Buy & Sell Bulgaria Insight Newsletter

“Nikovata Kashta”, which means “Niko’s House”, is situated in the place of Akchelar near the sea capital of Varna, on the road to Aladja Monastery (Golden Sands resort area). It seats 70 and is positioned in a marvelous National Revival, 2-storey house with a large terrace and spacious yard. The tavern “Nikovata Kashta” carries you away into the warm and cozy atmosphere of the old time taverns. There you will be entertained royally! It offers tasty specialties from the Bulgarian national cuisine. The menu includes a variety of salads, warm and cold hors d’oeuvres, a la minutes, barbecue, main dishes, and deserts. There is also a rich assortment of white and red wines, brandy, alcohol and non-alcohol drinks. Why not try it out, it is perfect for every occasion.
Rating of 8/10.

All over the country, Bulgarians marked on 24th February the holiday, known as Todorovden (the day of Todor or Theodor), also called the Horse Easter. The Orthodox Church celebrates the day on the first Saturday of the Easter Fast.

On this day there were many traditional horse races and our dear colleague Teodora (Reception) had a name day. Happy name day Teddy, wishing you loads of smiles and luck!

In the picture above, the mayor of the neighborhood of Konstantinovo (next to Marina Hills) is preparing the thoroughbreds Vagner and Granada for the traditional races on Todorovden. In actual fact we have been invited by the mayor to see some races, which have been organized for April, 8th as well. For any of you who enjoy horse riding, let us know when you come over and we can arrange a ride.

Left to Right: Lili, Diana Georgieva, Chris, Alan, Margie, Nevin, Mira, Teddy,
Megi, Svetla, Diana Vladimirova

Chris and Alan took us, the ladies, out for lunch to The Five Corners (Pettey Kjusheta) today, 8th March, to celebrate the International Woman’ s day. We got loads of flowers that day also, from the best men and great gentlemen in the office, Chris, Alan and Miro. It was so kind of them. We had a good laugh, lots to eat and drink. Wish it was 8th March everyday

Easter (8th April) is the time of springtime festivals, a time to welcome back the Tulips, the Crocuses and the Daffodils. Its a time for Christians to celebrate the life and resurrection of Christ. And a time of chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and coloured eggs!

The bright red colored egg is the symbol of Easter (or Pascha) for the Bulgarian Orthodox Christians. Nowadays other colors are used as well. The eggs are colored on Holy Thursday after the Divine Liturgy. The Easter breads are a worldwide Orthodox tradition as well. They are different sizes and decorated. The bread is called “kolache” or “kozunak”. This bread is taken to church on Saturday evening when a special sequence of services takes place: Midnight Office, Rush Procession, Matins & Divine Liturgy. Such breads and eggs are presented especially to the Spiritual parents (God parents, krustnitcite), to the biological parents, and also to other relatives, friends, etc.

The eggs are cracked after the midnight service and during the next days. Each person selects his/her egg. Then people take turns tapping their egg against each other, and the person who ends up with the last unbroken egg is believed to have a year of good luck.

Banitsa (pronounced “BAH-nit-sa”) is a traditional Bulgarian dish eaten at any meal, and one of my favourites. Here’s the recipe…

What you need:

• 2 packets of filo dough (Bulgarian “fini kori” or filo from the frozen desserts section)
• 500 grams of white cheese (Bulgarian sirene or feta cheese)
• 1 tea cup of oil

Ingredients for the topping:

• 6 eggs
• 1,5 cup of soda-water
• 2 cups yogurt
• 0,5 tea spoon of baking soda
• 1 tea spoon of salt

How to make it:

Start laying the filo dough in a buttered baking dish. You should take in turns: 1 sheet filo dough, then spread some oil with the edge of a tea spoon, then another sheet of dough, etc. In 2 or 3 places include some crushed cheese all over the layer. Once finished, cut into the desired serving pieces. Then prepare the topping, until the oven is preheated up to 240 C. Mix the eggs, the yogurt and the rest of the ingredients. Pour the mixture over the banitsa and make sure there are no pieces of the filo dough left dry.

Bake for 15 minutes at the beginning then lower the temperature to 190 C and bake for another 15 minutes, or till golden. Enjoy!

Reviewed by Nick Fulford

Thoroughly Recommended, A Great Day Out!!

On the day of my tour, we even rescued a local `Damsel in Distress’ - MARIA, who had become stuck in the mud along one of the tracks. Together with the Off Road capabilities of the Range Rover and a Tow Rope the team managed to pull her vehicle out of the mud, and save the day.

A `Very Grateful’ Maria then invited us all back to her house in the local village of Konstantinovo for a glass of her homemade RAKIA. It was interesting to go inside a `Real’ Bulgarian House and experience local hospitality. This little episode all helped in someway to foster good relations between `Buy & Sell Bulgaria’ and the local Bulgarian people that live in the village.

