The Holy Father’s 1996 Pannonhalma menu will be available for 10 days: wild mushrooms, caraway soup and Lake Balaton pikeperch with a modern twist

Gundel Restaurant is offering a special culinary experience from 17 February: For 10 days, anyone can sample the four-course menu that Pope John Paul II enjoyed during his visit to Pannonhalma in 1996 – in a modern interpretation, of course.

History on a plate

To mark the thousandth anniversary of the Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey, Kálmán Kalla, the legendary chef at Gundel, spent ten months preparing for the task. Corporate chef András Wolf and executive chef Róbert Vérten have now reimagined the menu in such a way that it retains its original message and dignity, whilst catering to the tastes of today’s guests.

Although meat-free due to Lenten regulations, the special feature of this course – prepared with veal stock – is that it centres on the Polish-born Pope’s favourite flavours: wild mushrooms and caraway. The Balaton pike-perch roasted Gundel-style is served on a bed of courgette – specifically at the request of the Benedictine monks – rather than the classic spinach, making this „Benedictine version” a particularly rare delicacy.

The dessert, vanilla and chocolate walnut Pannonhalma cakes, evokes the hills of the Archabbey both in name and shape, and is served with Pannonhalma wine.

The ‘Méltóság’ menu is available from 17 to 26 February, at dinner time (from 6.00 pm). Bookings and further information here.

Address: 1146 Budapest, 4 Gundel Károly út. 

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–22:00

You can expect prices like these: 2-course menu 17,000 Ft; 3-course menu 22,750 Ft; 4-course menu 26,600 Ft