Kurzeme is one of the historical lands of Latvia, and it has the longest sea border in the country. It offers a 365 km long sea coast, characterised by beach, bluffs, dunes, coastal villages and towns, beautiful diversity of natural and cultural landscapes. It’s also a region that has cultivated its signature flavours, from seafood to sklandrausis, from tradition to modern flavour combinations and even winemaking. Every gourmet and taste connoisseur will have something to discover and enjoy in Kurzeme.
Sklandrausis
Sklandrausis is a traditional dish of the Livs, and over time it has been adopted in the Latvian cuisine of Kurzeme. It is a sweet pie, made of unleavened rye dough, sprinkled with caraway and filled with potatoes and carrots. Sklandrausis is usually consumed cold with tea or milk. Sklandrausis is the taste of Kurzeme, so when visiting this region of Latvia, it is worth keeping your eyes open and finding the opportunity to enjoy this taste. Sklandrausis can be bought in a many places, starting from old ladies who sell them on the roadside, to shops, cafes and restaurants.
The culinary heritage of the Suiti people
Suiti is a Catholic community in the Lutheran Kurzeme with its centre in Alsunga and history of almost 400 years. Various unique features of the folk culture have been preserved in the Suiti region, and many interesting dishes have been preserved here even today, handed down from generation to generation. “Maģie suiti” offers you the opportunity to discover the culinary heritage of the Suiti and to enjoy žograuši, spēkrauši, vētras rauši, fish soup with milk served together with various activities and singing. It is possible to organise an off-site trade. It is possible to enjoy the flavours both individually and in groups, but you must book in advance.
Fisherman’s farm “Dieniņas”
The most characteristic flavours of Kurzeme come from the Baltic Sea. Going to sea, fishing, cooking and smoking fish are integral traditions of this region. You can get to know all these traditions in the fisherman’s farm “Dieniņas”, which offers not only to buy fish products, but also active recreation by the sea with all kinds of activities on the seashore: stories of the fishermen’s wives about the history of the village and fishing, domestic theatre in the local dialect, an insight into the fish smoking process and, of course, a feast with a proper tasting of local fish.
Traditional meal at Skroderkrogs
For those who want traditional Latvian flavours and a hearty meal, we recommend adding Skroderkrogs in Ventspils to the list of sightseeing routes. Depending on the season, the restaurant offers dishes typical of Latvia and Kurzeme, such as cold beetroot soup, bean soup, Kurzeme stroganoff, several types of chops, rhubarb pie and many others.
“Hot potato” and various potato tastes
“Hot potato” is a restaurant in Liepāja, which offers its guests traditional and modern dishes, focusing on one of the most characteristic vegetables of Latvia, the potato. It is impossible to imagine the gardens, kitchens and plates of not only Kurzeme, but all of Latvia without potatoes. Fried, filled, in pancakes, you name it – the potato is the most versatile ingredient and the owners of “Hot Potato” know it. The restaurant offers meat and vegetarian dishes for every taste.
Neapolitan-style pizza “Giardino di Napoli”
Italian flavours in Aizpute – this is the Neapolitan-style pizzeria “Giardino di Napoli”. The owners got the idea of opening a pizzeria by accident when, while travelling around Naples, they fell in love with the taste, smell and cooking process of Neapolitan pizzas. The cosy restaurant offers appetisers, pastas, wood-fired pizzas, lasagne and various desserts.
“KuKul” snacks
“KuKul” bakery is located in Engure, and the smell that flows from the cosy place won’t let any gourmet pass it by. The bakery offers various culinary products – both sweet and savoury: bread, buns, cookies, cakes, gingerbread and much more. This is a place where those in a hurry can stop by and take freshly baked delicacies with them; it’s also a place where you can leisurely enjoy bakery delicacies with a cup of coffee.
