Does real Hungarian Food exist in Manhattan (especially palacsinta)

[dukeofcrydee]

I used to go to Mocca on the UES. Yeah it was plain, they didn't take credit cards and the old bat serving food would practically throw your plate at you, but it was all I could find! I especially loved the palacsinta. I know that's just Hungarian for crepes, but it was the filling. I have no idea how to make (can't find a recipe anywhere) the walnut one and the cream cheese one, but only in Budapest and at Mocca did I ever have it.

With Mocca closed for a while now I was curious if there were any other places that served authentic Hungarian food in Manhattan...especially places with palacsinta on the menu.

[shane]

The walnut one is usually called Gundel palacsinta (after the famous restaurant in Budapest). The other one is turos palacsinta (turo means cottage cheese). Try googling those for a recipe.

[dukeofcrydee]

Thanks Shane. I've known of Gundel palacsinta, but only described with rum and chocolate sauce. The one I know from Budapest is a simple sugary/walnut paste.

But thanks to you I did a new search on Gundel and stumbled on this recipe, which I will have to try this weekend:

Walnut pancakes (Diós palacsinta)
20 pancakes, 250 g ground walnuts, 100 g sugar, 50 ml milk.
Mix the walnuts with the sugar and fill pancakes with this mixture. Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar. Serve warm or cool

[shane]

The Gundel palacsintas I've had came with a walnut paste inside then were covered with a chocolate sauce and finally flambeed with rum. Mmmm. It's the walnut taste that makes it really good though.

[AstoriaGal]

Although I haven't been there, maybe you can try Andre's Cafe on the UES. It's on Second Avenue, btw 84th & 85th. The menu listed on menupages.com says that they serve palacsinta.

Hope that helps!

[dukeofcrydee]

"AstoriaGal"! Like a food superhero swooping in to save the day. Thank You!! I am definitely going to check them out.

And I promise not to reveal your secret identity.