December 8, 2008

Wine Novel - Embassy Presents Zsuzsa Valentini's 7th Book, 5 Hungarian Wines and 5 Hungarian Gastronomical Specialties

The Embassy of Hungary hosted the presentation of Borregény (Wine Novel), the seventh book by Zsuzsa Valentini, a Hungarian author based in the Washington, DC area. The book presentation was accompanied by wine tasting with Hungarian delicacies and a gastronomical showcase.
 

The Embassy's Press and Media Attaché, Zoltán Fehér greeted the audience and introduced the author, Zsuzsa Valentini, and her new book, Borregény (Wine Novel, in Hungarian). The novel is a semi-autobiographical account of a woman's changing relationship with the culture of alcohol and the positive role quality beverages play in our lives. Mr. Fehér also introduced the unique format of the event and his co-organizers, the Embassy's agricultural attaché Attila Tóth and Chef-in-Residence Lázár Kovács. They will take part in the procession of the evening's events: introduction and tasting of a wine, introduction and tasting of the accompanying hors d'oeuvres, reading of a section of the novel - with these three segments repeated five times.
 

Throughout the evening, sections of the novel were read by the author, Zsuzsa Valentini, and Press Attaché Zoltán Fehér. Following this format, Agricultural Attaché Attila Tóth presented the following wines: Egri Chardonnay Battonage by Monarchia, Kadarka by Takler, Villányi Pinot Noir by Vylyan, Heritage Cuvet by Takler,  and a 6-button Tokaji Aszú. Chef-in-Residence Lázár Kovács offered commentary on the small gastronomical creations he had prepared.
 

Following the reading, participants enjoyed the wines they had sampled in the course of the evening. Q&A and a discussion ensued, in which Ms. Valentini shared some insight about how the book had come about and about her writing process. The attendees of the evening (Hungarians, Hungarian-Americans, Americans and people from other countries) expressed their delight over the unique contents and structure of the event and their request that more such events take place at the Embassy.
 

Zsuzsa Valentini has published seven books, all fictional prose, since 1998. She has been known for her online diary on her experiences in America titled Amerikai napló (American Diary) published in Népszabadság Online, the Internet portal of one of Hungary's leading newspapers, in 2007/2008. Previously, she had a career in education where she was a senior teacher in one of the leading schools in Hungary, Miklós Radnóti Elementary and High School in Budapest, an official preparatory institute for Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest (ELTE).