Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Exhibition in Yambol offers a journey to Bulgaria's culinary past

Photo: Facebook /Marin Lesev

The first exhibition of Bulgarian culinary books from 1870 to the present day opened in the city of Yambol. The exhibits are part of a unique collection owned by Marin Lesev. In the course of more than three decades he has collected Bulgarian culinary books and articles. Currently, his collection includes over 8,000 books, magazines and newspapers with old Bulgarian recipes. Due to the huge volume, 240 of them are on display.

Marin Lesev

The exhibition presents traditional Bulgarian culinary practices and ways for preserving and canning food from the second half of the 19th century until today. Visitors can see printed editions and manuscripts that have served as inspiration for several generations of chefs from modern Bulgarian history.

"In Bulgaria, as well as around the world, there is a trend for searching for the authentic, the forgotten taste," Deputy Minister of Agriculture Georgi Sabev, who attended the official opening of the event, said in an interview with BNR Stara Zagora.

"The goal of such an initiative is to shed light on forgotten Bulgarian products and recipes. In conversations, the collector said that nearly 100 years ago there was a similar trend as Bulgarians started looking for more information on how to store and preserve food. And this is extremely important, because these traditional Bulgarian products and the way they are prepared and stored are what make us unique. This exhibition and this literature are a very good basis for the development of culinary tourism in Bulgaria."

Traditional dish prepared following a recipe from 1939

During the exhibition, one can taste traditional dishes from the region of Yambol, prepared by local young chefs.

"Culinary tourism is the business card of Bulgaria to the world," Georgi Sabev said and added that a framework program for the development of culinary tourism is currently being finalized. It aims to popularize traditional local and regional products. For this purpose, a digital culinary map of Bulgaria will be prepared. According to him, every region of Bulgaria has potential for the development of culinary tourism.

"In eastern Bulgaria and at the Black Sea coast, for example, we have traditional fish products and local methods for preservation. In mountainous regions, there is a more specific climate that contributes to a variety of meat products - for example, dry-cured sausages. In the plains, however, there are different products and spices. Culinary tourism is aimed at both foreign and Bulgarian tourists who are looking for the traditional food. The uniformity of today’s products has made the Bulgarian consumer look for something different, for the forgotten taste."

The interesting culinary exhibition will remain on display in Yambol until December 10. Its organizers are the Municipality of Yambol and the Taste and Traditions Foundation.

Compiled by: Veneta Nikolova /based on an interview by Zornitsa Semerdzhieva from BNR Stara Zagora/

English: Al. Markov

Photos: Facebook /Marin Lesev


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Aylin Lazova from Radio Bulgaria on her debut poetry collection "The Dying out of Betelgeuse"

She is an educated, young woman passionate about astronomy and physics, but has also devoted her energy and talent to the word. She is part of the family of the Bulgarian National Radio's foreign-languages program Radio Bulgaria and today we proudly..

published on 10/19/25 11:05 AM

Young Bulgarian artist Nikolas Stoichkov: Goodness is also a type of art

Nicholas is 15 years old . He is a self-taught artist, but his maturity in creativity and strength of spirit inspire admiration in everyone who has touched his talent. He is a person who fights internal battles and continues in moments when something..

published on 10/18/25 12:15 PM
Zhivko Tenev-Gissen

Four Bulgarian artists selected for Brazil’s 20th INternational Humor Salon in Caratinga

Four Bulgarian artists — Zhivko Tenev-Gissen, Maya Cholakova, Ivaylo Tsvetkov and Anatoliy Stankulov — have been chosen to take part in the 20th Caratinga International Humor Salon Caratinga 2025 in Brazil, which will run from 21 to 26 October,..

published on 10/18/25 9:25 AM