News

For the sixth year now, the municipality of Tukums invites visitors to enjoy home cafés in and around Tukums.

This year, on 12 and 13 September, 24 hosts in Tukums and vicinity will be welcoming guests and treating them to their offer in 5 different directions. Among the hosts will be families and groups of friends, small business owners and various tourist attractions. The menus will feature Latvian and international cuisine, including a selection of fish and meat dishes to try. The varied offer will also be reflected in the themes of offers of the home cafés. And all this – so that we can meet up and spend time together, while enjoying the food and autumn in Latvia.

Let’s go travelling and taste autumn in the Tukums area!

Tukums and vicinity

Whenever the word “Tukums” is mentioned, the word “Smukums” (Beauty) immediately springs to mind. The slogan “Uz Tukumu pēc smukuma!” (Beautiful Tukums!) originated long ago thanks to the town’s picturesque surroundings – the landscape, gardens, castles and small-town charm all invite you to take your time.

In September, Tukums and the surrounding area will invite visitors to five home cafés; two of these will be in the town of Tukums and the other three will be just a short drive away, allowing visitors to explore the surrounding countryside and the hills of the Northern Courland Uplands.

The Love Story of Roses and Pearls at “Sloces pērles”

For the third time now, the garden of Anita and Arnis Vuguls’ home will once again be transformed into a home café “Sloces pērles” for two days in September. This time round, the event will be extra special, as the hosts will be celebrating 35 years together and their Rose wedding anniversary. Guests will be invited to take part in wedding-themed activities, whereas newlyweds and other guests will have a chance to stop by, capture the moment in the wedding photo corner and listen to the hosts’ inspiring story about the years they have spent together. The welcoming atmosphere and delicious food will be accompanied by an opportunity to discover the hosts’ everyday passions – the flower-filled garden and archery.

A cosy café to enjoy art: “A Year in My Garden”

Artist Ilze Cērpiņa, a resident of Tukums, will be taking part in the Home Café Days for the first time offering a family-style menu. In her family, the house, the yard and the garden are interspersed with paint and canvases. The series of paintings created by Ilze, “A Year in My Garden”, has also given the café its name.

The 12 works of art created by Ilze throughout the year will, over the course of two days, invite you to notice, listen, taste, feel and experience the flavour of holidays through 12 different pancake creations, stimulating and awakening a variety of senses in everyone. Friends will provide the entertainment – the young and the old alike will be playing music. You’ll also have the chance to have your own portrait made. The special guest at the home café will be Justs Kiščenko, a bartender and drinks expert.

A culinary journey with an Eastern flavour at “Vīnkalni”

For the second year running, Ketija Baldzēna from Tukums will be welcoming visitors to her home café at “Vīnkalni” on the outskirts of Sēme. This autumn, the offer will include dishes inspired by East Asian cuisine. Guests will be welcomed to visit a thematically decorated old barn, a picturesque pond with blossoming water lilies, and a peaceful rural setting surrounded by raspberry and blueberry gardens. A sushi master and his team will take care of the culinary experience, offering a brunch-style menu created especially for this event.

At “Vīnkalni”, you will not only be able to enjoy delicious food, but also relax and go at your own pace in the countryside, explore the homestead’s surroundings and experience rural tranquillity, where nature, hospitality and flavour come together in one special experience. Visitors will also have the chance to explore the homestead, buy fresh seasonal berries, enjoy home-made treats and cakes baked by the hostess.

Workshop of Senses and Flavours at “Bebri”

The “Bebri” farmstead is a place where flavour meets creativity and the past lives on in the present. Here, guests will be welcomed by the hostess, Iveta Liepiņa, along with her family and her dog, Bella Buča. At this home café, you will feel as though they are in a textile art workshop or gallery, where every dish has a story to tell, while the surroundings form a part of the artwork.

The sensory and culinary workshop “Bebri” near Sēme invites you to a special four-course meal, where age-old recipes will be given a fresh makeover in an artistic setting. “Let’s eat like Latvians do, whilst enjoying contemporary art and awakening our senses in the presence of nature!” – that will be the theme of this café. After your meal, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a coffee or a cup of tea in the sensory garden – a place where silence, colours and scents blend together in perfect harmony.

Ostriches and Japanese Flavours at Weavers’ Homestead

The home café “Ostriches and Japanese flavours at Weavers’ Homestead” will be open both days in September at “Kalndaķi”, not far from Milzukalns, where Lolita and Pēteris Tutāni run the homestead. The weaving family has had ties with Japan for more than 20 years now, having visited the country on more than one occasion. Pēteris Tutāns’ woven baskets have travelled all over the world, but it is the Japanese who have come to love them the most.

