Borimechkata - The Bear Fighter

Welcome to the Borimechkata restaurant. This restaurant, named after a Bulgarian legend, "The Bear Fighter", features native Bulgarian dishes in a traditional setting. My group seated ourselves off to the right. I lagged behind admiring the decorations, noting the upper level, and looking at the traditional dolls.

This restaurant is great for social and more intimate settings, as that couple is warmly demonstrating.

Before we start with the food, I should start with what is on the table. Notice the sturdy pottery containing salt and pepper. Then admire the dishes filled with a spicy and mild herb and salt mixture. 

One of the best ways to enjoy those mixtures is to order the bread. The thick charcoal decorated bread. Tear it off with your hands and dip or pinch the mixture. My favorite was the spicier variety. In the background, you'll notice my yogurt drink. I like it best with a healthy dose of salt mixed in. Gives it a nice flavor.

Our dishes steadily arrived. To my left is the Shoppski appetizer with curds, strained yogurt, mayonnaise, onion, red pepper, dill and garlic. It was good, but way too strong for me. There was also the Shoppska salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, onions, feta cheese, and an olive. I saved the salad for last and was satisfied with my decision. Munching the vegetables was a good way to finish.

Next was shkembe v maslo, pork belly and stomach. They came with a very strong garlic sauce and chilli seeds. The belly and stomach was too soft for me, almost as if they were trying to slither away in my mouth. Except for the Shoppski appetizer, I had consented that my group order whatever they saw fit and think I should try.

Rather soon, we received our 500ml of warm Rakia, a traditional Bulgarian spirit. It is their version of firewater with a brandy base. I received so many warnings leading to this order. Yes, I know it's strong. Yes, if you think I should drink it warm, I will. Yes, I can handle my higher proof beverages. Yes, I will be fine tomorrow. Carbonation gets me, firewater doesn't. Go figure. We went 6 rounds before we ran out.

There's nothing like high proof spirits to bolster my food eating spirits. I needed all I could get before I braved the grilled chicken tails (aka chicken butt). I don't want to recount this, but let's go. You have to just pop it into your mouth and work the meat off the little circular bone. It had a nice grilled taste and the meat fell off the bone relatively quickly. However... that mental factor. One was enough for the rest of my life.

I didn't receive a medal for eating the last dish, but we did get the Hero's Appetizer with smoked sausage on shish, ribs, pork fillet, pork liver, and nervous meat ball. The sausage with onions and nervous meat ball were my favorite items. I did try everything on that immense platter. I have to say that this restaurant knows how to make use of the entire animal. I can't imagine how much protein and iron I downed in this wholly comprehensive meal. 

We finished with a traditional Bulgarian folk dancing demonstration. These things happen when eating with dancers.

Overall, I had a great time at Borimechkata. The food was robust as the bear fighter himself. I felt that I received a great representation of Bulgaria's native dishes here.

Sofia Samplings

Striking Sofia, land of McDonald's and these unique underground shops. Until I visited Sofia, I had never seen so many McDonald's in a foreign country, even two across the street from each other. Then there are these little shops strewn all over the city. Need something fast and want to practice your third world squat? Squat down and order something here whether it be smokes, water, candy, or other "necessities".

However, this is not a blog for Maccas. It's for visually stimulating Bulgarian food like the breaded yoghurt, housemade charcoal grilled bread, yoghurt soup, and peppadew peppers topped with more Bulgarian yoghurt at The Red House.

It's for the Beans in Furnace dish with smoked bacon, peppers, tomato, and onions. This was a very hearty meal and a wonderful start for my Sofia stay. Yoghurt, as demonstrated above, is a regular staple in the Bulgarian diet. I asked several people about purchasing the bacteria cultures, but did not have much luck.

This is Tarator soup from O!Shipka, a highly recommended pizza restaurant. This Tarator featured dill and garlic. While here, I also learned how not to pour water. Bulgarians have a custom of pouring wine (read first paragraph) on a relative's grave and it is done very specifically, so if you do it in a restaurant, it might be shocking. Hold your glass in your right hand and twist your wrist clockwise to pour.

This was one of my favorite spots for a small, but filling bakery snack. According to my translator, the bakery's name translated and spelled in English was Bomato. However, I can't find this bakery on my maps or TripAdvisor. It is next door to the Luciano Padovan store at 1 Vitosha Boulevard.

The second time I returned, I enjoyed a dense, glutinous roll, poppy seed cake with caramelized orange, and a Bulgarian white cheese and spinach (? it was green) muffin. The food is nutritious, fresh, colorful, cheap, and very good.

Further toward the NDK building, you'll find many more low level convenience shops and this very popular outdoor pizza place. The lines cycle through quickly and you'll get this large pizza slice for 2.50 Lev. This is at the corner of Vitosha Boulevard and Patriarh Evtimiy. The cheese was most noticeably delicious, then the red pepper, and finally the underlayer of meat.

That wraps up my smaller Sofia restaurant experiences. The food is hearty, the yoghurt plentiful, and the people friendly. English menus abound. Oh! One final thing: order the yoghurt drink. First, try it without salt. Then add some salt, mix it in, then taste it until you have a sweeter saltier flavor.

Made in Home - Sofia, Bulgaria

I spotted Made in Home during a TripAdvisor search for Sofia restaurants. Customers mentioned "take foreigners there", "feels like home", "unique", and "healthy". I forgot the name and lost my Google Maps tab, but I had a vague idea where it was. This morning I headed toward my favorite bakery, but decided to walk on the right side of the Palace of Culture.

I accidentally found Made in Home. The graffiti drew my attention and I peered inside. I was immediately struck by the unique decor, so I decided to walk inside. Apparently, you can sit anywhere you like, so I sat at a reclaimed desk. You'll notice that most of the tables and chairs appear reclaimed. Above, the leftmost table is a reclaimed door over a low wall.

Bird cage and canning jar lights dot my ceiling partition. This ceiling is also covered in old newspaper clippings and music sheets. The other ceiling is specked with burlap sacks. Each chair is unique. Female friends chat to my right as American and foreign college students chat about long distance relationships, American vs UK "The Office", and making whip sounds with your fingers.

I was first presented with a Bulgarian menu.

It appears like a small children's novel with captivating drawings buttressing the words.

Each page and menu book is unique.

After I ordered, they brought a small cup with napkins, fork, and knife. The table is already sat with herb laced olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a pepper grinder, and delicious salt. Dried sunflowers and growing herbs dot the windowsills. It's a cozy spot away from today's rain.

The first menu item that arrived was the roasted red pepper chutney with Bulgurian white cheese and grilled pita bread dotted with sesame seeds. The pepper had a natural sweetness to them as if cooked with olive oil.  The salty Bulgarian cheese complemented the peppers. I laid waste to this dish, scooping the pepper chutney with my thick fluffy pita bread. I only wish there was more bread.

This whetted my appetite for my second dish, bulgur with peas and mint. A simple dish, yet not to be taken lightly. Do you see the steam rising on the left side? Maybe enlarge the picture. Each bite started with a mint steam waft at the back of the throat. The bulgur possessed a soft texture and tasted buttery. The peas were delightful and there was purple onion hidden about. I crave more.

Made in Home
Angel Kanchev 30A,
Sofia, Bulgaria