The trend of spending Christmas away from home is gaining more and more popularity, although many people can't even imagine it. But those who've strayed from the established traditions didn't regret it. Take Jan Přeučil and Eva Hrušková as an example. The couple has been following the tradition of Christmas brunches and snail feasts already for eighteen years.
Fried carp or a schnitzel with potato salad, that's the classic choice of ninety-five percent of the Czech population. However, restaurants can conjure up a wonderful Christmas atmosphere too.
The famous Czech Cinderella Eva Hrušková with her husband Jan Přeučil are among those who promote this alternative. They have been visiting the Prague French Art Nouveau restaurant in the Municipal House for years.
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Snail feast
"We started coming here for snail brunches eighteen years ago. And since we are foodies, we began to attend Sunday brunches, too. After all the years, we feel like at home here, because we know someone at every table,"
Eva Hrušková told LP-life.cz.
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Přeučilovi se na brunchích setkávají pravidelně s přáteli. Source: archiv restaurace Art Nouveau
Jan Přeučil also speaks very fondly of this non-traditional way of spending Christmas and Sundays:
"There's an excellent atmosphere here, amazing food, and you can feel a touch of history. I take my hat off to our great-grandfathers for having left us such beauty here. This place also represents the proverb that the art of life is to appreciate the beauty in the everyday. And every day spent here has indeed been beautiful."
Etiquette
In addition to the snail feast and the five-course Christmas dinner, the restaurant also organizes Advent sunday brunches, where Mr. and Mrs. Preučil often meet up with the author of books on etiquette, Eva Filipová, who recently published the book Neřeš vrásky, hýčkej lásky (Don't worry about wrinkles, focus on love).
"Mr. Přeučil is a model of good behavior. It's fascinating to see him enjoy the Christmas brunch,"
Filipová said.
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Manželé nedávno pokřtili knihu Evy Filipové, která píše o etiketě. Source: archiv E. Filipové
The annual culmination of the sunday brunches in the French Art Nouveau restaurant is undoubtedly the traditional Christmas day snail brunch in December, which has been held already for 21 years. Guests can sample snails in a wide range of known and less known gastronomic preparations, as well as other specialties, in the beautiful atmosphere of the Art Nouveau restaurant, accompanied by live music.
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O luxusní jídlo zde není nouze. Source: archiv restaurace Art Nouveau
During Advent, guests can also visit Advent Brunches, which are focused on Christmas specialties with a selection of Czech and international cuisine. Everything is prepared by a team of chefs and pastry chefs under the baton of Chef Patrik Bečvář, a member of the National Team of Chefs and Pastry Chefs of the Czech Republic.
