The Taste of Hospitality

From classic chicken and veal paprikashes, with dumplings or polenta, to delicious Transylvanian and Szekler goulashes, slightly spicy with the aroma and fine taste of caraway, but also numerous other savory and incredibly tasty dishes, each dish tells a story in Mureș about the traditions and culture of this region. Sour cabbage rolls with smoked ribs, pancakes with cheese, or roasted lamb, kid, and pork, transform any ordinary meal into a memorable culinary experience.

The taste of hospitality in Mureș County means a captivating and authentic journey through the local specifics, accompanied by the relaxed and peaceful rhythm of slow living and the joy of slow cooking, with patience and above all, with love and care. Inspired by the Slow Food international movement, this region aims to promote local, clean, and healthy food, offering visitors a gastronomic experience like no other.

The spiral shape surrounding Mureș County, the symbol of Slow Food, resembling a snail shell, will guide you to the most picturesque hideaways of the region, where you will discover the flavors and richness of each micro-region.

An excursion in the city of Târgu Mureș and its surroundings will prepare you for the journey to Pănet, a picturesque place along the county road towards the center of the country. From there, you will follow the road north, passing through Glodeni and Voivodeni, where you will explore the wine region of Batoș and the recommendations from Reghin, you will taste the most aromatic wine and dreamily stroll among the rows of vines. You will continue your journey through the Gurghiu Mountains, towards the Sovata resort and the Târnavei Mici Valley, including the Niraj Valley, and in all these places, you will enjoy the authenticity of local gastronomy. In the southern part of the county, your gastronomic journey will end in Saschiz and Cund, two fairytale places, reminiscent of stories with princes, princesses, and medieval castles. The Gastronomy Route of Hospitality today includes 29 localities, from Miercurea Nirajului to Daneș, each offering a distinct palette of flavors and gastronomic traditions. In this taste journey, you will be welcomed by hospitable people and picturesque landscapes, discovering the authenticity and joy of slow living, with time and tranquility, in every corner of Mureș County.

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Bon appetit!

Mureș County opens its doors to its visitors, gourmets or just curious, to landscapes and geographical wonders, but also to culinary delights alike. This amazing territory encompasses a diversity of relief forms that leave you speechless - its southern half is surrounded by gentle and picturesque hills while in the other half, it is strongly embraced by the Călimani - Gurghiu Mountains, with their spectacular peaks and unique mountain landscapes. The Mureș River proudly traverses the region, completing its impressive natural framework. Here, Romanians, Hungarians, Germans, Roma, Armenians, and Jews have always lived together, with joy, peace, and acceptance, building today together a cultural landscape where everyone's traditions, customs, and crafts merge and embrace each other. Amidst this diversity, the local cuisine will tantalize your senses, and the wines, cheeses, and sweets represent the true essence of Mureș gastronomy. Here, every taste and aroma tells a story about the history and richness of this region.

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The gastronomic delights of Mureș County, must be discovered through a captivating culinary journey

In the heart of the county, the two local gastronomic points "Floare de Colț" in Ibănești Pădure and "Gasthaus Hundorf" in Viișoara open their doors, and their hosts welcome you with open arms and accompany you in discovering the most authentic culinary experiences. 

Without a doubt, you cannot pass through Mureș County without enjoying tastings of local drinks in the wineries from the Târnave and Lechința wine regions, Batoș, Mica - Târnaveni, Sântu, Călimănești, Bălăușeri, and Culpiu, and discovering the secrets of brandy at the distilleries in Glodeni, Chibed, and Sânsimion. Your culinary journey will continue at the presentation workshop and at the sausage museum where you will take part in interactive workshops and you will be able to make your own sausages, while also enjoying small bites of local delicacies. Petry, the local producer, will also present here his bistro with seasonal specialties and the traditional product shop. 

In Câmpu Cetății, you will experience sport fishing and taste plates with 3 types of fish at the Locpinus fish farm, a fishing inn developed from generation to generation. 

In your culinary journey, you will discover educational gastronomic events and workshops, you will visit local cheese producers at the Cheese Market in Miercurea Nirajului, at the Therezia dairy or at the renowned producer of Ibănești Telemea. In Pănet, you will visit the paprika manufacturing plant, for which we promise an extraordinary experience and a memorable tasting. At Grandma's Cellar in Saschiz or at the Adept Foundation, you will discover unique experiences and the authentic flavor of local products. And you will end your journey with fine dining at Valea Verde, horseback riding and picnicking in Daneș, or donkey rides and picnics in Cund.

Isn't the diversity of the gastronomic offer in Mureș County fabulous? 

And if you miss the tastes of Mureș County at home, here's a recipe just perfect to try on cloudy days with nostalgia and longing for travel! 

So: to prepare an authentic chicken paprikash you must have several essential ingredients without which this enchanted stew cannot exist, namely: chicken, onion, garlic, water or even better, chicken broth, a generous amount of paprika, sometimes tomatoes, salt, pepper, and sour cream. The secret of this dish lies in the quality and quantity of chopped peppers, an essential element for obtaining the tastiest chicken paprikash you've ever eaten. You will then start preparing it by heating the lard in a thick-walled pot or in a cauldron. Then you will brown the chicken on all sides until it rolls well in the lard and becomes juicy. Finally, you take it out and place it on a plate. In the same lard, add the onion and fry it until golden. Add garlic, tomatoes, peppers, and pepper to the hot oil and fry them for two or three more minutes. Then, remove the pot from the heat and add the supreme ingredient, paprika. Let the red powder settle over the ingredients like a fresh and refreshing snowfall. Then add salt and pepper. Be careful not to burn the paprika, as it can become bitter. Then put the chicken back in the pot and add the broth, so that the chicken is covered. Let the sauce boil, then cover the pot and reduce the heat. Leave everything on the heat for 40 minutes. After the meat is cooked and tender, take it out and place it on a plate. In a bowl, mix the fatty sour cream with the liquid one, together with the flour, until you get a homogeneous paste. Gradually incorporate the composition into the sauce, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Put the sauce back on the heat and let it boil for a few minutes until it thickens. Adjust the taste with salt and pepper and put the chicken back in the sauce. Let it simmer a little on low heat to heat evenly.

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Local traditional products

The Mureș County region offers an impressive diversity of certified products, surpassing by far the offer of other areas in Romania. Among these are:

These are just a few of the available options, and most of these products can be purchased or tasted at numerous local events. Among these events are the Cetății Fair, the Local Products Fair, the Spring Fair, the Mureș whirlpool, the Mureș producers' fair, and many others.

Discover the authenticity and richness of Mureș County's flavors through these exceptional local products!