digestive appara-
tus at peace with all the world and in partic-
ular the prevalence of sound teeth among
them is most striking. What is the secret?
Is it the exhilarating air of the great plain
which is quite equal, by the way, to the sea-
side or the mountain. though no doctor
seems tc think of it's ii the bounteous sun
light of the active life?
/ prefer to attribute my own escape from
the penalties OF oyereating to one of their
graceful customs, which consists in shaking
hands after meal and wishing you Good
health. The smile with which your hostess
accompanies the words is atrue carminative-
that is to say. ii 'acts like charm"
This custom reminds me of another of a
like character. which constantly enlivens the
dinner table-the drinking of healths and
clinking of glasses There is special way
OF doing it: and the ladies, especially the
young ladies, insists on its proper perform
ance. Instead Of being gingerly elinked the
glasses are brought smartly together with a
good upward swing, and at the moment of
contact you must look full into the lady's
eyes. 1t is most dangerous maneuver, as
you will see if you try it; but everything about
the Hungarian ladies is dangerous.