“Pink Soup Fest: Celebrating Lithuanian and Latvian Cuisine in Vilnius”

A special celebration will be held in Vilnius in honor of the national pride of Lithuanian and Latvian cuisine – cold beetroot soup. The Pink Soup Fest will take place on June 10 and will offer neighbors from Latvia and other visitors to the festival to taste the most delicious variations of this dish and participate in themed entertainment, informs the official Vilnius development agency “Go Vilnius”.

Cold soup is a favorite of every Lithuanian and Latvian family during the summer months and is famous for its bright pink color, hence the name Pink Soup Festival.

For Latvian cold soup and frostbite In Lithuania, there are almost identical recipes, however, in some Latvian recipes, radishes or even sausage are added to the soup, but Lithuanians tend to stick to a combination of beets, cucumbers, fresh dill, eggs and kefir. Also, in Latvia this dish is usually served with rye bread, but Lithuanians eat it with hot potatoes. Every resident of Latvia is invited to participate in the celebration, where you will have the opportunity to taste the Lithuanian version of this dish and learn new tricks for preparing this Baltic delicacy.

Urban pink madness

The frenzy of fuchsia-colored food will also be reflected in the event – everyone is invited to come in a pink outfit or decorate with pink accessories, while the biggest food enthusiasts will be able to dress up as soup ingredients – a beetroot, an egg or a box of kefir – and from Bastion Hill, which offers a panoramic view of the Bohemian district and the self-proclaimed independent republic of Užupi, rolling it into a soup bowl specially made for this event. After the ride, the Pink Soup King or Queen will be elected.

It will be possible to taste the pink soup in the catering area of ​​the event or in any bar, restaurant or cafe, as this dish will be offered by almost all catering establishments. In the park, guests will be able to enjoy various musical performances, while children will have the opportunity to have fun in the trampoline area. Since the holiday coincides with the celebration of the 700th anniversary of Vilnius, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the festive atmosphere and attend other cultural events.

Celebrations for everyone

In recent years, the gastronomic environment of Vilnius has developed rapidly – in honor of the entire catering ecosystem, the city of Vilnius presented it with a symbolic gift – a star installation – comparable to the famous “Michelin” award, while famous chefs offer delicacies from fresh seasonal products and local farms. Residents and guests of Vilnius are happy to discover new tastes in the most popular dining quarters and get to know the multicultural cuisine, which includes the dishes of Jewish, Polish and Lithuanian nobles, as well as the flavors of Lebanon, Japan, India, Nepal, France and other countries. Since cold beetroot soup in Lithuania is an integral food of the warm season and is also one of the objects of attraction for travelers, the beginning of summer will be celebrated precisely with the festival of this dish.

The event will bring together Vilnius restaurants, cafes, bars, nightclubs, guides, companies, artists, motorists and many other members of the community – that is, restaurants and cafes will offer festival visitors unique variations of cold soup, and those who come in pink outfits with pink accessories will receive special discounts for a yoga lesson, a gondola ride, an excursion to the Grand Prince’s Palace garden and the stables of the Verķu manor and many other activities.

Festival visitors will also have the opportunity to take the smell of pink soup with them and see graffiti dedicated to the theme of soup. The mural of the artist Egles Žvirblute’s Pink Soup will be on display at the Bernardini Garden in the center of Vilnius, and another work of art will be placed in the Open Gallery – an initiative that highlights the city’s culture in the New City.

more information on the website here.