“Goldingen Room”
Kuldīga is a city that in recent years has announced itself as one of the most delicious destinations in Latvia for all gourmets and taste hunters. In the “Goldingen Room” you can discover modern, worldly recipes. The restaurant specialises in Mediterranean cuisine, serving pizzas baked in an oak wood-fired oven. It is also possible to enjoy various snacks, pastas, fish and meat dishes together with selected wines and other drinks.
“DUNA” beer bar and brewery
Not very far away from the Goldingen Room, there is also the “DUNA” brewery, which welcomes all beer lovers in its beer bar. As the brewmasters claim, “DUNA” is a place to meet... ...friends, families, the brewmasters, musicians at events organised by the brewery and also different tastes. In addition, the drinks created by “DUNA” are also a special meeting for the tastes. The brewing process happens thanks to cooperation with local and more distant farms, which allows the product to combine Latvian plums with Chinese ginger, Latvian quince with green tea from the mountains of the Guangzhou region and other unexpected flavour combinations.
ABAVA
Latvia is not known on the world stage as the wine making country, but it is exactly the nature and terrain of Kurzeme that make it possible to cultivate this craft. ABAVA winery and its owners combine classic wine growing traditions with local flavours. The winery produces several types of sparkling wines, fruit and berry wines, chokeberry, blackcurrant and apple “Velvet” series wines (20% alcohol), as well as several types of strong drinks. The winery offers drink tastings and tours for both individual visitors and groups. Upon prior agreement, it is also possible to arrange meals and get to know even more local flavours.
Grapes at “Mazburkas”
You can also get to know and enjoy grapes at the organic grape farm “Mazburkas”, which is located near Tukums. The farm grows grapes used for making wine and grape juice. It is possible to visit “Mazburkas” by prior booking via phone. The visit includes a wine tasting, a story about the farm and a tour of the vineyard. It is possible to buy the products produced on the farm or simply enjoy the almost Tuscan feeling in the heart of Kurzeme.
Honey from “Meduspils”
Honey is one of the sweetest tastes in Latvia, and Kurzeme residents know how to take care of bees. Beekeeper Jānis Vainovskis presents the work of an apiary and a peaceful colony of bees in the “Meduspils” bee apiary. The tour gives you an opportunity to make friends with bees and drones. Further, it gives you the opportunity to taste monofloral honey and pollen of various flowers, but the special offer is honey mixtures with various berries. In summer, those interested can take part in removing honeycombs and pouring honey, while in winter – making wax candles and candies.
Escargots at “Kangari”
“Kangari” is a country farm, where various delicacies are made from berries and fruits grown by the owners – sweets, chutneys, jams. If you are travelling through Kurzeme, the hostess offers lunch in her homestead, as well as to bake delicious buns with “Kangaru našķi” cranberries. The most passionate and daring taste hunters have the opportunity to see escargots and enjoy escargot dishes in the summer. Escargots are particularly characteristic of the Kurzeme region, and are rarely found elsewhere in Latvia.
Shiitake mushrooms at “Garīkas”
Latvians are born mushroom pickers who keep the best mushroom spots secret. Kurzeme is known for its excellent areas of boletus mushrooms, and on its coastline it is possible to find exclusivities such as orange milkcaps in autumn. In addition, when approaching Skrunda, here you can find the first farm that started growing shiitake mushrooms in Latvia – “Garākas”. It is possible to go on an educational excursion at the farm, where the owners share tips and treat themselves to “Emperor’s mushroom” sauce or soup. Visitors can also order other dishes that contain shiitake mushrooms. It is also possible to buy various mushroom products, such as dried mushrooms or their powder.
Farm “Cukuriņi” and sea buckthorn
A lesser-known, but very characteristic taste of the region is hidden in bright orange berries – sea buckthorn. The farm “Cukuriņi” is a family business cultivating and processing sea buckthorn, as well as providing rural tourism. The farm is open for guests to discover the vast territory of the farm, treat them with delicacies from the healthy sea buckthorn berries and share the experience.
