Hundreds of years ago, Slovak farmers designed meals to keep family and friends warm and full through the long winters. Today, that "food as fuel" culture is very much alive. Most ingredients are locally grown, like potatoes, pork/beef, sheep's cheese, cabbage and bread. I live in a small town near the border with Hungary, so Hungarian spices like paprika are common additions to Slovak dishes, especially for families with Hungarian ancestry. Food is very much a communal and cultural affair. When you are invited to someone's house, it is very common for them to serve you snacks, a meal and some alcohol, no matter the time of day!
I've tried lots of foods since arriving in the country last month! The Slovak national dish is called Bryndzové Halušky (pronounced Brindzovay Halushkee; š soulds like the sh sound). It consists of small potato dumplings, sort of like gnocchi (a soft italian dumpling), covered in sheep's cheese and topped with bacon and green onions. If you're imaginging potato version of mac n' cheese, you're on the right track.
