Our man in The Bee (Pchelata)
1421 Sofia
(02) 963 1392
The Bee, whose hive is located within a stone’s throw of the Kempinski, down the road opposite Office 1 Superstore in Lozenetz. Disguised as an Englishman, I was delighted to partake in a large draught Kamenitsa. Opinion is divided between Bulgarians as to Kamenitsa or Zagorka but both eventually quench a thirst! Mine host was a genial sole, somewhat confused as to why we should want beer in the late afternoon, but accommodating.
There are a number of quirky things about The Bee, and I must confess to liking quirky! Rumour has it that the place was bombed a number of years ago (apparently a common method of assassination back in the day), the subsequent fit-out was expensive and tasteful with lots of stone, subtle lighting and timber. Underneath the covers, the furniture was not quite so opulent. The restaurant has smoking and no smoking rooms with a television in the smoking room, I could only assume that this was for the long-term couples united throughout the world by their lack of need to converse. The background music was as unobtrusive as cosmopolitan, the toilets not only were clean but smelled fresh. The variety and number of plants was fantastic although a healthy but straggly Bonsai almost broke my heart. Built around a large tree the rear exit opened onto a charming but snow-dusted garden that gave promise of the balmy evenings of summer that are to follow but at this time of year little more than a promise.
The arrival of my second Kamenitsa marked the departure of the menus, the waitress was as frosty as the beer chilled, nevertheless why should she be polite to me? Again with the benefit of menus, the choice of traditional Bulgarian fayre was fantastic. To start the Slivenska Perla accompanied by Caesar Salad (lettuce, sprinkling of grated parmesan, anchovies, croutons, a wedge of fresh lemon and crowned with a black olive was described by the harshest of critics as “very good”. New on the menu was Chicken Pellar, the ingredients were lots of cubed chicken breast, al-dente mushrooms, sliced gherkins and cream garnished with a wedge of fresh lemon, sprig of thyme and parsley offering. To only describe it as absolutely delicious would be grossly unfair, should you arrive with a gargantuan appetite remember to order potatoes or vegetables also as traditionally in Bulgaria accompaniments other than salt, pepper, oil and vinegar do not come as part of the offering.
So, were we stung at The Bee? Priced at the upper-end of moderate I would heartily commend that you savour the honey!
Egon Rooney
xxiii.ix.mmviii
1421 Sofia (02) 963 1392The Bee, whose hive is located within a stone’s throw of the Kempinski, down the road opposite Office 1 Superstore in Lozenetz. Disguised as an Englishman, I was delighted to partake in a large draught Kamenitsa. Opinion is divided between Bulgarians as to Kamenitsa or Zagorka but both eventually quench a thirst! Mine host was a genial sole, somewhat confused as to why we should want beer in the late afternoon, but accommodating.
There are a number of quirky things about The Bee, and I must confess to liking quirky! Rumour has it that the place was bombed a number of years ago (apparently a common method of assassination back in the day), the subsequent fit-out was expensive and tasteful with lots of stone, subtle lighting and timber. Underneath the covers, the furniture was not quite so opulent. The restaurant has smoking and no smoking rooms with a television in the smoking room, I could only assume that this was for the long-term couples united throughout the world by their lack of need to converse. The background music was as unobtrusive as cosmopolitan, the toilets not only were clean but smelled fresh. The variety and number of plants was fantastic although a healthy but straggly Bonsai almost broke my heart. Built around a large tree the rear exit opened onto a charming but snow-dusted garden that gave promise of the balmy evenings of summer that are to follow but at this time of year little more than a promise.
The arrival of my second Kamenitsa marked the departure of the menus, the waitress was as frosty as the beer chilled, nevertheless why should she be polite to me? Again with the benefit of menus, the choice of traditional Bulgarian fayre was fantastic. To start the Slivenska Perla accompanied by Caesar Salad (lettuce, sprinkling of grated parmesan, anchovies, croutons, a wedge of fresh lemon and crowned with a black olive was described by the harshest of critics as “very good”. New on the menu was Chicken Pellar, the ingredients were lots of cubed chicken breast, al-dente mushrooms, sliced gherkins and cream garnished with a wedge of fresh lemon, sprig of thyme and parsley offering. To only describe it as absolutely delicious would be grossly unfair, should you arrive with a gargantuan appetite remember to order potatoes or vegetables also as traditionally in Bulgaria accompaniments other than salt, pepper, oil and vinegar do not come as part of the offering.
So, were we stung at The Bee? Priced at the upper-end of moderate I would heartily commend that you savour the honey!
Egon Rooney
xxiii.ix.mmviii