The News Tribune Diner Blog Article

A taste of Hungary at the farmers market

TNT Adventure Editor Jeff Mayor had an encounter with paprikash at the Proctor Farmers Market last weekend. He found the Hungarian dish – chicken with a sour cream sauce that typically is served with some kind of pasta or dumpling or another starch– at the booth of Paprika Catering, run by Kristi Dohring. You might recognize Kristi from the Proctor Market on Saturdays and Tacoma Broadway Market on Thursdays. I just got off the phone with Kristi and she said she hopes to open a restaurant this winter in the South Sound area. She is working out details now.

Writes Jeff about Kristi and her booth:

Whenever I go to a farmer’s market, I expect to see the unexpected. But at Saturday’s Proctor farmer’s market I came across something so familiar that it was unexpected.

Among the strange flowers and organic veggies was Kristi Dohring and her Paprika Catering stand. What stopped me was the chicken paprikash that topped her menu. It’s my favorite dish from my Hungarian heritage and the only I have mastered in the kitchen.

For me, paprikash is all about the sauce. Hers was thick, the way I like it. But it was more red and spicy. Dohring said she uses tomatoes, peppers and a spicy paprika in her version.

After we compared notes, Dohring talked about her Olympia catering business and her dreams of opening a Hungarian restaurant in the South Sound.

Given my on encounter, I think she’s off to a good start. Who knew I’d find a taste of home here in the Northwest?

You learn more about Dohring at PaprikaCatering.net.

Jeffrey P. Mayor, The News Tribune

Farmers Markets

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