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Last refreshed: 09/06/2026 05:39 · 35 articles added
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Culture

Dutch Chef Eliminates Dairy from Michelin-Starred Restaurant, Creates Plant-Based Fine Dining

Bas van Kranen, head chef of Amsterdam's two-Michelin-starred restaurant Flore, has eliminated all dairy products from his menu and built his cuisine around "conscious cooking" principles. Van Kranen describes the transition as both a necessity and an enormous technical challenge, admitting his first dairy-free menu was "a catastrophe" but claiming diners today cannot tell the difference. The chef works with 150 different farmers in what he calls a "logistical nightmare" and refuses to negotiate prices with suppliers, focusing instead on sustainable sourcing practices. The move represents a significant shift in high-end gastronomy, where traditional French techniques heavily rely on butter and cream for flavor and texture.

Aktuality
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Culture

Cameron Films Break Billion-Dollar Box Office Records

Films that surpass the billion-dollar mark at the global box office are considered major blockbusters, but even fewer movies have managed to earn more than two billion dollars in theatrical revenue. Director James Cameron stands out as particularly successful in this elite category, with his films consistently breaking these massive box office milestones and earning him recognition as a master of commercially successful cinema.

Aktuality
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Culture

Slovak Media Launches Video Series Analyzing Political Statements

Denník N, a Slovak news outlet, has launched a short video format called "Doba klamenná" (The Age of Lies) where journalist Šimona Tomková explains current political statements in an easily digestible format. The series aims to provide clearer analysis of politicians' rhetoric for viewers.

Dennik N
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Culture

Prague Exhibition Documents Turmoil at Slovak National Gallery After 2023 Elections

A new exhibition in Prague chronicles the turbulent events surrounding the Slovak National Gallery following Slovakia's 2023 parliamentary elections. The exhibition, curated by Helena Musilová, explores the cultural conflicts that emerged in Slovakia's art scene after the new government took power. Musilová discusses the tensions within Slovakia's cultural sector, the solidarity shown by the artistic community, and argues that truly apolitical art does not exist. The Slovak National Gallery, the country's premier art institution, became a focal point of cultural policy disputes after the election of a new government coalition led by the populist Smer-SD party, which has taken a more conservative approach to cultural institutions.

Aktuality
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Culture

Traditional Slovak Holiday Feast: Roasted Goose with Red Cabbage and Potato Pancakes

Košice Dnes featured a recipe for roasted goose with red cabbage and lokše, a traditional Slovak holiday dish combination. The publication presented the juicy roasted goose with crispy skin as one of Slovakia's most beloved festive meals, typically served with braised red cabbage and homemade potato pancakes called lokše. The recipe guide aims to help home cooks prepare this classic Slovak feast, which is suitable for both family meals and special holiday celebrations.

Košice Dnes
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Culture

Traditional Slovak Roast Goose Recipe Featured for Holiday Cooking

A Košice-based publication has featured a traditional Slovak recipe for roast goose served with red cabbage and lokše, thin potato flatbreads. The dish, described as one of Slovakia's most popular festive foods, combines juicy roasted goose with crispy skin alongside braised red cabbage and homemade lokše. The recipe aims to help home cooks prepare this classic Slovak meal for both family dinners and special holiday celebrations.

Košice Dnes
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Culture

Historic Postcards Reveal Romanticized View of Old Bratislava's Past

Historic postcards from Bratislava's past present a romanticized and nostalgic view of the Slovak capital, according to historical analysis. The vintage images, which show the city in what appears to be its full beauty, create a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era of apparent tranquility and splendor. However, historians note that the reality of life during those periods was often quite different from the idealized scenes captured on the postcards. The postcards document various aspects of old Bratislava, including routes to nearby Červený Kameň castle, where significant wealth was once transported.

Dennik N
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Culture

Volunteers Play Key Role in European Capital of Culture Opening Ceremony

Volunteers served as a crucial component of the opening ceremony for the European Capital of Culture event. The volunteers underwent initial training before participating in the ceremony. The volunteer program was organized with several dozen team leaders who coordinated the volunteers directly on-site during the event.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Film Podcast Reviews Movies from Frankenstein to Epstein, Explores Sexual Violence Themes

A Slovak film podcast called Vertigo has released a new episode featuring movie recommendations that explore themes ranging from classic horror to contemporary issues. The episode discusses films spanning from Frankenstein to stories about Jeffrey Epstein, with particular focus on a film called "Bride!" which serves as a metaphor for sexual violence. The podcast provides viewers with tips on current film releases and analyzes how cinema addresses serious social issues through storytelling.

SME
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Culture

Russia's participation in prestigious Venice Biennale draws sharp criticism

Russia's involvement in the Venice Biennale has sparked intense criticism from cultural observers and political figures. The Venice Biennale is one of the world's most prestigious international art exhibitions, featuring pavilions from countries around the globe that showcase contemporary art and culture. Organizers have defended Russia's participation by stating that the event serves as an open cultural platform. The controversy reflects broader tensions over cultural engagement with Russia amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts, raising questions about whether major international cultural institutions should maintain normal relations with Russian entities.

