Note: click on photo for larger view. ©2014, David A. Porter

Have you ever been traveling somewhere in the world, and looked back and told yourself, I wish I’d done that? As I was cataloging our photographs from our most recent trip, and came upon this photograph, I thought exactly that.

During our Viking River Cruise on the river Danube, we found ourselves strolling through the Christmas Market in Budapest. There, we found a number of vendors making Kurtosh Kalachs (Kürtóskalács in Hungarian), commonly known as Chimney Cakes.  As I photographed this scene, I thought I should try one.  However, as I considered the calories that I was likely to consume on our week-long journey up the river Danube, I decided against a sample.  I now regret that decision.  I should have tried it, don’t you think? After all, I didn’t need to eat the whole thing!

Chimney Cakes are made from sweet, yeast dough (raised dough), of which a strip is spun and then wrapped around a truncated cone–shaped baking spit, and rolled in granulated sugar. It is baked above charcoal cinders while lubricated with melted butter, until its surface gets a golden-brown color. During the baking process the sugar stuck on the chimney cake becomes caramel and forms a shiny, crispy crust on the cake. The surface of cake can then be provided with additional toppings such as ground walnut or cinnamon powder. (via Wikipedia)

Well, next time we get back to Budapest, we’ll give ’em a try.  How about you?  Have you ever had a Hungarian Chimney Cake?

Disclosure: our river cruise experience was provided by the kind folks at Viking River Cruises. Thanks!
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