Like when you “add” a celebrity chef to an iconic location in Sibiu. And it seems like this is the best recipe for La Turn, the first restaurant to open its gates in the Big Square. After a very successful appearance in a top cooking show on national television, Chef Erdei Lorant has joined the team of La Turn and has been, for a couple of weeks now, running the kitchen of the location we all know and love. 

La Turn has always been a popular spot, mostly due to its perfect location, both in the Big and Small Square. Over the years, the chefs there have tried to leave their mark on the place, and opinions have been rather…diverse. While others loved the place and the food, some only appreciated the place. You could say some are pickier, but one must acknowledge the fact that when it comes to food you have to search quite a bit until you find that perfect…recipe.

With this new (and very promising) addition to its team, it might seem that La Turn has found the perfect recipe. Chef Erdei Lorant was born in Satu Mare, and now a new and very cute “factor” – his baby girl – made his set camp in Sibiu. He has worked in important restaurants in Hungary, Germany, and France. He took part in a famous Romanian cooking show, in Chef Scarlatescu’s team. And although he didn’t take home the big prize, he was one of the most appreciated competitors of the show’s edition, being the competitor who was highlighted by the courage to offer the jury bold and tasteful dishes. This led him to the semifinals of the competition, where he won the people’s love and sympathy.
And this super talent is now head of this great restaurant in the heart of Sibiu, where he waits for you with a new and amazing touch. 
The new menu of La Turn is now more condensed, while at the same time offering something for every taste! From appetizers to salads, hard-to-pronounce mains, enticing desserts, and even pizza, you can have a true culinary experience at La Turn. So there you have it…the perfect location, and the perfect menu! We watched Chef Lorant in action in the kitchen, and we can say…he is superstar material! And while he got busy preparing an awesome dish, we got busy asking him a couple of questions.

Travelscounter: Which specialty from the new menu would you recommend to your customers? 

Chef Erdei Lorant: Personally, I am a big fan of the lamb chops in aromatic herbs crust. And if you’re looking for something lighter, you could try some salads specially designed by different varieties: chicken, beef, salmon, shrimp.

T: What’s your opinion about Romanian cuisine?

E. L.: Our Traditional cuisine is a bit outdated. It’s rich and varied, but I think that reinterpreting Romanian dishes is essential if we want to grow in this area.

T: What is the concept of La Turn and what does it bring new to Sibiu from a culinary point of view?

E.L.: Regarding what we want to do … we’ve made a collage between French, Italian and traditional cuisine. And I can say that some of our specialties must be tried at least once in a life!

Having tried the chef’s recommendation – the lamb chops – we must say that new menu, new chef, new flavors… seems perfect for us!

And what’s really great is that if you make a reservation for the La Turn using Travelscounter, you will have a 10% discount on your final bill. So give the new menu a try. Chef Lorant and La Turn will not disappoint!

The post Wine and Dine | The best menu yet at La Turn appeared first on Travelscounter Blog.

The decor and the summer garden of the palace are like a fairytale kingdom, full of trees and flowers, especially tulip trees.  There are only a few places in our country where the tulip trees grow, and the Brukenthal Palace of Avrig is one of those places. The tulip trees  are one of the attractions of the summer residence of Baron Samuel von Brukenthal.  At this time of the year, they bloom, giving the visitors an unforgettable view. The tulip tree found at Brukenthal Palace is about 250 years old, and it still has the power and vigor to offer an amazing spectacle for the eyes and souls of those who prefer to take a stroll in the middle of nature, on the alleys of the park, where the yellow tulips are shining, like precious stones. 

You can also spend wonderful moments in the Orangery restaurant.

Starting from spring to autumn, you can enjoy the culinary offer under the clear sky and in the shadow of the old trees. Depending on the season, blooming roses, lavender, dahlias and many other flowers will delight your senses. During the afternoon you can relax in a pleasant ambience and atmosphere, sipping a coffee or tasting cakes, tarts or a hot apple pie. Cakes are prepared with seasonal fruits: apples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and plums.  You can also try organic products such as sweets or syrups.

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If you are a #streetfood enthusiast, you’re in for a major treat! Because Sibiu Street FOOD Festival, the festival of hundreds of culinary recipes takes place in the city June 1^st to 4^th, in the Albert Huet Square.