Reviewed by Nick Fulford

Why not experience an exciting day’s jeep safari around the beautiful countryside near the Varna Sea Lake.

`Mad’ Mike Longley (Sales Department of Buy & Sell Bulgaria) is at the controls of the comfortably equipped Range Rover while the tour director / navigator and managing director of the newly formed division of Eurolink Group `Buy & Sell Jeep Safaris’ gives a running commentary of where he thinks we are heading for, only to find out we have to turn around as we encounter yet another dead-end.

Buy & Sell Bulgaria 4×4 vehicles

Left to right: Miroslav, Nevin, Ismet, Megi, Diana, Margie, Nick Fulford, Mike, Ivan, Lili, Dean, Alex

We had loads of fun one Wednesday evening, thanks to Alan Coleman, Acting Deputy Managing Director of Buy & Sell (Bulgaria) and his lovely wife Margie. They took us to an Italian restaurant called “Toskana”, where we enjoyed the atmosphere, food, music and the company of colleagues, outside working hours, as well as our client and friend Nick Fulford.

Toskana has two halls with unique interior design. One of them is with a cozy atmosphere, perfect for meetings with friends and family. The other could meet the requirements even of the most capricious visitors and is suitable for official lunches and dinners, company presentations and business meetings. Here you will find classic pizza in oven, appetite BBQ, homemade pasta and original Italian cuisine. A professional sommelier has chosen the best wines and beverages for real connoisseurs and kind and welcoming Dilyana (waitress) will bring you everything you choose with a big smile.

Rating of 9/10, enjoy a good meal.

International Women’s Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women’s groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

Here in Bulgaria all women enjoy this day very much. They receive flowers, gifts and are taken out for a nice meal to celebrate.

Wishing You A Day As Wonderful As You Are Ladies!

March 1st is probably our most intrinsic holiday because it is unique to Bulgaria. The custom of wearing martenitsas (red-and-white threads worn as a decoration) is only popular in Bulgaria and it is perhaps the most positive one in all our folklore. This tradition is based upon the founding of Bulgaria in 681 AD and there are many more than one folk-legends about the origin of this celebrated day.

Today Bulgarians give the red and white colors only to please Granny Marta so she will not make us cold. In doing so, we are expressing the hope that the spring will come as quickly as possible. Once we have those tokens, which we put on our clothing or wear on our wrist, we keep them until we see a sign of spring; a bird associated with spring such as a stork, crane or swallow or blossoming trees. After seeing the stork, some will tie the Martenitza on a fruit tree, symbolically giving the tree the health and luck that they had while wearing the token.

Ross won his fight at Wembley Arena in great style on Saturday night, 17th Feb, with a 2nd round TKO over tough Sasha Schnip of Belarus. Ross kept well clear of Schnip’s dangerous use of the head and started to trouble him with solid jabs to the chin and well timed hooks to the body. By the start of the 2nd he’d found his timing and unleashed a few hard right hands which had the Russian stumbling and looking groggy. At the end of this round a two handed combination forced the referee to step in at the bell to save Sasha from any more punishment. Ross will now get back into preparation for the yet unnamed American that he will be facing in Newcastle on the 30th of March.

FEBRUARY is the month when Bulgarians celebrate wine and its patron saint Trifon, also known as Trifon Zarezan. For vine-growers and wine-makers Trifon Zarezan has become so popular that it is celebrated both in accordance with the old and the new religious calendars. The old calendar stresses the date of February 1, but over the past fifteen years, February 14 has become the day of Trifon Zarezan. This provides the opportunity and excuse for many people to repeat it in less than two weeks. The fact that February 14 is also the day of St Valentine has made the date very popular because Bulgarians can choose weather to celebrate wine or love, or even both, on the same date.

The festivities on the day of Trifon Zarezan mark the dividing line between the ending of winter and the nearing of spring. The transition between the two seasons stirs the most fierce conflict in the annual natural cycle - it is the transition between the dead winter season and the invigorating powers of the following seasons. That is why, namely in this period, rituals are performed to strengthen and ensure a triumph of vitality and fruitfulness. The first pruning of the vines for the season is the main ritual performed on February 14, when people gather in the vineyards outside the villages. Only the men can prune the vines, but women are not totally deprived of part-taking in the holiday observation. Women get up early in the morning, bake festive bread - loaves decorated with dough vines and grapes, roast a hen stuffed with grits (baked ground corn kernels), and put these all and a flask of wine in a woolen bag and see the men to the gate. Women also knead special round loaves - a symbol of the fertile field, and generously hand them out to neighbours and relatives. Men first go to the holiday church service and then head to the vineyards, taking a musician with them. The best vine-grower is the first to drink after pouring some wine on the ground with wishes for fertility. And so, the feast goes on until dark.

