One of the first questions I am asked when I meet someone new in Moldova is, “Which of our foods have you tried?” followed by, “And which is your favorite?” This is to say, food is incredibly important in Moldova, and there are traditions ingrained in each meal.
Upon arriving in Moldova, I was able to take part in my first food custom, the welcoming ceremony. During the ceremony, a host will offer the guest colac (a circular, braided bread) along with a dish of salt. The bread is meant to symbolize hospitality, and the salt symbolizes wealth. The guest is supposed to tear off a piece of the bread and dip it into the salt.
Bread is usually offered alongside each meal, and hosts will place several pieces of bread next to each plate at dinners. For larger meals and special occasions, it is important that the table is completely filled with a variety of dishes. From what I have been told, having a full table shows that a family both wants to and can afford to feed their guests in excess.
