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Moldova

Food, Dining, & Drinks

Dining Etiquette

The Moldovans are somewhat formal in many ways and this includes dining. Dress conservatively, but more on the formal side and arrive on time. Some households may request that you leave your shoes at the door, so if you see shoes there, take them off to save the host an awkward request.

After you're shown a seat, sit only when everyone else sits down. You'll probably be served a number of courses, typically beginning with soup and the words pofta buna (good appetite). Leave your napkin on the table while eating, keep your hands within sight, and dine in the continental style, which means you keep the knife in the right hand and fork in your left.

If you finish your plate, you will surely be offered seconds and thirds. Turn down this food at first, only after your host's insistence should you succumb to their offerings. If you truly are done, place your knife and fork together in the 5:00 position.

If eating at a restaurant, the inviter pays for everyone, but you should offer to assist, although this will most likely be turned down. Tipping is not common in Moldova and after experiencing the standard poor service nearly everywhere you won't be inclined to tip anyway. The only exception to this rule is in nice restaurants catered to foreigners in Chisinau (of which there are only about 5). Service in these restaurants substantially improves and tips are expected in the form of about 10% for a meal. In local restaurants, if service is good rounding up is a nice gesture and not completely uncommon among the locals.

If your host is an ethnic Ukrainian or Russian, you're best course of action is to follow the advice on the Ukrainian Food page or the Russian Food page.

History & Influences

Moldovan cuisine is based on a foundation of the Greek and Romanian diets. The Greeks colonized the Black Sea coast a couple thousand years ago and their influence and trade brought certain ingredients to modern-day Moldova. Meanwhile the Romanians were colonizing the region and brought with them their foods as well.

From this historic base, Moldovan food consisted of local meats (particularly pork, sheep, and chicken), fish, and vegetables, plus the foods from the Greeks including some citrus fruits, fresh herbs, and olive oil.

In more recent history, Moldova has been ruled by the Soviets (with great Russian & Ukrainian influence) and the Turks. Plus, they have been a destination for Jewish immigrants, who also slightly influenced the food.

Despite all the past influences, Moldovan food still remains primarily local, focused on fruits and vegetables. The two most significant additions is the popularity of mamaliga (based on cornmeal, an ingredient introduced a couple hundred years ago) and the growing presence of meat, as the country's income is very slowly increasing.

Staple Foods

Bread: commonly served with many dishes, but not typically served with mamaliga
Mamaliga: cornmeal boiled in salt water until it's mushy; this is served with nearly every traditional meal as a base or side

Regional Varieties & Specialties

Brinza: a very popular sheep cheese found in or with many dishes
Placinte: pastries shaped like pies that are typically topped with cheese, potatoes, or fruit

Drinks

Moldova isn't known for their non-alcoholic drinks; in fact their only true claim to something original is a compote, which is essentially just fruit-flavored water and not even original to Moldova.

Despite the world's lack of recognition, Moldova produces some of the world's best red wines and cognacs. Unfortunately for those outside of Moldova, the country doesn't impose any quality control measures so most of their alcoholic exports are of poor quality. A couple of the larger vineyards have self-imposed quality control, creating great wines, sparkling red wines, and cognacs with consistently high and predictably quality.

There is no consensus on the cleanliness of the tap water in Moldova. Generally speaking, the tap water is safe to drink, but in some areas the water quality is poorer, bordering on unsafe, so should be avoided. The best course of action is to check with locals for the cleanliness of the local water or be extra cautious and avoid the tap water entirely. If you do decide to drink the tap water, remember that many people may have troubles adjusting to the local water, as it will most certainly be different from what your system is used to.

This page was last updated: September, 2011