The Gundel [antikvár]

ForewordFor me Gundel is a little piece in which all the cultural and gastronomic colourfulness manifests what this country, our homeland represents for centuries. I still remember, very clearly the first dinner I had here. It wasn't a very very long time ago in 1989, not long after my family decided to move back home. I was with my father and by the end of the evening it was no question that Gundel would be a fixed point in my life. I learned a lot about Hungarian gastronomy here. I had plenty of time and opportunities to learn because between 1996 and 2002 my work tied me to this area, and every week I visited the restaurant's 'little sister', Bagolyvár several times.It was also clear that when I got married in 1997 the family chose Gundel, we asked them to provide the food and drinks for the event. Eilika, my wife and I ate through several tasty menus before we reached the wedding menu. Its most special part was probably the ice cream composition which was created to resemble a bowl of fruits.I have a very good, personal relationship with the restaurant and the people who work here. I love their flavours - especially the goose liver and, as a practising chocolate addict, their chocolate desserts -and the old, peacetime, elegant and sophisticated atmosphere which is the unique feature of this restaurant.As I can see Gundel believes in preserving traditions and passing them on - although innovation plays at least a same important part. This is what I try to pass on to my children, because these two things make the world go by the most.I wish for us all that Gundel would be a significant point in Budapest's and the country's life for a long long time. This place to be one of our most important cultural and gastronomic messengers in the world. Because it represents our mutual success a little as well.Dr. György Habsburg Ambassador