In a country where Fisherman’s Soup (Halászlé) is more than a national dish, a Fish Festival truly is a joyous occasion where a whole city may come together.
After a two-year gap from Covid, the city of Szeged hosted fishmongers and chefs, breweries and wine-makers as well as families and their traditional recipes with secret ingredients.
A 3000-liter cauldron, sort of a symbol of the festival for many years, was exhibited well before the kick-off of the festival – no wonder the event attracted many tourists and numerous participants who all wanted to show the world (and their competitors) what makes their soup stand out.
For the first time, a ‘fishless Fisherman’s soup’ a.k.a. the vegan version with eggplant also entered the competition.
Ready for some genuine celebration of fish and traditional cuisine?
One Response
I am so very sad that this year’s (2024) szeged fish festival was cancelled. Surely between themselves the organisers could have come to some sort of agreement not to sacrify such a traditional event such as this annual fish festival. Organisers excuse: its not profitable any more to stage such an event. Of course it is. There is always solutions to any setbacks in competitions. I personally think greed was creeping into this situation. Pénz, money, is always the root of all evil. Even if the organisers would have only made minimal profit, which I think would have been possible, it would have kept the people of Szeged a happy bunch. They alwys looked forward such an event, just like me who even visited friends and relation in Szeged because I did fit in my visits to coincide with the halászlé festival. This situation remind me the sad demise of the Virág cukrászda, which was another institution to the Szeged folk and dare I say even tourists and expats from all over the world. Sad to say, certain events and businesses should never be neglected. It belongs to people’s enjoyments and desires. High organisations in office should have even strength and acumen to carry on with traditional existences.