After their most recent visit to Japan, the owners have decided that this year their home café will offer Japanese cuisine, using authentic recipes and spices brought back from Japan. But as the farm also breeds ostriches, there will, of course, be an ostrich egg omelette.

On the edge of Ķemeri National Park

Ķemeri National Park is remarkable owing to its diversity, as well as its vast area. The park is most often associated with marshes and forests. However, the coastline at Lapmežciems and the meadows at the Zemgale edge are also part of the park. This autumn, five home cafés will open their doors in this area during the Home Café Days. Three of them are located on the outskirts of Ķemeri National Park, whilst the other two are situated on the vast plains of the Zemgale region, close to the edge of the park.

“Valguma Rezidence”

The home café “Niedras”, situated on the shores of Lake Valgums, is run by Airita Mūrniece together with her family and friends, who will welcome guests on one of the home café days to learn more about and become part of the story of the emerging “Valguma Rezidence”.

There are places that just need time and people to come back to life. “Valguma Rezidence” is one of such places. After more than 15 years of inactivity, this spot on the shores of Lake Valgums is being restored, step by step, so that it may once again become a place for gatherings, celebrations and relaxation – a place whose story is only just beginning.

During the Home Café Days on Saturday, visitors will have the chance to enjoy delicious food, a relaxed atmosphere and the views of Lake Valgums. Live music will add to the soundtrack of the day to accompany craft workshops, a range of activities and games which will be available for our youngest guests. Everyone will also have the chance to go on a short boat trip on the lake and enjoy the tranquillity of the surroundings from a different vantage point.

Unfortunately, the owner of this café is no longer taking bookings, as all seats and time slots are already fully booked.

The Restaurant in the Reeds – a unique experience on Lake Kaņieris

During the Home Café Days, Lake Kaņieris invites you to enjoy a unique meal on a boat. On both Saturday and Sunday, guests will be able to take a trip through the reed mazes, and a special menu will be prepared for this event, to be served directly on board the boat. This is an opportunity to combine a leisurely culinary experience with the enjoyment of natural surroundings, bird habitats and serenity of Lake Kaņieris.

As the managers of Lake Kaņieris – SIA “Ecosoul” – say, there are days that are best enjoyed slowly. These days in September are exactly like that. Visitors to the home café on Lake Kaņieris will be invited to step on a boat, paddle through the reed maze of Lake Kaņieris to their own special spot on the lake, and lose themselves in the tranquillity of nature. Once the guests have settled in, a meal prepared especially for this day will be brought straight to them and served right on the boat.

“Pļavas draugu kafe”

At the café “Pļavas draugu kafe” in Antiņciems, on both days in September, guests will be welcomed by the owners, Sanita and Indulis, who have been running the café for seven years now and are committed to celebrating Antiņciems’ history and its traditional heritage – chicory, ecologically valuable meadows and hunting. Visitors will have a chance to experience all of this through the food and activities on offer at the café.

This year, focus will be on the restoration of natural meadows, so the café team will include Friends of Natural Meadows – Solvita, who also manages natural meadows in Pūre municipality, and Rūdolfs, who understands the flavours of plants found in natural meadows and uses them to create unusual yet healthy dishes. Visitors can look forward to delicious dishes with flavours of the meadow and game, as well as educational activities for the whole family. By visiting the café “Pļavas draugu kafe”, guests will be supporting the restoration of natural meadows in Latvia.

Festive picnic at “Pilsētnieki”

“Pilsētnieki” is a place that is happy to share its tranquillity – a place for families, for relaxation and for spending time together at a leisurely pace, close to nature and surrounded by bird song. On a day-to-day basis, “Pilsētnieki” offers accommodation services and organises various private events.

“Pilsētnieki” will be serving shish-kebab to guests at the festive picnic. Why that in particular? In the early days, when the business was first set up, the family of the owner Sarmīte Ruduka worked in meat processing and marinated the most delicious shish-kebab, which was a favourite among the city folk. That is why, on Home Café Day, shish–kebab made to a special family recipe – will take centre stage at the festive picnic in “Pilsētnieki”. Guests will be treated not only to delicious food, but also to activities for children and handicrafts, whereas in the evening, live music featuring much-loved Latvian tunes will accompany the event.

