Latvia labelled Europes hidden culinary gem

  • 2013-12-18
  • From wire reports, RIGA

British adventure seeker Kevin Carr, who is on an epic journey to become the fastest man to circumnavigate the world on foot, has called Latvia 'Europe's hidden culinary gem'

Carr who visited Malpils Museum and its restaurant recently said he was more than impressed by the standard of cuisine on show.

"The last couple weeks I've been running through Eastern Europe - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - and the standard of cooking here really has blown me away. Latvia is easily the best country I have run through so far in terms of food," Carr writes in his blog on the website of famous British chef Jamie Oliver.

"In fact if you're a bit of a foodie and are looking for somewhere different to go for a weekend break I couldn't recommend Latvia more .

"Prices in Eastern Europe are great compared to back home. In most places you can get a main course for well under a fiver, and it’s generally good. When I stumbled upon the restaurant I was just looking for something quick to eat. When I realized how smart the place was my heart sank at first, being a sweaty mess in my running kit. I definitely looked out of place and was worried I'd be turned away but my main concern was it looked like a very expensive place (i.e. well out of budget for a guy running around the world)."

"I ordered the rabbit dish. When it arrived I was stunned to find the presentation was fine dining standard and it tasted as good as it looked. My waiter spoke very good English and was incredibly welcoming. It was chatting to him later when I learnt about their head chef having won the national award for best chef in the category traditional food. So, did this amazing meal cost my budget dearly? No it was equivalent to GBP 7 for the main course!"

"Often I tend to camp but through Eastern Europe I've found guest houses/hotels from GBP 7-15 on average, which is far more comfortable than camping illegally in someone's field. As it was close to getting dark I asked if there was a guest house nearby.

Carr added: "This is when I found out that the museum, as well as housing a restaurant, is also a guesthouse. There was no inkling of this from outside or inside, and later I brought it up with the waiter - "Why are there no signs to say restaurant/hotel on the building or on the main road (which bypasses the town)?" He said he had also wondered this when he started work there, but now knows all their custom is through word of mouth!"

"If you fancy a weekend away somewhere different then here you'll have a fantastic room in a manor house for GBP 40 (I took the "kids" room for GBP 15!) a night and a fantastic restaurant downstairs. It's one of the first places I've stayed at along my route where I know I'll definitely plan to return to one day on a mini break," writes Carr.

Read our list of top ten places to eat in the Baltics here