About the project

The main goal of the project Interactive culinary map of the Bulgarian language territory is to present a culinary map of the Bulgarian language territory on the internet which will enable academic audiences and the wider public, both at home and abroad, to watch and listen to ethnographic material, audio and video, clips as well as to explore a photo gallery referring to the culinary culture of Bulgarians as part of the national identity. Uploaded material is up-to-date and authentic and has been collected during field expeditions.

The project represents original applied research in both its concept and methodology and is fully aligned with the latest technology standards. The extensive promotion of the map seeks to elicit broad public awareness about the national cuisine and the distribution of the Bulgarian language and dialects inside and outside the state borders.

The project refers to two thematic ranges of the Institute for Bulgarian Language, notably, Language e-resources and tools for their processing and Cultural and historical linguistic heritage of Bulgaria.

Media quotes

“Scholars are working on a culinary language map of Bulgaria. On the internet, everybody will now be able to learn more about various Bulgarian dialects, as well as about traditional though little known foods. Dialectologists began their field research in the region of Troyan, Central Bulgaria. Their first stopover was the village of Golyama Zhelyazna.”
"Would you like to see how boiled wheat with sugar and salo can replace Crème Brulee? Or to imagine the taste of salo with a little bit of “kraftina”, i.e. meat? Why not replace gourmet food with the traditional Bulgarian cuisine? A team from the Institute for Bulgarian Language at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has been developing a special interactive map to let people look up traditional Bulgarian dishes. On top of that, the recipes are recounted in the traditional Bulgarian dialects.”
“Scholars from the Institute for Bulgarian Language at BAS have been working on an Interactive map aimed to feature the totality of culinary specifics in various regions. The map will present the traditional Bulgarian cuisine across our entire language territory. Listen to an interview with Assoc. Prof. Ana Kocheva, PhD, from the Institute for Bulgarian Language.”
"The Institute for Bulgarian Language at BAS has been working on an Interactive culinary map of the Bulgarian language territory already uploaded online. Clicking on the icon with the jar symbol designating the town or village, various dishes from the region are displayed, and the user can also listen to the dialect in which the respective dish is prepared.”
"For the time being, this map has no analogue in Bulgarian linguistics. It will spread over the entire language territory – over Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. Our ambitious task is to go beyond the state borders – where Bulgarian dialects are spoken, and to present the most distinct characteristics of the Bulgarian cuisine region by region”, Assoc. Prof. Ana Kocheva from the Institute for Bulgarian Language at BAS told Tazi Sutrin program.”
"BAS is drawing up a culinary geographical map: stuffed cabbage leafs are called ftichki in the region of Troyan, and gushki in the Rhodope Mountains. The scholars are compiling a recipe encyclopaedia – based on live sessions.”
"The question What shall we cook today hangs down threateningly in almost every home on this planet. Here is a project that comes handy. It puts together culinary skills and dialectology: a virtual journey around Bulgaria through recipes recounted and demonstrated in video clips.”
"What are chesnalo, kartalche and gargale like? Look up the culinary map of Bulgaria narrated by the last keepers of authentic dishes in this country.”
"How a nation that has lived under a foreign yoke for centuries has not only succeeded in preserving its language, alphabet, traditions and culture but has also created the most diverse folklore on the planet and the tastiest cuisine: Prof. Ana Kocheva says more."
"An Interactive culinary map of the Bulgarian language territory is already present online and is aimed at presenting to both academic and wider audiences at home and abroad a range of linguistic and ethnographic material, audio and video, as well as a photo gallery featuring the culinary culture of Bulgarians as part of the national identity.”