PRESS RELEASE:

"Eat smart! Don't eat, drink, or live stupidly," is the message to be gleaned from a festival celebrating the best head chefs!

Would you like bison or snail ragout? The fifth annual Grand Restaurant Festival is approaching. It begins on 15 January and ends on 28 February 2014. Does that seem a long way away? Advance sales of degustations began on 1 December 2013 at .
For bargain festival prices, you can taste specialities from the best and most interesting restaurants to feature in Pavel Maurer's Grand Restaurant 2014 selection. One new feature this year is the Mňam Singles Bus for those who are unattached or for those who are in a relationship but who want to meet new friends.

With each tasting, you will receive a natural mineral water or spring water from the portfolio of the KOFOLA company.

The festival is held in 83 TOP restaurants in 30 towns and cities throughout the Czech Republic which are featured in Maurer's Grand Restaurant publication. For reduced prices, you have an opportunity to visit high-class establishments where you would pay a lot more outside of the festival. For example, you will be able to savour the fare of the restaurant that topped the list this year ‒ Chateau Mcely, Piano Nobile from the Central Bohemia region. Other TOP 10 restaurants that are participating include Bellevue, Brno's Koishi Fish & Sushi, Terasa U Zlaté studně, and Francouzská restaurace Art Nouveau.

What will you be tasting?
The best head chefs have prepared dishes in the following categories: “You haven’t eaten this yet,” “Respecting traditional recipes and customs,” and “The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.” For instance, you can look forward to sampling marinated donkey sirloin steak, bison, snail ragout with basil, crayfish with buckthorn, or goat’s cheese ice cream with cherry compote. Or perhaps you prefer traditional dishes? Roasted pork brisket cooked with parsnip purée and winter vegetables, a hearty pheasant consommé with tarragon gnocchi, or sautéed wild-boar chops with a blackcurrant demi-glace. And something sweet to finish? Lavender cheesecake or warm chocolate soup imbued with truffles, or candy with marinated green pepper. You can choose from a basic, two-course, or three-course degustation menu – with each tasting you will get a natural mineral or spring water from the portfolio of the KOFOLA company. You will also get a glass of wine or beer with the two-course menu; you get two glasses of wine or beer with the three-course menu.

MŇAM NEWS

Mňam Buses and the Mňam Train – special one-day or two-day gastronomic excursions. For the first time there will be a “Mňam Singles Bus”for unattached gastronauts, but which will also welcome those with partners who want to make new friends and spend a day with someone who likes good food and drink. In addition, there will be a new “Mňam Mystery Bus” where the only thing you will know is the time and place for meeting up. Those who aren’t fond of meat can go on an excursion with the “Mňam Vegetarian Bus.” A Mňam Bus with Apetit magazine will also feature.

Tours around the country have also been prepared, i.e. a two-day expedition on the Mňam Train from Prague to the Rožnov Beer Spa (Rožnovské pivní lázně) via Ostrava, or a farmer’s excursion in the peaceful countryside to the family-run Angusfarm in Sobešuky where, in addition to a three-course degustation, you will attend their celebrated school for making beef tartare. The “Story of Food” Mňam Bus will go to Dagmar Havlova’s organic Košík Farm. After that, guests will travel to Chateau Mcely and there will be a three-course degustation and accompanying programme in both locations.

Let’s be gastronauts…

Mňam Packages or festival degustations with deluxe accommodation for two and an interesting gastronomic programme, e.g. meeting with a head chef, a tour of a kitchen, wine tasting, a lesson in mixology while creating one’s own signature cocktail, and other activities, such as a wellness event.

A trip to the capital, Prague:

Aria Hotel, Goldenwell hotel, Chateau St. Havel, Hotel Kempinski

Or gastronomy outside of Prague:

Chateau Mcely – Mcely, Grandhotel Pupp - Karlovy Vary, Miura – Čeladná, Liblice chateau hotel – Liblice and Angusfarm – Soběsuky

WHERE CAN YOU BUY TICKETS?

In order to attend the GRAND RESTAURANT FESTIVAL, you must purchase a festival tasting in a restaurant of your choice or a special accompanying programme – a Mňam Bus, Mňam Train, or Mňam Package at the time and date in question.

Advance sales as of 1 December 2013 at .Tastings range from 250 CZK to 600 CZK. Guests can choose from a basic, two-course, or three-course degustation (with a beverage). Once again Christmas gift vouchers are available.

Contact:

Dominika Vrkotová

Press Service

00420 606886103