FINDING KOSHER GROCERIES IN PRAGUE, KRAKOW AND BUDAPEST

[HeavenlyJane]

We are heading out for a vacation in central Europe and want to mostly do our own cooking because one of us is a vegetarian. Do you know if there is a central place in each of these cities where we can find basic kosher groceries items, such as pasta sauce, cookies, drinks, fresh baked goods, etc).

We want to figure out what we need to bring with us and what we can reliably find in these cities.

What I have found so far are these but I cannot tell if they are still in business.

o PRAGUE: Kosher shop in Bilkova street, next to Dinitz Restaurant.

o KRAKOW: Kosher shop at the Isaac Synagogue on 18 Kupa Street

o BUDAPEST: (1) Rothschild Super Market on the Nagy Korut near Dohany; (2) Frohlich's Bakery at Dohany Utca; (3) MaBo - Packed Kosher Products, 1072, Budapest, Dob u. 16.

[ferret]

The Budapest Central Market is fantastic for produce. We were there summer before last and the selection and prices were amazing (from a Chicagoan's perspective). Krakow's market was very good, but lacked the spectacle (more of a farmers' market).

For the meat-eaters among you the salami at the butcher near the Dohany shul was fantastic (you can buy it sliced and vacuum-packed for a nice take-with snack).

[DeisCane]

Good call on the salami. Just try to figure out what days it is open before you go there.

[HeavenlyJane]

Yum! Thanks for all this info. Any info on Prague?

[AdinaA]

Just found out that I'll be in Prague for a couple of days. Shamash shows restaurants , including this: http://www.dinitz.cz/
Nice looking menu.

[DeisCane]

I am not familiar with MaBo but to the best of my knowledge the other places are open. There are butchers but their hours are irregular. Some of the large supermarkets carry canned/jarred goods from major US supermarkets (such as Shop-Rite), which have hechscherim. If you are staying in Buda, the Match in Mammut is one such supermarket. Cari Mama is a pizza restaurant but I think it will sell bread and maybe other things like sauce, etc. Hanna is a restaurant that's more of a canteen or community cafeteria. Try to find a local who will take you as his guests and you will likely pay less.

[HeavenlyJane]

Deis Cane, thanks for this quick reassurance; now we know we can do with hauling less groceries from home. Good to learn that their a cheaper menu for locals.

[DeisCane]

Jane,

I have been going to Budapest regularly for 16 years--my wife is from there. You can find a long thread to which I contributed on the topic here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/623356

N'siah tovah!