We were invited by the Kovacs family to join in the grape harvest again this Fall. It's always a wonderful time of sharing in the traditional eating, drinking and working together. As in the past three years, those invited are native Hungarian, German and English speakers. Several in the group can speak all three languages so they move around, easily engaging everyone in conversation. We know a little Hungarian and German, but mostly depend on the others to translate the jokes. There's always a lot of laughter...good in any language.
The weather was perfect the whole weekend for everything that was planned. We began the eating and drinking already on Friday night when we arrived. Tony began cutting all the wild boar, while the rest of us cut the vegetables for the gulyas planned for the next day.
Meanwhile, for supper we had another wild boar dish that was seasoned with rosemary, mixed with apples, peaches and potatoes.It was delicious!
The meal was accompanied by a traditional three-kilo Hungarian bread.
On Saturday, there were 15 of us busy either in the vineyard, picking grapes, or in the house preparing the food, or running the machines that crush the grapes.
After two rows were completely picked, we took a break to taste last year's palinka and wine along with the "suti"(baked treats) that everyone brings. Since we brought chocolate chip cookies the first year, everyone counts on being able to taste them at each grape harvest. We also made peanut butter bars to add to all the traditional Hungarian treats this year. It's an American sweet that is especially appreciated by most Hungarians.
After getting the whole vineyard harvested by 1 p.m., we gathered around the table. Tony asked Jack to pray and then we toasted and enjoyed a wonderful meal together. The afternoon was spent in pressing the grapes and relaxing
It was wonderful to be included in this great Hungarian tradition.
Thank you Kovacs family for inviting us!
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