Foreign Students Learn to Cook Bryndzové Halušky from Professionals
As part of integration activities for Comenius University students, the Department of International Relations organized a cooking course on Slovakia’s national dish, bryndzové halušky, on March 20, 2025. The event was a great success.
The course, conducted in English, took place in a professional cooking school. Foreign students from Ukraine, Lithuania, France, Russia, Syria, Cuba, Zimbabwe, India, and Colombia participated, along with several domestic students. Various faculties were represented, with the largest number of participants coming from the Faculty of Management and the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at Comenius University.
Divided into four stations, the students, under the guidance of two professional chefs, went through the entire process of preparing halušky—from peeling and grating potatoes to making the dough, shaping the dumplings by hand, and finally cooking and serving them. As a bonus, they also learned to prepare a simple dessert: lava cakes. The workshop concluded with participants enjoying the meals they had prepared.
"Foreigners sometimes approach our national dish with caution, but all the participants really enjoyed their own creations. We are delighted to have contributed not only to raising awareness of our cultural and culinary traditions but also to helping students form new international friendships," said Ivana Dzúriková, a member of the organizing team.
The Department of International Relations is planning more engaging integration activities for both foreign and Slovak students. Currently, students can attend holistic yoga classes every Thursday, led by Amit, a doctoral student at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences and a certified yoga instructor.