Chewing the Fat Czech Style

Czechs love fat, especially chewing the fat, Czech style. Literally. Škvarky translates to lard or pork crackings, and we cook with it and we eat it on bread. Yes, you read that right. Now you may be thinking what’s with the fat sandwiches? We Czech eat open-faced fat sandwiches and then we wash it down with a...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

November 2, 2015

Ella Fitzgerald Brings Jazz to Prague in 1969

Ella Fitzgerald Brings Jazz to Prague in 1969. That’s right. Singer and First Lady of jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, performed two stellar concerts at the Lucerna Hall in Prague on June 27, 1969. Her performance came just 10 days after the Beach Boys performed there (on June 17th). The summer of 1969 in Prague was rockin’ in more ways than one. These images...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music, Time Warp, Women

November 1, 2015

Groovy Czech Fashion Show from 1969 Prague

Groovy Czech Fashion Show from 1969 Prague. The exact date of this extravaganza, May 6, 1969. The place, a special fashion catwalk set up at Lucerna Hall in Prague. The occasion, modeling the latest European fashions. The models, the outfits are modeled by beauty queens from Austria, Spain, France and our own Miss Economy of Czechoslovakia, dancing, giggling and...

LIFESTYLE

October 31, 2015

An Apocalyptic Castle in the Czech Republic

At one time, resting like a gem in a crown, Zámek Jezeří (Castle Jezeří) distinctively rested on a hill once densely populated with a wide myriad of flora. Shaped in a prominent ‘H’, you can see two watch towers on either side. It was once the home of Bohemian Nobles and was considered one of...

LIFESTYLE

October 31, 2015

The Mummies of the Capuchin Crypt in Brno

Looking at this building, it looks harmless enough… Even as you get closer, you have no idea. But what lurks beneath will give you Halloween chills for sure. So, what is down there? Mummies. Many, many mummies. … and bones. The mummies of the Capuchin Crypt in Brno are unusual because they never intended to...

LIFESTYLE

October 30, 2015

Czech Fried Meat Patties aka Karbanatky

Czech Fried Meat Patties aka Karbanatky refers to Czech patties which are made of ground meat which is then breaded and fried. They are made in many European kitchens and have many different names. For the Danish they are known as Frikadeller. In Germany, they are known as Frikadellen, Buletten, Fleischküchle or Fleischpflanzerl. In Austria they call...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

ghosts-of-st-george-church-czech-republic-11

October 30, 2015

The Ghosts of St. George’s Church in the Czech Republic

Just in time for a Halloween scare, we’ve found a cool story about a permanent congregation of the ghosts of St. George’s church in the Czech Republic. On the old wooden benches dozens of white-robed figures sit quietly. They do not speak. Their heads are bowed and they are silently praying to God. As you step inside, you will...

LIFESTYLE

October 29, 2015

Skoda Glamour in the 50s by Vilem Heckel

Škoda Auto, more commonly known as Škoda, is a Czech automobile manufacturer founded in 1895 as Laurin & Klement. Not too glamorous of a car, there was one photographer who bought a certain level of style to it. Today we’re looking at Skoda Glamour in the 50s by Vilem Heckel. It is headquartered in Mladá Boleslav,...

CULTURE, Photography

October 28, 2015

My Czech Wooden Picture Cubes

Who else grew up playing with Czech wooden picture cubes? I confess, my wooden picture cubes were the best. I mean, the best of the best. As a child I remember playing with these wooden blocks almost every day. I never used them just as the puzzle that they were. I used them to build castles and towers, villages...

LIFESTYLE

October 27, 2015

Protected: Czech Grandfather Soup aka Bramboračka

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

October 26, 2015

A Look Back at Czechoslovakia Before World War I

Today I wanted to share a look back at Czechoslovakia before World War I. The first image I want to share is this map. When the Czech Republic was first put on a map, it was placed there as Czechoslovakia. The Bohemian Kingdom officially ceased to exist in 1918 by transformation into Czechoslovakia. No one...

History, NOSTALGIA

October 25, 2015

Venus on Strip Street by Ladislav Sutnar

The last few weeks, we’ve been posting the amazing work of Ladislav Sutnar. Ladislav Sutnar (1897-1976) was one of the first designers to actively practice in the field of information design and information architecture. His work was based on rationality and the process of displaying massive amounts of information in a concise and organized way...

Art and Design, CULTURE

October 25, 2015

Delicious Czech Sweet Buns aka Buchty

Delicious Czech Sweet Buns are known as Buchty in the Czech Republic. They are traditional food made from yeast and can be filled with ground poppy seeds, cheese curd, lekvar (plum jam), jam or jelly and they are truly a Czech classic. They are not like a donut, but rather more like a sweet bun or roll....

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

October 24, 2015

Cauliflower Patties with Cucumber Salad

Today I made some Květákové Placičky a Okurkový Salát otherwise known as Cauliflower Patties with Cucumber Salad. Some Czechs eat this as a meal served with simple boiled potatoes, others serve it with mashed potatoes. We like it as an afternoon snack or an appetizer. It’s delicious either way. The provided excerpt offers just a glimpse into the...

LIFESTYLE, Recipes

October 24, 2015

Bohemian Fashion at Karlovy Vary Circa 1950s

These are rare photographs from the estate and family of Vilem Heckel. The images are from a fashion show at Karlovy Vary in Bohemia sometime during the early to mid-1950s. Please make sure to read this wonderful photographer’s bio at the end of this post. Now… on to the gorgeous fashions! Note: We claim absolutely...

Fashion, NOSTALGIA, Photography, Retro Chic

October 23, 2015

Vintage Czech Cookbook Illustrations

The following vintage Czech cookbook illustrations are from my cookbook, Česká Kuchařka from 1969. Yes, it has been in our family all those years. It was my grandmothers, then my mothers, mine and soon my daughters. It’s filled with over 500 delicious Czech recipes which make for some amazing dinners to please our friends and impress...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT