Sigulda, Latvia is a gorgeous and interesting place: both to visit and I’m sure to live. An exurb about an hour from the capital of Riga, it’s home to both working professionals and the wealthy — sometimes, even nobility. The hills and valleys suggested to formerly occupying German aristocrats Switzerland, so they built many homes with Swiss architecture to resemble the Alpine country. The town boasts several castles, open to the public and locals get a pass to roam the grounds. There’s a cable car over the valley and tons of forested walking trails. The best comparison I can think of for their residents is living in Harper’s Ferry, WV — if it were a half hour closer to DC.
One of their popular places to eat lunch is Kaku Maja — the “cat house”, but not how we mean it. I was happy to be hosted to experience it!
I arrived in Fall, when locals assured me usually has crappy weather. It was hard to imagine, as for a full week, everything was perfectly sunny and summery. Kaku Maja has outdoor seating, which people were eager to grab their last opportunity to enjoy for the rest of the year.
For lunch at least, they have a cafeteria-style setup. There were lots of roasted things like chicken and sausages. But with the warmer weather, the cold salads appealed to me most.
Okay, this the only place I ate at in Latvia where I saw a distinct Russian influence in the cuisine, such as the beet salad with mayo, mushroom salad and Salad Olivier. I mean, it is what it is! But shhhhh! The Latvians are a proud, independent people. The salads were tasty.
So, here are some truly local items: their own strawberry-cherry juice drink that went down quick as a wink and a traditional rye bread trifle. I know that’s an ancient recipe, because when I was a kid in school studying the Middle Ages, we had to bring something authentic to eat and I made something very much like it. Hearty and tasty! We do bread pudding here, so this is just in a different format and darker bread.
Luxe & Down-Home Cuisine/Culture/Travel/Style 