Catering

Opened on June 21, 2011, at the 51st kilometre of the Tallinn-Riga highway, the MEKE KROGS pub is a typical example of the roadside pubs which used to be built along the sides of roads and near homesteads, castles, mills and windmills. This particular one is located into renovated cattle shed that is more than 100 years old – a lovely log building that is named after the former baron of the local estate, von Mecke. Alongside it is the handsome parish building which was erected in 1907 with red bricks from Tūja.

Latvian cuisine: Sorrel stew with grits, cold soup, pounded beef, mutton and vegetable stew, grits with smoked meat and mushrooms, herring with cottage cheese, bread soup.

Special foods: Porridge with bacon bits and Meke spicy sausages.

Tourists can learn about the history of the estate and the brewing of beer, beginning with raw materials and ending with finished products. The visit is enriched by tastings of live beer and stories about Latvia’s traditional holiday beverage. Alongside the brewery is a store which sells live beer, homemade goodies and selected souvenirs.

The “Valmiermuižas alus virtuve” saloon popularises Latvian beers and uses beer in various dishes. A modern approach to homemade products is used to prepare foods and beer-based snacks. There is a beer garden during the summer, and the saloon merges traditional things with modern ones.

Latvian cuisine: Smoked pork, filet of pike from Lake Burtnieks, green pea mash, with loganberries, quince, pumpkin birch juice and mushroom sauce as accompaniments.

Special foods: Slice of pork marinated in unfiltered winter beer.

The farm is located in the north-west of Latvia, which was historically inhabited by Livonians and, nowadays, is often called the Livonian coast.  Farm is one of the first homes in Kolka, 1.2 km from Kolkasrags, the furthest northern point of Courland separating the Baltic Sea from the Gulf of Riga.

The owner of the farm demonstrates the way in which the traditional Northern Kurzeme dessert that is a carrot bun and is known as a "sklandrausis" is prepared. Sklandrausis is registered in the EU food quality scheme as a product with traditional speciality guaranteed. Hikers can take a tour to see the industrial history of Kolka, complete with theatrical elements and tasting of Latvia’s best sprats.

Latvian cuisine: Porridge with fried onions and meat, kefir, herbal teas.

Special foods: Carrot buns.

Here you can examine and purchase crafts by more than 40 Lettigalian craftspeople. A guide dressed in an Ancient Lettigalian folk costume will tell you about the lives of ancient Baltic tribes, the emergence of craftsmanship in the region, ancient laws related to ethics and work, and traditions. There are demonstrations of the crafts and lessons about the ancient skills. Groups can enjoy a luncheon of Lettigalian dishes, and learn how to bake bread and prepare beverages in an old-fashioned Lettigalian kitchen.

The local craftsmen's salon and home producer's store Cymuss and Latgaļu kukņa, a member of the Latgale culinary heritage network. For groups, Latgaļu kukņa offers lunches and a special skills school for learning to prepare Latgalian food, bread and drinks.

Latvian cuisine: Grey peas, dumplings in cream sauce, Lettigalian pastries and moonshine alcohol.
Special foods: Lamb testicles and cabbage soup with mutton.

The owners are third-generation fishers, and they will be happy to sell you some smoked local fish. Tour groups can take part in active leisure related to cultural aspects of smoking tasty fish (tossing a boot into the sea, stories from fishermen’s wives, a theatrical performance, and the smoking and tasting of fish).

Latvian cuisine: Smoked and dried plaice, hot-smoked eelpout and other fish prepared on the basis of ancient local recipes.