lesni bar

this past april i went to the czech republic.

while there i hiked to the (almost) top of a mountain

to go to a bar --

lesni bar.

it is a bar that some generous person keeps stocked

so that hikers and bikers can stop for a cold beer

while on their travels. 

it is pretty flippin' awesome.

the drinks are kept cold by the mountain spring water-- 

and as people drink, 

they donate to the cause.

there is even a building for people to stop in at

in case of rain or snow.

there is another bar even further up the mountain --

the horni bar.

too cool for school.

krobotovi

so these are the fabulous people who i went to visit in the CZ.

(that's right babi's a gangster.)

pavlinka krobotova

aka. babi

 

karolinka

my new bestie.

tomaš and violka

these two have the best eyebrows i have ever seen.

matouš.

poor kid is living in a woman's world.

um, adorable.

 

zbynek and babi.

the american contingent of the krobotovi.

 

kostnice sedlec ossuary

the bone church.

i'm not going to say much, 

because the pictures pretty much speak for themselves.













there is a skull and cross bones on the top of the church.

whaaaaaat?


amazing.

rockstar.

if you want to know more: http://www.kostnice.cz/

borůvkové knedlíky

blueberry dumplings.

babi is famous for these,

and when we went to visit

it was a requirement that they be made. 

so obviously i wanted to help. 

cause who doesn't love blueberry dumplings?

and learning how to make them from a real live babi was a must.

first, 

i needed to put on booties and an apron. 

(homemade booties -- adorable.)

the set up. 

stir it up.

blueberries and apricots.

have to stir up the batter and get it ready for rising.

 the batter is rising.

 

but we need to celebrate the completion of the first part of the recipe.

with a shot of white wine.

at 8 am.

(better than slivovice -- yikes.)

 

after the batter has risen, 

you make it into little balls.

which you then flatten.

so you can add your fillings.

once the filling is in the pancakes,

you have to turn it back into a ball,

or a dumpling, 

if you will.

but you have to pinch it really hard 

to make sure there are no leaks while it is boiling.

 

boiling the dumplings.

make sure that the pinched side goes up

(it is supposed to help with the non-leaking)

wait 11 minutes.

and remove.

but first poke some small holes in the top of the dumplings.

babi and her dumplings.

to eat dumplings the czech way

one must pour hot butter on top,

cover it with powdered sugar,

and give it a light sprinkle of cinnamon.

blueberry.

and apricot.

rockstar.

borůvek a meruňkové knedlíky 

blueberry and apricot dumplings