What is Smaž?

Smažený Eidam

So Smaž has been mentioned in a couple of my blogs so far, and I imagine it has left a few of you wondering what this magical and mysterious thing could be...

It's full name, Smažený sýr translates into English as fried cheese, something that you wouldn't think was possible, and if it was, surely the Americans would have invented it first!

Smaž can come in many forms: Hermelin (Camembert), Eidam (Edam) and Mc (guess that one) and is available from most restaurants and I imagine all pubs around the Czech Republic. Some examples can be found below:

Smažený Hermelin 

Smažený Hermelin is served in arguably the more upper class pubs, with Eidam being the more common choice for deep fat frying. The cheese is usually served with a side order of potato cooked in your chosen method - crockets, chips, mash, boiled, roasted - and traditional tartar sauce. If you are lucky you might also receive a portion of vegetables or salad garnish! Although this addition does tend to be overlooked in the CR...

The most modern form of Smaž existing in the CR is the McSmažak, essentially a burger bun with a layer of tartar sauce and a fried cheese in the middle. Quite possibly the most disgusting thing you have ever eaten, being modelled in this photo by Mr S Bennett.

A McSmažak

Contrary to the appearance of the Smaž, it is, in fact, delicious, and pretty much against the law if you don't try it once whilst in the CR on hols!

Yum.