Dear food lovers,
My name is Nata Albot. I am an event producer, entrepreneor and journalist passionate about cooking. I hope that one day you’ll come to Moldova to see how beautiful and delicious it is, through the festivals that me and my KLumea team organize in our motherland. My passion for good food and for traditions decided some important things in my life. First, it was a cooking show on TV, than the festivals, that have an important culinary part. And writing 2 cooking books with typically moldovan recipes.

I was born in Moldova, a country sandwiched between two rivers, the Prut and the Nistru. It’s a post-Soviet state best known worldwide for its small territory and poor economy. It has no rocky mountains, no blue sea, oil reserves or other natural riches. However, God blessed it with fertile black soil that has contributed, throughout history, to the development of agriculture and viticulture, giving its people fresh and tasty food. Our traditional Moldovan menu is made up of a large variety of vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, oils, and fresh herbs, along with bread, milk, cheese, and meat. Nevertheless, our gastronomic traditions have a complex story.

Because of certain historical events, Romanians, Russians, Bulgarians, Gagauz and Ukrainians had to co-exist on Moldova’s territory, resulting in a multicultural nation. Therefore, we like parties, hearty meals, wine, and especially, to borrow each other’s most beautiful traditions.

Because my childhood memories are infused with extraordinary flavours, my mother’s cooking recipes attract me like a magnet. I can tell from one bite which are the cucumbers pickled by my mother or the taste of her Sarmale. Our mothers are the ones who leave a deep trace on our culinary taste. She taught me the taste of homemade bread topped with a thin slice of slănină and fresh garlic; the flavour of fresh sheep brânză; delicious cake – Babă Neagră; traditional biscuits – Turte; and cold chicken stew Mâncărică.

My grandparents from Cenușa village, Viduță and Dunea, had horses, chickens, a little vineyard, and their own vegetables and fruits. My grandmother Dunea was a great housewife. She used to sing Romanian songs while weaving rugs on the traditional loom. My grandfather Viduţă made wine from grapes grown in his little vineyard. They taught me the taste of duck soup; of freshly harvested watermelons; and of bread baked in the traditional stone oven.
This collection of tasty memories, of traditional Moldovan recipes, was born the moment I moved to Canada. Only by living among foreigners can you find your place in this world. When each person you meet asks you “Where is Moldova?” you find it easier answering with some hot tasty pies instead of random information from Wikipedia.

That’s how I started collecting all my family’s recipes in one book, and then two of them. And I am proud to tell you that the book Eat like Moldovans with 92 recipes won the prize “Gourmand World Cookbook Award”, For the best east european cuisine cooking book in Yantai, China.

_{You can tap on the image and learn more about the book.}

Moldovan gastronomy is complex, it ́s a mixture of authentic and borrowed customs. A large portion of Moldova ́s gastronomy reflects the legacy left behind by the Soviet Union with dishes like the New Year’s Eve Olivie salad, the 8th of March Mimoza salad, and the Russian Șuba salad. 

Welcome to my blog. I would be glad to assist you with information about Moldova: traditional moldavian recipes, the traditions of our culture, local destinations and attractions, Moldovan producers, wineries and brands, festivals and things to do in our country.