The garlicky pleasures of the Czech Republic
We like garlic. Sarah cooks with it in almost every meal at home. So we were delighted to find two dishes that highlight the vampire-fighting bulb while traveling in the Czech Republic. Olomoucké tvarůžky A specialty of Olomouc , it is a ripened, soft cheese that has a pungent, garlicky smell and taste. We first tried this cheese in Prague where it was at its strongest: served cold in a bath of sinfully heavy garlic oil (along with onions of course). It wasn’t bad – a very good beer snack – but this preparation probably tops out at “acquired taste”. In Brno , it was served alongside pickled veg (mostly onions) in a very spicy pepper oil/sauce, and with bread. Because, carbs. Our favorite versions were from Olomouc: sliced and melted onto toast along with bacon, onions, and greens. This was really good and, please don’t laugh, borderline light without the copious oil bath. The most peculiar (but great) thing about this preparation was that wh...