When the Market Sets the Menu: The Best Ingredients of Summer at Market 1897
There is something special about when the flavours of a season are shaped not by a calendar, but by the market.
One week, it is fresh sour cherries; a few weeks later, juicy peaches, crisp peppers or tender seasonal vegetables take centre stage.
At Market 1897, this is at the heart of our seasonal approach: we follow what the market has to offer and let these ingredients inspire what ultimately arrives on your plate.
Our market-to-table philosophy is more than just a concept. Located right next to the Great Market Hall, Market 1897 draws inspiration from the abundance of fresh, seasonal ingredients available around us. As the seasons change, so does our menu, while our blackboard specials bring new culinary ideas to the table.
Sour cherries – one of summer’s most distinctive flavours
Sour cherries are one of the most exciting ingredients of summer. Their combination of sweetness and acidity makes them incredibly versatile, working just as beautifully with savoury dishes as they do with desserts.
At Market 1897, one example is duck breast with walnut dumplings, beetroot and sour cherries. The richness of the duck is lifted by the fresh acidity of the cherries, while the earthy sweetness of beetroot and the comforting character of walnut dumplings create a balanced and harmonious dish.
It is a great example of how a familiar Hungarian ingredient can be transformed into a contemporary plate.
Peppers – the taste of a Hungarian summer
When talking about Hungarian summer ingredients, peppers simply cannot be left out. Whether roasted, fresh, blended into a cream or used as part of a more complex dish, peppers are an essential element of Hungarian cuisine.
At Market 1897, they appear in several different forms. Zakuszka with roasted peppers and crisp greens offers a lighter, vegetable-focused interpretation, while chicken paprikash with egg dumplings and cucumber salad brings one of the best-known combinations of Hungarian cuisine back to the table.
This is exactly what our kitchen is about: familiar flavours, reimagined in a contemporary way.
Butternut squash and summer vegetables – light and refreshing
Summer vegetables are particularly well suited to the warmer months. Light and fresh, they can become wonderfully expressive dishes when paired with the right flavours.
On our menu, butternut squash with green apple and dill brings together the gentle sweetness of squash, the freshness of green apple and the distinctive character of dill.
It is a perfect example of how seasonal cooking does not necessarily need to be complicated. Sometimes, it is all about finding the right balance between a few carefully selected ingredients.
Tomatoes and aubergine – a taste of summer
Tomatoes and aubergines are among the true stars of the summer. Both are incredibly versatile and can take a dish in many different directions, from Hungarian-inspired flavours to Mediterranean combinations.
Our summer dishes have included strozzapreti with tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil.
These dishes perfectly reflect two of the main inspirations behind Market 1897: the seasonal ingredients of the Hungarian market and the culinary atmosphere of markets around the world.
Our Feel the Market concept brings these influences together, taking guests on a culinary journey inspired by destinations from Barcelona and Tokyo to Lisbon and Naples.
Seasonal fruit and fresh herbs
By the end of summer, seasonal fruit naturally finds its way into our desserts as well.
Our cold fruit soup with granita, seasonal fruit and basil puts the natural sweetness of summer fruit in the spotlight, complemented by the fresh, aromatic character of basil.
Light, refreshing and full of seasonal flavour, it makes the perfect ending to a summer meal.
The market changes – and so does Market 1897
Perhaps this is one of the most exciting things about seasonal cooking: we do not have to look for the same flavours all year round.
Summer arrives with its sour cherries, peaches, tomatoes, peppers and fresh vegetables, before gradually giving way to the richer, more characteristic ingredients of autumn.
At Market 1897, these ingredients inspire new dishes throughout the season.
And that is one of the reasons worth coming back: not only to revisit your favourite dish, but to discover what the market has brought us this time.