The history of Valentine’s Day - and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

Here is an idea for you, which can make your present for Valentine’s Day extraordinary. We all enjoy exploring clues. Come up with one for Her. Leave her to figure it out in order to make her way to the next clue, and so forth. After finding, let’s say about 10 clues in all, she reaches the prize at the end, which can be getting to choose the restaurant of her choice for Valentines Day!

After this scavenger hunt, you can do the same for Him. His last find can be a sheet of paper on which you have put picture of things you knew he wants down one column (the Star Wars trilogy on DVD, the Olive Garden logo, etc.) and fold it, and cut slits so that “doors” cover up the prize, when he has found it, then tell him to pick a door to open and what ever prize he opens is what you will get him for Valentine’s day.

So for Valentines day, you can eat at Red Lobster, and he can get the Star Wars trilogy on DVD. Of course, you can still get him/her a small surprise. But you will have such a great time with your scavenger hunts, that you will be looking forward to more of them in the future.

Reviewed by Lili Gospodinova

This is a very cozy restaurant, furnished in typical Bulgarian traditional style with a fire place and different antique items on the walls and around the tables. Prices are pretty good and food is fantastic. I’m sure you will find this restaurant very pleasant and enjoyable. Perfect for personal and business meals and very close to the Eurolink Group offices. We can take you there!

Rating of 7/10, enjoy a good meal.

Above you can see Alan Minter (right), 1980’s world middleweight champion, when he was recently given the “Belt” achieved for fights he won back then. To his left is his son, Ross “The Boss” Minter who is the welterweight champion of England, his record stands at 16 wins (7 ko), 1 loss, 1 draw. Ross is one of our clients and friends and we are anxious to see his next fight. Ross says: “…letting you know that my next fight is scheduled for the 17th of Feb at Wembley Arena. Let’s hope it’s a knockout year”.

Good luck Ross!

European men are rushing to Bulgaria to buy Boza beer, after Bulgaria’s accession to the EU abolished prohibitive customs duties on the drink.

The Bulgarian Boza beer, which is made from fermented wheat flour and yeast, has become popular among bar owners, shopkeepers and shoppers across Europe. It has a thick consistency and a low alcohol content (usually around 1%), and has a slightly acidic sweet flavor.

One buyer from Romania said he traveled to Danuebe so he could buy the famous beer in the Bulgarian town of Ruse, according to Ananova news reports. Ananova reported he said, “I’ve bought a case for my wife to try out. I really hope I see an improvement.”

And Klaus Smith, who owns a ski resort in Schladming, in Austria said he is planning to travel to Bulgaria to make his own purchase of Boza. He said, “I had heard of Boza before but it was always so expensive once the tax was added. But now that’s gone I’m going to start offering the drink to my ski customers,” a Bulgarian journalist reported.

At present there is an active Bulgarian Cricket Association mainly in the Sofia Area, with 8 active clubs. We are hoping to form a Eurolink Cricket team, with sponsorship from Chris Violaris. Apart from that the Varna University has a team and we are hoping to make this our 1st game. The team will be a mixture of Bulgarian/English players. Watch this space!

You might have, but just in case, let me tell you what it’s all about. The Orthodox Church in Bulgaria celebrates days dedicated to all Saints. For example, on January 17 it is Saint Anthony’s Day (Antonovden), where celebrations are to protect people from illnesses. It is also the holiday of all who bear the name of Saint Anthony.

On this day women do not spin, knit and cook beans, corn and lentil, because they might make the diseases angry.

Legend has it that the twin brothers Anthony and Atanas were blacksmiths and were the first to invent the blacksmith’s tongs. Anthony’s Day is celebrated as a holiday of the blacksmiths, ironmongers, cutters and shoeing smiths.

People named after the saint Anthony (meaning “priceless” in Latin) - Antonia, Andon, Dona, Donka - celebrate their name day on January 17.

Reviewed by Margie & Alan Coleman

This restaurant is to be found inside the Astera Hotel in the resort of Golden Sands. There are 40 seats available and the best part of that is that they are formed into little cosy areas, so you can definitely have a nice romantic meal. The design is very stylish, the decore is silver-grey with red accents, mirrors and silver woven lighting. The atmosphere is great and the food, thanks to the chef Mr. Plamen Stamov, calls me to strongly recommend the restaurant for experiencing a wonderful meal. Rating of 9/10. Cheers!

There are many birthday boys and girls in January. Our great boss Chris Violaris and our good clients and friends Jennifer Mikalef, Abdul Rashid, Tony Crowe, Liz Kirk, Veronica Sack, Allison Johnson, Hugh Meikle, Robert Pender, Lisa and Basil Preuveneers, have their special day this month. We would like to wish them all many happy returns and the best of luck.