The Gundel team cooked for John Paul II in 1996, when the Pope visited Hungary. The menu was recreated by András Wolf. We’re now revealing the recipe for one of the dishes!

The City Park At Gundel Restaurant From 16 February, we’ll even be able to eat what the Pope used to eat. That’s because we’ll be able to try the „Celebrities” Menu” the latest instalment in the series, the Pope John Paul II A Lenten-inspired ‘Menu of Dignity’ linked to his 1996 visit to Pannonhalma, which was prepared by the then Gundel was formed by his team. And in 2026, András Wolf corporate chef and Róbert Vérten The executive chef has put a new spin on the papal menu.

The „Celebrities” Menu” The first chapter of the series is the Queen Elizabeth II compiled in his honour "Four-Crown Menu" which was a huge success at the Gundel amongst its guests. The second, which is making its debut now, the „Dignity Menu” a Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey It recalls the 1996 event marking its thousandth anniversary, when Pope John Paul II visited there and the Gundel His team at the time prepared the Pope’s lunch and dinner, Kálmán Kalla under his leadership.

The The Gundel ‘Dignity Menu’ consists of the Lenten dishes requested by Pope John Paul II: Perhaps sautéed wild mushrooms with brioche and veal jus; fragrant caraway soup with vegetables and poached quail’s eggs; roast pikeperch Gundel style; vanilla–chocolate–walnut „Pannonhalmok” dessert.

András Wolf We learnt from the corporate chef that: 

„The Pope arrived during Lent and was also suffering from personal stomach problems, so he requested meat-free and easily digestible meals; moreover, as he was dining with the monks at the Benedictine monastery in Pannonhalma, it was also important to him – for the sake of the novices there – that there should be no extra dishes. This is why the caraway soup – described as ”austere’ – featured in both the original and the recreated menus; yet it turned out that, even in its simplicity, it could be truly sublime.”

This is the Gundel-style The caraway soup was so creamy, flavourful and fragrant that we asked about it András Wolf, how to make it. According to the corporate chef, a lot depends on the technique used. Anyone who enjoys cooking and is keen to give it a go can make it turn out delicious.

This is how András Wolf makes the caraway seed soup on the papal menu

„It’s based on a classic caraway seed soup, with plenty of toasted caraway seeds, but it’s made in the same way as a roux-based soup – and, of course, simmered thoroughly. It contains pickled fennel, steamed parsnips and quail’s eggs.” When asked what makes it so creamy, we were told: „It’s been cooked properly.”.

If you enjoy cooking and do so often, you can make it just as easily.

– we learnt from the Gundel from the company’s head chef, who also revealed that his favourites are palócleves and meat soup, and that he’s a big fan of chicken paprikash – whilst cottage cheese pancakes are enough to sweep him off his feet…

As for the main course, it, too, has a magical aroma, with a sauce made from green peas, fish bones and lobster forming a key element. András Wolf  He explained that, whilst studying the papal menu, he learnt that during Lent one can eat not only vegetables and fish, but also stocks made from various bones, which broadens the range of options and greatly enriches the flavour profile of the dishes.  

The Gundel The corporate chef put it this way: the Dignity Menu The very fact that it was created also goes to show that Gundel belongs to everyone.

„It even belongs to the Pope and to everyone who, after 17 February, tastes what the Pope ate”

– he said András Wolf.

The creators of the papal menu worked from two different set menus. One featured apple strudel, whilst the other included a Somlói-style dessert. Finally, the 2026 In the ‘Dignity’ menu a „Pannonhalmok” they decided in favour of it, referring to the Pannonhalma Abbey, which he had visited Pope John Paul II – that is to say Pope John Paul II, given that 18 years after the Gundel He ate the food she had cooked; in 2014, nine years after his death, the late head of the Church was canonised.

Wine made from Hungarian grape seeds that have been to space is on offer at the Gundel Ball

The At Gundel Restaurant in February Alongside the ‘Dignity’ menu, a Hungarian space wine will also be unveiled. This will take place on 7 February Gundel Ball the general public can try it for the first time. The Etyeki Kúria Chardonnay The grape seeds started out in the ground, but made it all the way to outer space: the winery sent the seeds to the Orion Space Generation Foundation handed it over to him as part of a mission that sent Hungarian plant seeds into space. 

The Etyeki Kúria Chardonnay 2024 a Gundel Ball 2026 is being presented, with the main guests being some of the most iconic figures in Hungarian space exploration: Tibor Kapu, Gyula Cserényi and Bertalan Farkas.