The Latvian Lunchroom

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Posted 2015-07-05 by Jenny Esots ⇒ follow

Adelaide is home to restaurants from many nationalities. Each country's cuisine is like a taste of home for many expatriates and their extended families. For those who have not had the opportunity to travel far and wide, it is also a chance to try new foods and tastes.

With the new addition of at the Adelaide Central market, Adelaidians can now sample authentic Latvian cuisine. This is a place that not only features the cuisine of Latvia, but also the culture and customs.

The word on the street and further afield alerted me that there was a Latvian place at the market to discover. Having a family connection to Latvian culture, I was curious whether this place would live up to expectations.

The food, decor and program here have highlighted Latvia and its heritage to a tee. This little eating-place is near the Grote street entrance. It is compact in size and quite intimate, but more than makes up for this with an economical menu. The impression of the food is of home cooking and very fresh ingredients. Their wild mushroom menu options are exceptionally well done. All the food is presented in a simple way, which is very authentic. This is a no fuss and frills experience (except on special occasions).

Latvian Cuisine
The Baltic flavour on the menu is everywhere. I know people who cross town for their pirags. Pirags are little yeast pastries which are filled with bacon, onion and pepper. They are very bite size and a great starter for a meal, even breakfast. There is a hunter's breakfast for $9 with fried potatoes, fried egg and bacon. The gatherer's breakfast includes mushrooms and a dill gherkin. Or try the deluxe Baltic breakfast.

Latvian staples on the menu include sauerkraut, dill gherkins, potato salads and lots of dill. They have a great range of open sandwiches and delicious snack plates. Drinks include plunger coffee and teas. There are Latvian beers and for special occasions birch champagne. Latvia is home to many beautiful birch forests and the birch extract is added to champagne for the most divine bubbles. Mulled wine is also on the menu. The classic Latvian liqueur the Black Balsam is available here. This is a traditional Latvian herbal liqueur made with many different natural ingredients mixed in pure vodka, a very potent liqueur and an acquired taste.

Latvians love their cakes too, with black forest, honey cakes and strudels to tempt. Plus berries and fruit flans in season.

Latvian Culture
The lunchroom has information on Latvia, some of it is written in Latvian. There is a sense that this is a little haven on the other side of the world for Baltic food to come to the fore. Latvia is a small country of just over two millions people in Northern Europe that borders Estonia and Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. It is one of the three Baltic States. It used the Latvian lats as its currency until this was replaced by the Euro on 1 January 2014.

Jani Day
Jani day is an ancient celebration in Latvia and a big event for all Latvians. It is celebrated on midsummer. The summer solstice is also the time of the birthday of St. John, which is celebrated on 24 June by the Roman Catholic Church. Jani is Latvian for John. The J& #257 ;& #326 ;i day that is celebrated today in Latvia is a four-day holiday and an opportunity to reflect on the beliefs and actions of their ancestors. It's also a way to cleanse the soul and body with song, and a time to dance, eat, drink and be merry. Celebrations go on day and night. hosted their own Jani day lunches, which were a great success. A special set menu was a highlight with a wonderful communal atmosphere at the table and in the market.

caters for a varied population of people. The times I have been there it has had office workers, students, market regulars and many of the Latvian community stopping by. Inga is the proprietor, with a list of bakers and cooks who make this a go to destination for so many in a short space of time. The Latvian lunchroom opened in March 2015, but is already going from strength to strength. Following the success of the Jani day lunches, they are now offering set menu lunches on a Wednesday.