There are all kinds of treasures in the Czech tradition, from soft sheep's milk cheeses to plentiful foie gras (most country people kept a goose or two), liver dumplings to apple strudel. And for me, the food also tells a series of stories: about a country that suffered under Nazism and Communism, and the quirky, low-key, humorous culture that resulted. And about my refugee mother, whose soups, schnitzels, nut cakes and plum dumplings were a source of warmth and joy during the gray years of austerity in London after WWII.
I revisit some of those memories -- and also make a fresh trip to Golden Europe in this week's issue of Westword. Come back here tomorrow for those pieces (I'm subbing for Laura Shunk, who was out of the country), as well as a slide show of Golden Europe.