SME
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Culture

Slovak Commentary Examines the Concept of Utopia and Its Historical Dangers

A Slovak commentary piece has explored the concept of utopia, defining it as the tendency to indulge in optimistic ideas about ideal societal arrangements that remain ultimately unachievable. The analysis characterizes utopia as an unrealizable goal, citing historical examples of well-intentioned but often false, power-motivated attempts at creating perfect societies. According to the commentary, such utopian visions typically result in tyranny, violence, autocracy, and totalitarianism, though the piece notes that utopian thinking extends beyond constructed ideological frameworks to include personal aspirations that most individuals harbor.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Commentary Explores Historical Warnings About Utopian Thinking

A Slovak commentary examines the concept of utopia, defining it as unrealistic optimism about achieving ideal social arrangements. The piece notes that foreign language dictionaries characterize utopia as an unachievable goal, pointing to historical examples of well-intentioned but often power-motivated utopian movements that typically resulted in tyranny, violence, autocracy, and totalitarianism. The commentary suggests that utopian thinking extends beyond constructed ideological frameworks, observing that most people harbor some form of utopian aspirations.

Dennik N
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Culture

Gorillaz Release Most Personal Album Yet After Recording Sessions in India

British virtual band Gorillaz has released what is being described as their most personal album to date, recorded during sessions in India. The album explores themes of loss and mortality from a mature perspective, with the band members reflecting on how saying goodbye to loved ones takes on different meanings as people age. Rather than focusing on romantic breakups common in music by younger artists, the new work addresses the deeper experience of losing close friends and family members over time. The recording process in India appears to have influenced the band's approach, helping them create what they describe as a celebration of life rather than a somber farewell.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Artist Ľuboš Kotlár Wins Oskar Čepan Prize, Shifts from Photography to Spatial Installations

Slovak artist Ľuboš Kotlár has received the Oskar Čepan Prize, Slovakia's prestigious contemporary art award, marking a significant recognition of his artistic evolution from photography to site-specific installations. The artist explained in an interview that photography no longer fulfills him creatively, prompting his transition to working with spatial experiences rather than traditional images. Kotlár's current exhibition at the Ján Koniarek Gallery demonstrates his new approach, focusing on transforming non-functional spaces and finding potential in failed or abandoned environments. His installations deliberately avoid offering clear meanings, instead creating possibilities for transformation and allowing viewers to experience art through spatial interaction rather than visual consumption.

Dennik N
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Culture

Netflix Features Documentary on Communist Poland's 'Lead Children' Among New Viewing Recommendations

A new viewing guide highlights several notable productions, including a Netflix documentary titled 'Lead Children' that tells the true story of children affected by lead poisoning in communist Poland. The documentary addresses how some politicians today use nostalgic optimism to downplay the inhumanity of communist regimes, portraying them as mythical pastoral worlds full of healthy food and pristine environments. The recommendations also include a detective story about Sherlock Holmes' coming of age, quirky affairs from American suburbs, and a continuation of a post-apocalyptic series whose first season received four Emmy nominations.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak TV Stations Gear Up for Spring Programming Battle with New Shows and Returning Favorites

Slovakia's major television networks are preparing for an intense competition for viewers this spring as they unveil their new programming lineups. Markíza, one of the country's leading commercial broadcasters, is banking on a special anniversary show to draw audiences. Meanwhile, TV JOJ, another major commercial network, is attracting viewers by bringing back popular programs from previous seasons. The public broadcaster STVR is taking a different approach, focusing on launching original content to compete with its commercial rivals. The programming changes represent a significant shift in evening television schedules as networks deploy new series and entertainment shows in direct competition with each other to capture audience attention during the crucial spring viewing period.

Aktuality
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Culture

Weekend Reading Features Food and Non-Political Content

Slovak newspaper Denník N published a weekend edition focusing on non-political content, including articles about caramelized pork belly and soups. The publication offered readers what it described as 'good weekend reading without politics,' providing a break from the country's regular political coverage.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Media Offers Politics-Free Weekend Reading Focus

Denník N, a Slovak daily newspaper, is promoting weekend content that deliberately avoids political coverage. The publication is highlighting food-focused articles, including pieces about caramelized pork belly and soups, as part of what it calls 'Weekend Without Politics.' This represents a conscious editorial decision to provide readers with lighter, lifestyle-oriented content during weekends, moving away from the political news that typically dominates Slovak media coverage throughout the week.

Dennik N
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Culture

Madrid Fusión Founder Says Era of Chef Dictatorship Ending as Diners Take Control

José Carlos Capel, founder of the influential Madrid Fusión gastronomy conference, declared that the culinary world has fundamentally transformed over the past decade. Speaking at the event, Capel reflected on how the industry has moved away from the era of celebrity chefs who operated like "rock stars" and jealously guarded their culinary techniques as closely-held secrets. The Spanish gastronomy expert, who has attended Madrid Fusión for ten consecutive years, observed that today's food scene represents a dramatically different reality where diners now hold greater influence over the culinary landscape, marking the end of what he characterized as chef authoritarianism.

Aktuality
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Culture

Luxurious Moravian Orient Express Offers Time Travel Experience with Vintage Wood and Porcelain

A luxury train service called the Moravian Orient Express is offering passengers an elegant journey back in time, featuring carriages adorned with polished wood finishes and period porcelain. The vintage train cars have been restored to evoke the golden age of rail travel, providing travelers with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the opulent interiors and refined atmosphere reminiscent of classic European express trains.

Korzár
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