Carolyn Bánfalvi
Food, wine, and travel writer based in Budapest
Author of Food Wine Budapest and co-founder of Taste Hungary.
Szia, I’m Carolyn!
I am a writer and food and wine entrepreneur living in Hungary. Born and raised in Washington DC, I have spent most of the past 25 years in Hungary—raising a family, discovering the country (and region), and founding (and continually expanding) my culinary tour company (Taste Hungary). Last year, at long last, I officially became a Hungarian citizen.
I have written two books on Hungarian food and wine: Food Wine Budapest (Little Bookroom, New York) and the Food and Wine Lover’s Guide to Hungary (Park Kiadó, Budapest). I’ve also edited several books for local Hungarian publishers, have contributed to travel guidebooks, and have written articles on Hungarian cuisine, travel, and culture for a variety of publications, including Saveur, National Geographic Traveller, ExplorePartsUnknown, Gastonomica, and The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets.
I came of age working in restaurants, which has given me a deep appreciation for hospitality, cooking, and wine. I earned my BA in journalism from New York University, followed by an AA in culinary arts from Baltimore International College. I am currently working towards a Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) diploma.
In 2008, along with my husband Gábor, I co-founded Taste Hungary—a tour company specializing in boutique culinary and wine experiences. We were the first to launch a food tour in Hungary (before food tours became ubiquitous), and we remain the leading independent culinary tour company in Hungary. In 2014 we opened our wine cellar in Budapest’s Palace District neighborhood (The Tasting Table) and in 2020 we opened a wine shop.
I live just below the Buda Castle and close to the Danube, with Gábor, my three kids, a rescue dog, and two rescue cats. I also spend a significant amount of time in Erdőbénye, an idyllic village in the Tokaj wine region, where we are teaching ourselves to make wine, trying to tame our overgrown garden, and restoring a landmark building on the village’s main street to be a boutique inn (to open in Spring 2027).
My Newsletter: Dispatches From Taste Hungary
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My Top 5 Things To Do In Hungary
My Selected Writing
My articles on the Taste Hungary blog
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Saveur
Rhapsody in Red
One writer explores the beauty of Hungarian cuisine one home cook at a time [Cover Story]
Saveur
Sweet Spot
An evening at Centrál Kávéház
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Your Guide to Hungarian Food
A companion to the Budapest Episode in Season 5
Saveur
Big Red Flavor
Four varieties of Hungarian paprika—from hot to sweet to spread to paste—add distinctive flavor to the local cuisine.
National Geographic Traveller (UK)
From goulash to paprikás: take a food tour of Budapest
Hungarian cuisine is synonymous with paprika. Taste the fruits of this relationship on your next trip to the capital by seeking out these seven classic dishes.
Gastronomica
Unicum: A Drink with a Past
My first encounter with Unicum—a shot glass filled to the brim with dark, potent-smelling liquor — was not successful.
EDIBLE LIVING by Sarah Copeland
BUDAPEST BLACK BOOK
A deep dive on where to eat from high-end to classic and Hungarian grandma cuisine, from our most trusted source. (Budapest’s Dining scene does not disappoint!)
Afar
Budapest’s 8 Essential Dishes (and Where to Try Them)
Venture beyond goulash to get a taste of what Hungarian cuisine is all about.
My Books
“It is, quite simply, the best guide available today to the culinary renaissance of the city and region in the post-communist era. Bánfalvi profiles some of the best restaurants and wine bars in Budapest, but also includes cafés, pastry shops, specialty food shops and markets, as well as the traditions behind their offerings. Helpfully, she includes extensive translations for the names of wines, foods and cooking methods as well. This is the first book in a new series called Terroir Guides, which promises to explore cities or regions, focusing on the way local influences are reflected in food and wine. The Budapest guide sets a high standard for those that follow.”
The Globe and Mail
“The indispensable guide [to Budapest]”
Condé Nast Traveler
Food Wine Budapest (Little Bookroom)
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The Food and Wine Lover’s Guide to Hungary (Park Kiadó)
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In the Media
Selected media interviews and features
In Hungary’s Premier Wine Region, All That Glitters Is Liquid Gold
New York Times
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How much authoritarianism is too much authoritarianism?
Persisters: with Petula Dvorak
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The stew that stirred a nation. How gulyás became one of Hungary’s most enduring symbols of identity
CNN
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Bor, Budavár, Batthyány tér
Várnegyed
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The Hungarian Wine Dealers of Two Continents
Hungarianwines.eu
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Venerable Michigan Deli Traces Its Culinary Roots All the Way to Budapest
Tablet
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Let’s work together
Carolyn Bánfalvi
I’m available for commissioned travel, food, and wine stories (or other editorial projects). I am also available for tourism projects. Let’s talk!
