Earlier, he worked at the Ferihegy Airport, at the lake Balaton and at a few renowned restaurants in Budapest.

1.Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Budapest, my roots are here.

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

I haven’t lived abroad, so I don’t have the experience of being an expat, but if I could choose I might not go too far – probably Austria is a country I can imagine to relocate. I speak some German, so a country where I could get around more easily is more likely. Also, my wife has a professional connection to Austria.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?

I would miss my friends, acquaintaces  - I am a people-person -, and certainly, Nagyvillám.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?

If the weather is pleasant I would suggest taking a boat tour on the Danube. The bridges, the Parliament, the Buda Caste, the Citadel, the Buda hills, Margaret Island, the buildings located at the two banks of the river (universities, hotels, a bath, the National Theatre for example) represent various architectual styles, which must be an interesting program for foreigners to check out on a sunny morning.

5. What is your favourite food?

Gödöllő-style stuffed chicken. It is prepared with many delicacies, like peas, mushrooms, chicken liver, bacon, parsley. My mother would make this very well.

6. What is your favourite sport / form of exercise?

I like playing tennis. Also, I walk regularly (up and down the restaurant, which must be kilometres during the day!). I love taking walks at the bank of the Danube in Budapest with my wife, contemplating on our past, present and future.

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?

Balaton and Visegrád, of course. Both for the proximity of water and the infinite horizon.

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

I am very much intereted in psychology, the human soul. I can be easily touched by human weakness. So, if I had a second chance I would most probably apply to become a psychologist.

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?

Pathologist, that’s not my world.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?

We went to our usual place in Balatonfüred with my wife and daughters.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?

On the island of Capri, beyond the high season. We very much long for some little travel abroad. not too far, not too close. Capri is a tiny, sophisticated place, where there is more than just the beach.

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

As a teen I loved table tennis, chess and playing cards. The latter sometimes lit up certain boring lessons at school.

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

I can’t resist sweet cottage cheese cakes and good quality chocolate. My wife once explained to me that while in Hungarian one says ’you are a sweeth-mouthed person’, in English ’you have a sweet tooth’.  That I do have.

14. Red wine or white?

I am a white wine person. My favourite is Irsai Olivér.

15. Book or movie?

I’m definitely a reading guy, while I like good, meaningful movies.

I normally read about 20+ books a year, 2-3 simultaneously at times. The topics vary from novels to books on economics, science, psychology, politics, history.

Also, I am probably some of the last ones who have a subscription to a newspaper, I mean the real, old-fashioned paper which I can take along on my errands every day. I read a weekly as well.

16. Morning person or night person?

I am night person, which does not mean I can’t get up in the morning if I have to. I love reading late before going to sleep.

17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Poor people and sick or mistreated children. I try to help if a case comes my way.

18. Buda or Pest side?

While I grew up on the Pest side I do prefer Buda because it has all kinds of nice landscape, it’s more quiet, more orderly. At least this is my perception of it.

19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about?

Well, I started life from scratch. This is why I consider Nagyvillám as the biggest achievement of my life. I sometimes like to think, it is a piece of that ’amazing grace’.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?

I cannot give you a single answer to this question.

When we keep hoping, we keep living. (It is the translation of a Hungarian saying.)
Help, if you have the means!

And finally, I have recently come across two thoughts which I’d like to keep in mind:
’When something happens by chance it is when God doesn’t want to reveal himself.’
’Trials in our lives may be blessings in disguise.’

Click here to virtually visit Nagyvillám Restaurant