Burek

Burek is another popular semi-fastfood meal, second-famous after cevapi. Burek is a common term to refer the pie with meat inside. In Croatia, Burek is the same pie with cheese instead. Pie with cheese is sirnica (a bit sour), with spinach is zeljanica , with potato is krompiruša, a bit salty). Cost of each ranges from 1KM to 2KM. Depend on which shop you buy the pies, you can taste the meat, the spiniach, the cheese, or potato in every bite or all you have in your mouth is a load of dough.

There are two different version of pies:

1. Pies sold in the Pekara/bakery: rolled shape and cost less than those in Burekdžnica. Avoid buying pies in Pekara late unless the shop operates 24 hours. The pies become harder and colder. Shuck!

2. Pies sold in a Burekdžnica are sliced into piece from 100g up to 1kg. They taste better because they are warmer, softer, and you can order the kajmak cheese to pour on top. I am not a fan of cheese, but this cheese is excellent.

Dino Merlin, a popular singer in Bosnia has a song about Burek

 

Video: “Burek:” a Dino Merlin’s crazy song

I will ask one of my friend to translate the Bosnian lyrics. The last time I talked to a religious Bosniak friend of mine, I got a “It’s too vulgar. He says everything about men and women, I can’t translate it to you.” Hmm,make me wonder.

Burek is the second popular fast food meal beside cevapi in Sarajevo.

Lyrics

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and
girls, in a few seconds we will
be landing in the most peaceful
country you have ever seen. In
preparation for this experience
we ask you to fasten your seat
belts and try to relax. Please
note that enter to this country is
on your own risk. Thank you for
flying with us and enjoy the
music.

Neko eko ima pemziju, a neko
eko, bogami, i platu
Šta to, zato, ima Mujo naš, Mujo
i dalje ima svoju Fatu
Neko eko, neko eko ima pemziju,
a neko eko, bogami, i platu
Šta to, zato, šta to zato ima
Mujo naš, Mujo i dalje ima svoju
Fatu.

Burek, pita zeljanica, janjetina i
lukmira
Izašla mu na nos duša ko u
moju pjesmu dira
Neko eko ima parlament, a
neko cara i carevu krunu
Šta to, zato, ima Mujo naš, Mujo
i dalje ima dobru cunu.

Neko eko, neko eko ima parlament,
neko cara i carevu krunu
Šta to, zato, šta to zato ima
Mujo naš, Mujo i dalje ima
dobru cunu
Sogandolma, japrak, baklava i
halva
Fildžan, džezva, cigara i kahva
Ne šeceri sitno, bolja ti je kocka
Crk’o svak ko u Bosnu bocka.

Neko eko ima šubaru, a neko
eko šarenu kukulju
Šta to, zato, ima Mujo naš, Mujo
i dalje ima svoga Sulju
Neko eko, neko eko ima
šubaru, a neko eko šarenu
kukulju.

Šta to, zato, šta to zato ima
Mujo naš, Mujo i dalje ima
svoga Sulju
Pet u pola s puno luka, janjetina
ispod saca
Babo nam je ost’o Švabo, Pape
nam je ost’o caca
Sogandolma, japrak, baklava i
halva
Fildžan, džezva, cigara i kahva
Ne šeceri sitno, bolja ti je kocka
Crk’o svak ko u Bosnu bocka

Fundamentalisti NOOOO
Unitaristi NONONONONOOOO
Neokomunisti NOOOO
Nadrealisti – eto, to je to

 

Cevapi

What is Cevapi?

Cevapi is popular dish in Sarajevo . They are small grilled rolls of minced beef, lamb or mixed in a half pita bread. Chopped onions served on the side, and cheese is optional.

The cevapi probably originated from Turkey and brought to Bosnia during Ottoman occupation in the Balkan. Cevadžnica is an upscale fast food restaurant, serving only cevapi. If you are in Sarajevo, especially in the Old Town part, Bašcaršija, be assured that you will eat the best cevapi once you decide to eat some. For pork lovers, you will not find pork cevapi in Sarajevo since 80% of the population are Bosniaks, another name for Bosnian Muslims.

I was raised in a culture which indulged itself in pork meat since pork meat was the cheapest compared to chicken, beef, lamb, etc. I grew up next to a neighbor who sold pork meat in the street market, near other family who raised cute little and not so cute big pigs to be slaughtered later. I grew up hearing “oin-oin” through the days and nights and seeing roped pigs on the wagon waiting to be delivered to their final destiny. To summarize, I grew up with a lot of pig-related experiences.

But I don’t miss pork at all, on the contrary, I was glad to not have eaten a type of meat for more than half a year. All the pigs in the world should say thanks to the Muslims. LOL.

Cevadžnica (place to eat cevapi)

Here are the three best cevapi houses in Bašcaršija, the old part of the town.

Banja Luka cevapi

I recommend this place if you like spicy cevapi called ŠIS CEVAP. The name came from the “shish kebabb.” Chilli peppers are mixed inside and grilled with the meat. At other places, you can only ask for some chilli pepper called “fefferoni” on the side.

Mrkva
The cevapi here are grilled popping hot, and so are the pita bread. Other people, my roommates for example, prefer the pita to be cold and soft. They even soak the pita in some broth.

Zeljo (1 and 2)

Across from Havana club

My guide book and almost everbody agreed that Zeljoserves the best Cevapi, so good that “if you haven’t eatten at Jeljo, you’ve never been to Sarajevo.” The cevapi are lright for me; perhaps my tongue has lost the norm sense. There are two Zeljo owned by the same owner, and located slightly across from each other. By the way, Zeljo is the name of a football favorite team in Sarajevo. [link to the team]