A Gay Affair

Dinner this evening with the Sister at The Gay Hussar, an old institution near Soho Square in London specializing in Hungarian cuisine. Stepping into the restaurant, you feel as though you’ve entered a time at least a generation away. There was an old world atmosphere, with thick wood panelling, volumes of books, and even a sword on display. Displayed on the walls were also caricature portraits of assorted politicians and figures from the glitterati of London.

But you know me. I wasn’t there for aesthetic reasons. No, I wanted to try some authentic Hungarian food instead. Having never been to the country, this was as close as it gets. I’ve also gotten to know an American in class who’s of Hungarian descent, and she had been telling me about some of the national dishes she used to eat when she was young.

I began with a nice bowl of beef goulash, probably as typically Hungarian as you get, while the Sister experimented with fried mushrooms with tartare sauce. I then had the Cigány Gyors Tál, a scrumptious gypsy dish comprising a pork medallion with bacon, onions, potatoes and paprika. And this was followed by a layered gateau with traces of liquer. All in all, it was very nice and very satisfying, especially on a cold and rainy evening such as today.