It is a unique culinary experience, that travels through 9 Romanian cities this year : Oradea, Iasi, Sibiu, Arad, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Alba-Iulia, Timisoara and Bacau. The presence of Sibiu among the 9 cities is of high importance, as two years from now, in 2019, Sibiu will hold the title of European gourmet capital. It’s going to be the most important worldwide recognized project involving Sibiu since the European Capital of Culture of 2007. Taking this into consideration, Street FOOD Festival plans to bring a major contribution to the city’s development of gastronomy.

#streetfood lovers will get to enjoy an enormous variety of dishes, from savory burgers, pulled pork, creamy gelato, to pizza and many more. 40 carefully chosen vendors will be lininig up their best street food specialties from all over the world, from Asia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, America, Mexico and more. 

Those who will come at the festival will get to enjoy the dishes of a street food celebrity and ambassador, Chef Foa. Chef Foa is the most fervent fan of the Street Food concept in Romania, being one of the few famous chefs who have devoted themselves to the whole idea and managed to develop a successful project built around the concept of street food. Along with his team of chefs from Stradale and Flavours, he is going to offer some amazing culinary experiences! And some great #selfies for all of you #instagram lovers  

No festival is complete without music, so be prepared to enjoy not only amazing food, but some great live concerts too. The Street FOOD Festival stage will be home to some amazing acts. Children also have their own playground – the KIDS ZONE. And if you’re a fan of food and movies, you’ll get to nibble on some tasty treats while watching a good movie at The Outdoor Cinema.

Street FOOD Festival started it’s story back in 2016 in Cluj-Napoca, where over 50,000 foodies sampled the dishes of the participating chefs. Afterwards, Street FOOD Festival took place in Iasi, Oradea and there was also a special edition for Christmas, which brought to the festival several tens of thousands of people and hundreds of goodies to take home.

We’re defintely moving our “offices” in the Huet Square between June 1^st and 4^th, at the Sibiu Street FOOD Festival. Because we’re looking forward to compete in eating pizza, pancakes, burgers, waffles, tacos, burritos, sandwiches, and other food specialities from all over the world. 

Fresh and delicious food, cold drinks and good music guaranteed, all you have to do is to come to the Street FOOD Festival!

And if by any chance you’re more of a “reservation” kind of person, you can use Travelscounter to book your place in one of the delish restaurants around the Huet Square. You’ll get 10% discount off your bill! Enjoy!

The post Things to do in Sibiu | Street FOOD Festival appeared first on Travelscounter Blog.

We’ve taken it upon ourselves to look into what really is the deal with the popular bistro cuisine. And here’s what we’ve found.

Technically, a bistro is the place where you can get a coffee and a snack or a glass of wine and a simple meal alongside, the kind of place where the menu is not very sophisticated. Many bistro restaurants are guided by “fresh, fast and good”, satisfying for every customer and for all clients. But when you think about it, it seems quite hard to put these all together, if what you’re looking for is high quality food. “Fast” and “fresh” actually rarely go together, and if you were to choose, then “fresh” would be the most obvious choice. Because it is preferable to have the patience for the products to be freshly prepared, with natural ingredients, rather than be half-baked or defrosted. 

The difference between fresh food and frozen bags is 30 minutes of your time. And instead of having your stomach filled fast, would you not rather choose fresh and tasteful food, cooked with respect to the raw material?

And while 30 minutes might sound like a lot, can you “go fast” without compromising the taste or the carefully selected ingredients?

In middle and small kitchens, such as bistro kitchens, which are not organized in areas (meat, fish, desserts, salads) and the orders come out in a row, as they come, it’s quite common for the staff to go from cooking pasta, to arranging some dessert, then grilling meat, and so on.  

One might think that chefs can perform miracles while working on several orders, and that it should not take more than 10 minutes to prepare the ordered dish. But if you’re doing the math, when a group of 3 people – the average number of cooks in small kitchens – have to freshly boil pasta, fry fish, prepare dessert, grill meat, cook lamb and peas, pork, mushroom or potatoes, and do some form of plating, then 30 minutes waiting time start sounding more reasonable.

