Chimney Cake Festival In Budapest 2013

“Kürtőskalács” or “kürtős kalács” is a Hungarian pastry also known as chimney cake or stove cake. It is baked on a tapered cylindrical spit over an open fire. In the past decades, it became popular to bake it in special gas- and electric ovens.

The “Kürtőskalács” originates from Transylvania (Erdély) historical region, which is used to be part of Hungary. The name derives from the Hungarian words “kürtő” that refers to chimney or 'wide pipe length', and “kalács” meaning milk loaf.

It consists of a thin yeast pastry ribbon wound around a wooden cylinder, heavily sprinkled with sugar, flavored with sweet spices (the most common being cinnamon), topped with walnuts or almonds, and sugar.

This was the 1st Chimney Cake Festival in Budapest, but also in the whole of Hungary, where you could learn everything about this traditional yet innovative, modern delicacy.

There are many culinary fragrances that set the taste buds racing, like freshly baked bread, crushed basil or when you step into an Indian restaurant, and there is the chimney cake. You know it is “bad” for you, but you just cannot resist it!

Words and photos by Russell Skidmore for XpatLoop.com
After an extensive career in advertising - as an Art Director & Creative Director in London, Paris and Budapest for leading agencies - Russel transferred the skills and knowledge gained to the development of his own successful company covering wedding, event, PR and portrait photography: www.russell-skidmore-photography.co.uk