The Czech Republic has a strong beer culture. The country consumes more beer per capita than anywhere else in the world. This coutry has a lot of variants of beer.

Czech beer brands include Pilsner Urquell, the world's first pilsner, and Budweiser Budvar (in some countries trademarked as Budějovický Budvar or Czechvar). Other well known brands are Velkopopovický Kozel, Gambrinus, Radegast, Staropramen, Krušovice, Starobrno, Bernard and Svijany.

Svíčková (sirloin) is a typical Czech dish. It is a sirloin sauce made of vegetables (carrots, parsley root, onion and celery), spiced with black pepper, allspice, bay leaf and thyme, and boiled with double cream. It is generally served with read dumplings.

Bramboracky (bram-bor-atch-key) are traditional pan-fried potato pancakes best accompanied by beer. This is a recipe that my Czech boyfriend and I have fun with often. Potato pancakes are commonly associated with traditional Czech, Ukrainian, Yiddish, German, Hungarian and Polish cuisines, although other cuisines (including those of India and Korea) also have similar potato pancakes.

Heat beans in a large saucepan over medium heat until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add salt to taste. Add the water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. In a frying pan, heat the shortening over medium heat until it melts. Add the beef and onion and fry, about 4 minutes. Season with pepper. Dust the meat with flour and allow it to brown. Add a little water from the beans to the meat and onion mixture to make a paste. Add this mixture to the saucepan of beans. Add tomato sauce and paprika. Simmer for about 20 minutes on low heat.Serve with bread.

The MOST POPULAR SOUPS

Bramborová polévka or Bramboracka, a thick potato soup with green vegetables and mushrooms. This soup is popular mostly in winter..

Gulášová polévka or Gulášovka, a thick gulash soup that contains pieces of ham and sausage, onions and peppers.

Kurecí polévka s nudlemi, Chicken noodle soup.

Cesneková polévka or Cesnecka, Garlic soup.

Hovezí polévka s játrovými knedlícky, Beef soup with liver dumplings..

Koláče is a type of mainly round yeast pastry consisting of fillings of fruit, curd, poppy seeds or doughnut. It can be small, middle or pancake sized (mostly in Moravia). Fillings can be seen.

Buchty is a yeast pastry similar to koláče; the same filling is wrapped in pieces of dough and baked, but is not visible in the final product.

Easter Lamb (Velikonoční beránek) is prepared for Easter. The dough is from eggs, sugar and flour. Lemons can be added. It is baked in a mould in the shape of a lamb. It can be decorated.

Bábovka is from dough similar to that used for Easter Lamb, often with cocoa dough in the middle. It is round, 10-15 cm high, made in a mould and is often served with coffee.

Trdelnik is one of the most common pastries to find on Prague's stress. The dough itself isn't actually all that sweet, but the outside has a really lovely, caramelized richness and aromas of burnt sugar. Perfect with mulled wine.

Štrudl is a traditional Czech dessert. The apple strudl. Its filling is slightly pink from apple skins and stuffed with both apples and raisins.