Of course, when you are very hungry, each minute seems an eternity. Obviously food could come quickly. Pasta could be pre-cooked and only heated and mixed with the ready-made sauce. And the spinach could also be done and just heated on demand. Potatoes could be frozen, and then their cooking time would reduced to half. But is this what you would really want to eat?

A good Bistro will always choose “fresh” and “good”, rather than “fast”. Because good healthy food is of the essence.

And a good Bistro in Sibiu, trying to maintaing high quality food standards, is definitely Jules Bistro. Jules Bistro-Restaurant is a place which gathers under the same roof a French touch restaurant, a romantic summer terrace and a comprehensive wine bar. The music is obviously French. And the location is perfect, right in the middle of everything, in a building that practically “breathes” history. You can get your daily discount code from Travelscounter, and you can pay Jules a visit. You’ll have a lovely meal, and a 10% discount off the entire bill. Enjoy!

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We’ ve got the perfect spot! An industrial park right outside of town houses a unique location : an equestrian club. Don’t let the access way fool you…although it is located in an industrial park, and the entrance has the mandatory NO ENTRY signs, all tourists and visitors are more than welcome to carry on past the entry point, and arrive at a true haven! It’s the only place this close to Sibiu where you can experience the joy of riding a horse. The instructors also speak fluent German and English, so you know you’ll be in good hands! And if you want your children to enjoy a nice experience, this is the perfect place. The club provides an instructor that is specialized in working with children. 

Ecvestria Club stretches for more than 2500 meters, and it offers accommodation for those wanting to spend the night. It also features a shop for you to complete your riding attire.

And most importantly, once you arrive here you can take a break away from the noise, and enjoy some Romanian and international specialties at the on-site restaurant and terrace.

The restaurant itself is designed with modern equestrian specific. You can enjoy a hearty meal, as the menu is varied and offers a wide range of options. So you can serve lunch, dinner or just a good cup of coffee.

And if you make a reservation with Travelscounter, you will have a 20% discount off your bill!  Enjoy!

The post Different things to do and try while in Sibiu appeared first on Travelscounter Blog.

Here you can taste the new season’s menu, which the chefs of the former Summer Residence of Samuel von Brukenthal have especially prepared for the next period.

This time of year the “stars” of the new menu are the nettles, the spinach and the unfailing parsley, all grown right in Brukenthal’s garden.

The covetous type of people will fall in love with the finest and most delicious food inspired from both traditional Romanian and international cuisine.

For soup fans, the chefs propose two delicious recipes: nettle cream soup with croutons, or salad soup with fried eggs and bacon.

Parsley can be found in the new menu in a surprising combination with…. pancakes. More exactly parsley pancakes stuffed with vegetables and Hollandaise sauce.

The house special is the Talfespitz, served with horseradish cream, vegetables and boiled potatoes – Emperor Franz Joseph’s favorite food! You’ll also find localy grown Angus beef dishes.

When it comes to dessert, well…it’s their season, so strawberries are ruling the dessert section of the menu. Strawberry mint salad or strawberries with vanilla foam and whipped cream are waiting to be enjoyed on the Baroque terrace of this beautiful complex, a unique objective in Romania.

The park and buildings of the Brukenthal Palace of Avrig are among the most outstanding monuments of Baroque Transylvanian time. Once called “Transylvania’s Eden”, the Brukenthal Palace is now the only Baroque ensemble in Southern Transylvania which won the battle with time.

Since 2011, the entire complex has undergone complex renovations and today the resort is open to visitors who want to enjoy the special atmosphere in the shadow of the Carpathian Mountains.

Pay the Brukenthal Palace a visit, and dine like royalty in the majestic restaurant, or the marvelous garden. Make a reservation with Travelscounter, and you’ll have both a reserved spot and a 20% discount applied to the final bill! Enjoy!

The post Want To Dine Like Royalty? | Try The Brunkenthal Palace appeared first on Travelscounter Blog.

Cataplana is a combination of several varieties of fish and seafood, to which potatoes, bell peppers,onions, various spices and even some chorizo sausage are added. The name of the dish is given by the utensil it is cooked in, a copper two-pans kind of pressure cooker.

