Plăcinta is an incredibly popular pastry with many filling options, such as cheese with dill, meat, potatoes or cabbage. Sweet fillings may include apples, cherries, or my personal favorite, pumpkin. There is also clătite which are crepes filled with either sweet cheese and raisins, or served as Cuşma lui Guguţă, or Guguţă’s hat. This cake is based on a folk story of a shepherd with a traditional wool hat. The crepes are filled with sour cherries, called vișină, stacked in a pyramid shape, covered in sweetened sour cream and topped with cacao powder. Although it may sound strange, it is absolutely delicious! Last, but not least, is babă neagră, which comes from Ukraine. It is also my host mother’s favorite. This is a chocolate cake with a very spongy texture.
Sharing a meal with others is a beautiful experience, and the only thing that makes it better is getting to help prepare it. Trying the food was always a great way to learn more about the culture and customs of the people in my community, and it provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with them. Nothing made my host mother in my first village more proud than finding a new Moldovan food for me to try! As I mentioned, each food has a fascinating origin, and each household puts their own spin on preparing it that they swear makes it the best. Being able to sit and talk with my host families as we cooked all day long (sometimes even days in advance) has helped me to learn about the significance of food in Moldovan culture.
