Ingredient appreciation — what makes Svíčková special

What sets Svíčková apart is the handling of Czech beer. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the malty from beer braises result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Czech cuisine is inseparable from beer culture, one of the world's highest per-capita consumption nations. The a market square lunch counter atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had slivovitz plum brandy as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Svíčková is the place to start.