Hi, I’m Chrissy.
Here is my story (so far).
I’m a lawyer, but just for the work part.
I’m a mom, in the cat sense.
I’m everyone’s best friend; it’s my super power.
I’m a wanderer, mostly due to my horrible sense of direction.
I’m silly, most of the time.
I have really bad taste in music, like really bad.
I’m a Leo, all the way.
Want to know about the blog? Well, here’s the gist.
I started writing these virtual words WAY back in September 2012 after a trip to Ireland and, on a whim, decided that life should imitate vacation. I mean, why eat boring food at home? I decided I was going to eat the world, all from the comfort of my Chicago apartment.
I finished the trek along my dotted red line on All Hallows’ Eve, 2015. Since I accomplished the original intent of the blog, the business now is to just have fun and keep the global spirit of my kitchen alive as I keep on cooking. It’s hard because sometimes all I want is Mom’s chili or avocado toast or breakfast sandwiches, but carry (or curry) on, I must.
Am I professional? Lord, no. I learned to appreciate food from my mom, learned how to cook food by watching Rachel Ray, and learned how to really enjoy food from traveling with my equally hungry friends. I collect recipes from everywhere and anywhere: books, in-flight magazines, newspapers, the internet and, if I can connive it out of them, my friends and their grandmas.
I also love to ramble on about my vacations, so you’ll see those travel tales here as well.
I use all my vacation days to hike mountains, cycle through countrysides, explore cities, cozy up in mountain lodges and indulge my big kid self at Disney.
I usually come home with a dish or two to share with ingredients we can usually all find in our own grocery stores.
I try to stamp that passport at least once every year. That darn 2020 broke my 15+ year streak. I’m confident I’ll make up for lost time soon.
And finally, why the Hungary Buddha? I was lucky enough to grow up in a very diverse environment. My mom is Hungarian/Czech. My dad was Burmese/Indian. Not only that, but I grew up in Miami surrounded by Latino friends, and celebrated holidays with my Italian cousins. In a way, they all showed me the world through food. My childhood meals included everything from chicken paprikash, to daal bhat, black beans and rice and an “Italian grandma’s” spaghetti.
In short, I ate the world. And I still do.
Now, your turn. You go!
Contact Chrissy
Contact me at thehungarybuddha@gmail.com.
Like what you see here? I’m happy to apply my skills to your life. Let’s talk about it. I’m available for:
Recipe development
Press trips/travel
Editorial/freelance for print or web publications
Sponsored posts/relationships
If you have other ideas for ways in which we can collaborate, please shoot me a message.
To stay up to date on all things THB, you can subscribe to my newsletter. Also, find me on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook. Let’s be friends!
I LOVE the concept!! I just found your blog and I see you’re well into it already, but do you still have some “traveling” planned? I’m going to be pouring through these recipes to catch up on the world tour. What a fabulous fabulous idea, really!
Thanks! I am still plugging along in SE Asia and I’d love to have you follow along! I’m always up for recipe suggestions or tips from certain places if you have them. One more recipe going up today from my actual travels, but Singapore/Thailand starts tomorrow 🙂
This really is a fabulous idea, Chrissy, and sooooo glad to have found you! As you already know from my blog, I love the ‘international food’ thing, too, but I love the way you are focusing on each ‘region’ separately! You’ve definitely won me over and I haven’t even read any posts yet 🙂
Plus, I love that you are a very international gal yourself. What an interesting mix!!
I’m glad to have found you too! And I’ll definitely be tapping you for ideas when I get Down Under!
I’m glad to hear you made it out of India, alive, and didn’t loose your enthusiasm for eating what the world offers.
Your version of a Greek salad looks damn yummy. I live in the desert and just like you avoid the grill. It was 107 yesterday. Will be that today. I love to hike in the heat, do so daily, but not to cook. I’ll have to rethink that. the grilled veggies have my mouth watering at 0500.
Thanks.
Steven
Thanks, Steven! I admit it was a weird sensation to not want to eat at all (since I love food so much), and I’m glad to have my appetite back. As for the heat, it makes me not want to eat anything but ice cream, so finding interesting “cold” food to eat is key. Grilling takes so little time that I can stomach the heat enough once a week to prep for a few days. I hope you give it a try- the cukes, which I don’t even normally like, are now my favorites!
