Latvian cuisine is hearty and comforting, characterized by potatoes, pork, rye bread, dairy, and seasonal produce like berries and mushrooms. Essential dishes include grey peas with bacon (pelēkie zirņi ar speķi), cold beetroot soup (aukstā zupa), pork schnitzel (karbonāde), and rye bread dessert (rupjmaizes kārtojums), often enjoyed with smoked fish and sour cream.
While oats and rice are eaten around the world, Latvians also like to simmer less popular grains, such as millet, barley, rye, buckwheat, in different combinations and blends. Porridge is commonly topped by something sweet, such as jam or fresh fruit. Eggs are a breakfast staple around the world, including Latvia.
Dining out in Latvia is cheaper than in other European cities, but Riga is more expensive than elsewhere in the country. A typical meal in a cheap restaurant will cost around €10, whilst two people enjoying three courses in a mid-range restaurant could expect to spend around €45 plus drinks.
Five traditional foods from different cultures include the hearty English Sunday Roast, flavorful Indian Biryani, Japanese Miso Soup (part of everyday meals), West African Peanut Stew, and the Polish dumplings known as Pierogi. These dishes reflect diverse regional ingredients, historical influences, and cultural practices, from communal Sunday dinners to staple everyday foods.
Fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are packed with minerals and vitamins. ...
Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide us with all the energy we need for everyday activity and internal bodily functions, such as our nervous systems, kidneys etc.
Bunny chow, often referred to simply as a bunny, is an Indian South African fast food dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry and a serving of salad on the side. It originated among Indian South Africans of Durban.
Rye, wheat, buckwheat, oats, peas, beets, cabbage, pork products, and potatoes are the staples. Latvian cuisine offers plenty of varieties of bread and dairy products, with dark rye bread (rupjmaize) considered to be a Latvian specialty.
Tipping in Latvia is an appreciative gesture rather than expected. Rounding up or leaving a euro or two is standard, while 5–10% in sit-down restaurants, especially in Rīga, has become common.
Latvian cuisine is relatively high in fat and not spicy. Pork is the favorite meat. Pork dishes range from the common mostly shared with neighboring countries (e.g. Karbonāde schnitzel) to “weirder” ones such as pig's feet, head, or ears.
Riga Black Balsam (Latvian: Rīgas Melnais balzams) is a traditional Latvian balsam often considered to be the national drink of Latvia. According to tradition, only the Head Liquor Master and two of his apprentices know the exact recipe.
In the United States, breakfast often consists of either a cereal or an egg-based dish. However, pancakes, waffles, toast, and variants of the full breakfast and continental breakfast are also prevalent.
Can I drink the tap water in Latvia? Yes. The tap water in Latvia is safe to drink - why not bring a reusable water bottle with you on your trip? This will save you money on bottled water and reduce your plastic footprint, helping to protect the environment in Latvia and beyond.
Latvian culture is characterised by reserved behaviour and a preference for handshakes over emotional hugs when greeting each other. Punctuality is highly valued, so it is important to be on time for appointments and meetings, as lateness may be considered disrespectful.
Yes, in the U.S., a 10% tip is often considered low and potentially insulting for standard sit-down restaurant service, where 15-20% is the norm, but it can be acceptable for mediocre service or in regions where tipping culture differs (like parts of Europe). The perception depends heavily on location, service quality, and the type of establishment, with fine dining expecting more and takeaway sometimes expecting less, but a 10% tip generally signals dissatisfaction with service in America.
Fresh fish, including Baltic herring and smoked fish, are central to the cuisine. Wild game and spiced ground meat are also frequently used in meat dishes, while juniper berries and caraway seeds add unique flavors to many traditional recipes.
Dining out in Latvia is cheaper than in other European cities, but Riga is more expensive than elsewhere in the country. A typical meal in a cheap restaurant will cost around €10, whilst two people enjoying three courses in a mid-range restaurant could expect to spend around €45 plus drinks.
The Bunny Chow is one of South Africa's most recognisable and loved sandwiches. Traditionally served in a hollowed out half loaf or quarter loaf of white bread, it is generously filled with Durban-style curry - lamb, chicken or vegetarian.
Puppy chow, the human food, is made by pouring melted butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips over Chex cereal, mixing well, then dumping the mixture into a bag full of powdered sugar.
