National Cuisine

In the case of Lithuanian folk dishes, first should be mentioned Zeppelins. Collectively agreed that the African soccer ball shaped dough balls with meat or cheese filling best represent the entire Lithuanian culinary heritage. And it does not matter that the name of the dish comes not from the Lithuanian language, and some neighbouring countries consider the Zeppelin as their national dish. Balls of various sizes, usually - two, served with sour cream - bacon sauce, and their flavour is more or less the same in all restaurants, where visitors from abroad are taken to get familiar with traditional Lithuanian cuisine.

Historically, Lithuania is a farmers’ country and this is clearly reflected in the folk cuisine. Milk, pork meat and potatoes are the main dominants of the kitchen. Potatoes are usually edible boiled, as a garnish or – alone, while potato dishes like Kugelis (grated potato cake) or Vėdarai , a shocking dish for foreigners ( potatoes in a pig gum) are on the menu of any self-respecting folk restaurant – what to say about the most popular dish – potato pancakes!

In Soviet times hams and sausages produced in Lithuania were famous all over the current Russia territory. But still most will agree, that nothing is tastier than a real smoked country Skilandis (a pig stomach stuffed with minced meat, cold-smoked and matured for some time) or Lašiniai (non-rendered pork underskin fat with little or no meat). The best place to buy them- in small farmer markets, which became very popular recently.

Annual fairs ( the most popular is Kaziukas Fair – in the beginning of March) is a good place to buy Lithuanian sweets: traditionally here smell bagels (baronkos), yeast and sugar cakes; black bread baked home on acorus and a white cottage cheese - perhaps - one of the oldest and most delicious starters in Lithuanian kitchen. Then there are Kisielius (a fruity cranberry drink) and traditional Kūčiukai (small pastries made from leavened dough with poppy seeds) – as traditional dishes during folk festivals.

However, besides all Lithuanian dishes, nowadays most Lithuanians prefer pica which is available almost in every cafe.
 
 It should be worth mentioning that Lithuanians like to drink beer. The beer is highly evaluated by foreign beer experts; therefore try to taste the traditional local beer of the region you stay. Tasting Lithuanian beer, it is worth to drink the beer produced in the North of Lithuania – near Biržai, or beer brewed in Utena, so called the capital of brewers. Of course, do not forget to taste the legendary Švyturys beer, produced in Klaipėda.