Hey Chrissy, I just wanted to let you know that I love reading your blog (even though I have never commented before!), and I am nominating you for the Liebster Award, head over to my blog to see what it’s all about http://www.incrediblyedible.org/2014/08/liebster-award.html. Laura 🙂
You’re the sweetest and thank you so much! I love the Liebster idea and can’t wait to fill it out. And don’t worry- I definitely do the same lack of commenting. Can’t wait to catch up on what you’ve been up to!
Just found your blog, the title Hungary Buddha made me curious, I have Hungarian roots too, and yes, I love Hungarian food! Greetings to you. And keep up the great work!
Thank you so much and thanks for stopping by! No matter how much awesome food I eat from everywhere else, there’s just something about a good cabbage roll that soothes the soul, right?
Hello!
I just saw a slideshow on MSN of chicken dinners. The only real tasty looking dish was the photo with the headline. There wasn’t a recipe attached, but the photo referenced you and this website. Can you tell me what the dish is and where I can get the recipe?
Thanks!
Hi Cookie. Thanks for stopping by! The dish you’re looking for, Chicken Kiev, is linked here: https://thehungarybuddha.com/2014/07/chicken-kiev-healthified/
Hi Chrissy!
I just stumbled upon your blog due to its name, the reference to Hungary piqued my interest (I’m Hungarian) and I wanted to check it out. Love reading about your dream project and I’m sure I’ll return often to read your posts. 🙂
Love that you grew up in such a colourful and international setting and could taste many cuisines so young 🙂
Have a great week,
Stella
http://stelliciouslife.com
Welcome to the site! I’m glad to have you along, and I can’t wait to dig through yours as well!
Enjoying your blog. Love the name! I found you via Skillshare. Please could you tell me where to find the recipes?
Thank you! You can find the recipes in two places: on the main page, under the header, you can find them “by country (https://thehungarybuddha.com/good-eats-2/)” or “by category (https://thehungarybuddha.com/main-dishes/) .” Welcome! And if you’d like to receive them straight to your inbox, please subscribe via email!
I just stumbled onto your blog while looking for dessert congee recipes. This is so nice! I’m inspired. Keep up the great work!!
Aww. Thanks! And welcome to the party 😁
Hey Chrissy, great blog! You really put to shame the “Don’t quit your day job folks!” IItey to read an article a day, usually two or three. Keep on snackin’!
That’s so sweet and thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll stick with me on my crazy kitchen (and worldly) journey!
Hi Chrissy I found your blog while looking at my stats on my blog Love Travel Eat Right. It looks like we have a few things in common only I am a Vegetarian/Macrobiotic. Half British and half South African. I love your quirky, eccentric, idiosyncratic, unconventional, unorthodox, outlandish, offbeat, out of the ordinary, Bohemian, Buddhistic, zany, outré, wacky and far out characteristic properties. Wishing you all the best in your eating and travelling.
That’s quite the compliment! Thank you! I’ll have to head over to yours and check it out. Wishing you all the best too, once we can all travel again!
buddha is vegan
The Buddha part is a nod to my dad, who was Buddhist, in the same way that Hungary is a nod to my mom, who is Hungarian. So, we aren’t thinking of the Buddha in the same way.
I think I’m you, only 57 years old!! LOL!! And yes… Gramma food is THE BEST!!! I didn’t travel as much as you did until I met my fabulous boyfriend 10 years ago. We’ve been many places: Germany, Prague, Poland, Israel, Scotland, London, Grenada and St. Lucia, Barcelona and Mallorca (the place dreams are made of!) so far, and many other states in the US including Hawaii. I usually schedule a food tour for when we get there, so we can get a lay of the land, then we go to all the cool little places we see along the way. If you have any questions about any of these places, please feel free to email me. I have some great tips!
Hi and thanks for stopping by! You’ve definitely got places on your list that I haven’t got yet on mine. I will certainly reach out whenever the world reopens for real (hopefully soon!) and I can’t wait to try that cheese place! Cheers!