The Cataplana is a peculiar and unique Portuguese cooking utensil, whose origin is still little known, since there are no official historical records of its appearance and creation. And the food cooked in it has become a Portuguese signature dish.

You can fall in love – if you haven’t already – with Cataplana, right here in the old Sibiu, at Old Lisbon Restaurant. It’s the only portuguese style restaurant that has ever existed in Sibiu!

At Old Lisbon, the Cataplana is cooked carrefully and keeps the traditional Portugal flavour. Pair it with some good wine, and with a 10% discount you can get using travelscounter.com, and you’ll have the perfect recipe for a perfect dinner!

Enjoy!

The post PORTUGUESE FOOD IN SIBIU? TRY OLD LISBON SIBIU appeared first on Travelscounter Blog.

Right in the heart of the city, next to the iconic Liars Bridge, you’ll find Atrium Classic Cafe. It’s a bit of a legend in Sibiu, for it’s piano evenings, theater events, concerts and more. Actually, each Monday you can sample some good quality theater, while enjoying a lovely dinner and a glass of wine.

This Monday, April 10^th, it’s time for some MONTAGNE RUSSE, an intelligent comedy with Cristina Blaga and Anton Balint, a show about courage, strength, intelligence, relationships and love! The term Montagne Russe means rollercoaster,a popular type of entertainment, developed for amusement and modern themed parks.

The show of April 10^th will be about a roller coaster full of joy and cheerfulness. And a bit about real problems in real life.

Coming to see this play at Atrium, you’ll be able to meet two young actors, portraying challenges, comedy, smiles, love stories, stories drawn from our daily world.

Cristina Blaga and Anton Balint are actors at the “Radu Stanca” National Theater. They are known for their performances in “Zbang” (A Musical Fantasy), “Romeo and Juliet”, “Faust”, and more.

Tickets for this show are 20 lei, and they will be very well spent, if you choose to visit Atrium Classic Cafe this Monday, April 10th at 8 pm.

You can also make a discounted reservation for this show, using Travelscounter, and you’ll have both a reserved spot, and a 10% discount off the final bill. See you there!

The post Things to do in Sibiu | Theater evenings at Atrium appeared first on Travelscounter Blog.

You’re in for a treat, as you absolutely must try some traditional Romanian food. Romanian cuisine includes both every day and special holiday dishes. And while in Sibiu, you can sample the best of them. When it comes to culinary traditions, cabbage rolls are the first on the list. Cabbage rolls are prepared from fresh or sour cabbage and minced meat,and they kind of are our traditional Christmas dish.

The ones prepared with fresh cabbage are sweet and savory. The ones made with sour cabbage are more tangy, but equally delicious. It’s just a matter of taste when it comes to which ones you prefer most. But it’s a fact that whether sweet or sour, there isn’t one Romanian who hasn’t eaten this before, alongside some sour cream and polenta.

Oh, and the polenta! The polenta is apparently a very simple dish, basically boiled cornmeal. You can eat it as a side dish just as it is after it’s finished boiling. But then again, you can also bake it, fry it, or grill it. Or you can eat it mixed with cheese and sour cream, and you have a main dish of it’s own. It’s delicious!

 Tripe soup is luscious, and it’s rather hard to make, as it requires a lot of preparation. Because of it’s ingredients, it’s quite controversial, and you either hate it, or you absolutely love it! No in between. It’s garlicy, it’s sour, it’s definitely a must try!

The goulash made in cauldron is another specialty in this area. First of all, it’s a dish for big eaters, as it can be quite consistent. The recipes vary a lot, because of the many influences. It may contain potatoes, dumplings, cumin, and some even added pineapple. But no matter the recipe, the goulash will always be spicy.

Dumplings, or as we know them – papanasi – are quite possibly the most loved desert. They can be boiled or fried, although in most restaurants, they are fried. They resemble a doughnut, but they’re served with the best Romanian sour cream and sour jam, so the taste is definitely unique.

If you’re looking for great spots to try some traditional romanian food, we’re recommending Camara Boierului from Hilton Sibiu, Crama Sibiana, Apfelhaus, or Mai Pension.

 Use Travelscounter to get your restaurant discount before going to any of these places, and you’ll get a 10, 15 or even 20% discount of the final bill! Enjoy!

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