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

Elena Meat Delicacy Festival 2023 is being held for the tenth time

Photo: Local council of Tourism in Elena

There is almost no house in the town of Elena, Veliko Tarnovo region, in which the meat delicacy called "elenski but" is not prepared. People maintain the tradition and prepare the delicacy every year. 

Only the specific climate of the Balkan Range near the town of Elena can give the unique taste of this salted and dried pork leg delicacy. A local holiday is also dedicated to this meat product which this year is being held for the 10th consecutive time (November 10-12). 

Traditionally, the culinary event gathers guests from the country and abroad, as  in 2022 a record of 50,000 visitors was set. The celebration of the delicacy is not just a culinary festival, but an event that has its own atmosphere and spirit, say the organizers from the Municipality of Elena and the Local Council for Tourism. 


On the days of the holiday, the streets are filled with artisans from all over Bulgaria as everyone strives to entice customers with their delicacies. "And the recipe for preparing a dried pork leg at home only looks difficult", says Bai Sava Kovachev.  "The spices and the very salting of the meat in the pot with rock salt are important."‎



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

New cultural-gastronomic center showcases Bulgarian culinary tradition in Romania

The Bulgarian minority in Romania marked a significant event with the official opening of the Bulgarian Inn in the village of Izvoarele (Hanul Bilgarilor), Teleorman County (Southern Romania)- a locality with Bulgarian roots dating back over 200 years...

published on 11/30/25 6:00 AM

The DiVino.Taste forum showcases new and exciting wines from across Bulgaria

The 14th edition of DiVino.Taste, Bulgaria’s leading forum for wines and winemakers, will take place from 28 to 30 November at the Inter Expo Centre in Sofia. Over 80 producers from all wine regions will participate, offering tastings of around 600 of the..

published on 11/28/25 9:05 AM

After massive protest in front of parliament building the ruling coalition freezes budget for 2026

Minutes before the second and final reading, at the parliamentary budget and finance committee, of the state budget for 2026, the leader of the biggest party represented in parliament GERB Boyko Borissov halted the procedure and sent the draft bill..

updated on 11/27/25 2:52 PM