The secret of perfect Hungarian food is the quality and quantity of the raw materials, preparation and storage procedures, and can be linked to one secret ingredient, and this is national unity and patriotism – the Deputy State Secretary for Strategic Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior announced on Saturday, Hungary’s result, the semi-finals of the 2023 cooking competition. According to Sölch Gellért, the contestants undertook no small task, as they undertook to prepare a dish that the whole of Hungary and the Carpathian Basin can be proud of. He believed that, in addition to excellent preparation, centuries-old traditions had to be taken into account.

The semi-final was won in a tie by the Székekpuszta Ifjai team from Kígyósi Csárda in Fülöpszállás with their Kiskunsági pressed pig face dish and the Vincent Restaurant & Pastry Vincent team in Kecskemét with their line of dishes called Bíbor Hajnal. Sölch Gellert also mentioned that even in the current uncertain times, the government is trying to bring stability to as many areas of life as possible, including supply, which is why the food price freeze was introduced, which is valid until April 30. The president of the jury, Zsolt Endrédi, the chef of the art’Otel Budapest, said that they met various kitchen techniques and told all the contestants what mistakes they had made during the preparation of the food and what they needed to improve on before the finals.

István Asztalos, president of the Étrend Hungarian Chefs’ Association, emphasized: Hungarian gastronomy can be renewed only if the profession is also renewed, and the Food of Hungary competition provides an excellent basis for this. He said that citizens of seven countries participated in the competition and there was a 100 percent Syrian team among the participants.

This year’s theme is linked to Sándor Petőfi, so it was expected that the prepared food and the fantasy name of the team should be related to the life of the poet or the revolution and freedom struggle of 1848-49. Innovative but popular dishes consisting of a maximum of four elements are expected to be prepared in most equipped kitchens, even in large portions. During the creation of the dish, tradition and the appearance of regional ingredients were important, high-quality pork, butter, and an organic or domestic trademark product from Hungary were mandatory elements.

The final will be held on March 18, also in Felcsút, at the Leteneyy Lajos High School, Technical and Vocational Training School.