Home Café “MALA”

“MALA” is the story of a family – Aiva and Mārtiņš, along with their daughters Luīze and Adele – about flavours and the joy of being together. Here, it is firmly believed that good food has the power to bring people together, which is why there’s always room at the table for warm conversations, positive thoughts and special flavours. The special flavours are created by Aiva, the matriarch of the family, who works in the catering industry.

“MALA” will invite guests to enjoy delicious food, a warm welcome and a family-like ambience, where the joy of being together around the family table is just as important as a mouth-watering meal. Taking part in the Home Café Days is a step towards the family’s future plan to set up their own catering business, so every visitor will be a great support to the family.

On the Seashore

The municipality of Tukums has nearly 60 km of seashore which is home to many fishing villages. This autumn, six home cafés – stretching from Lapmežciems all the way to Bērzciems – will once again be welcoming visitors. Visitors will be able to sample fish prepared in a wide variety of ways, as well as autumn produce from the surrounding gardens. There will be international cuisine and local home-cooked recipes. It will be thought-provoking and it will be fun. Keep in mind! When you head to the coast, you need to be prepared not only for delicious food, but also for lively conversation!

Captain Reinis’ Culinary Cruise

The hosts of the café “Captain Reinis’ Culinary Cruise” are IK “Reinis B” in Lapmežciems, better known in Latvia as “Reinis’ Fish”. The head of the family is Alla Bečere. On a day-to-day basis, “Reinis B” processes and sells fish. During the summer season, the company welcomes groups of tourists, who visit the production facility to see how the company’s smoked products are made, as well as to sample the products, whilst taking part in various activities.

This autumn, Captain Reinis will take you on a special culinary journey from the Kurzeme coast and Lithuanian home kitchens to the ports of Thailand and Vietnam. On this culinary journey, the flavours of childhood, family traditions and the scents of faraway lands will come together. Each dish will be like a stop on a cruise to a different shore – with its own story, aroma and atmosphere.

The seagulls are calling out again in fishing villages

The Home Café of fishing villages will be hosted in Lapmežciems, at the historic fishermen’s homestead “Gaiķi”, inviting you to enjoy the flavours of the seaside and a welcoming and friendly get-together. This year’s theme – “The seagulls are talking to me again” (Transl.: A popular Latvian song) – will give the café a light-hearted, seaside atmosphere. Inspired by the composer Raimonds Pauls’ anniversary year and the lyrics of his popular songs, visitors to the café will be greeted by bird-themed décor, local traditions and coastal charm, while a variety of seafood dishes, interesting snacks and delicious desserts will be served.

Worth noting is that on Saturday evening, the café will operate as a cinema bar, hosting an evening film screening in the courtyard of the “Gaiķi” house and serving snacks, whereas on Sunday you can pop in for a bite to eat at any time of day and enjoy a variety of tasty dishes.

The home café “Garšu piestātne” in Plieņciems

The home café “Garšu piestātne” will invite you to stop by at the coastal homestead “Kausenieki”, where the flavours of the Mediterranean, the tranquillity of the seaside and the joy of being together are combined and where you will be welcomed by Ingrīda Millere and Edīte Millere — a mother and daughter host team.

The Millers family drew inspiration for their menu from Italian and Spanish cuisine, but the most distinctive feature is a single communal table – the dishes will be served just as they would at a large family gathering or a get-together with neighbours, in large dishes to be shared, creating a genuine sense of togetherness. After the meal, guests can look forward to a buffet of cakes and desserts, coffee and a warm berry drink, whilst enjoying the relaxing seaside ambience.

Osīškrogs Inn in Ķesterciems

“Osīši” in Ķesterciems is an old fisherman’s homestead situated at the historic crossroads between Ķesterciems and Engure. Over the centuries, this place has gone through many different times: it was once a fisherman’s cottage, later a tavern, but today “Osīši” has become a peaceful retreat close to nature.

During the Home Café Days, Vaiva Bauze and Kaspars Ostrovskis will invite you to take your time and enjoy home-made desserts at “Osīškrogs”. The offer will include flavours of our childhoods and modern recipes that can also be made in your own kitchen. High-quality ingredients will be used in the preparation, with a focus on reducing the amount of added sugar and allowing the natural flavour of the products to stand out.

“Taste of Autumn” in Bērzciems

Sindija Kundziņa’s home café, “Taste of Autumn” in Bērzciems, invites you to pop into the local cheesemongers “Kundziņsiers” and enjoy the seaside atmosphere and an autumn-inspired menu featuring seasonal delicacies. Guests will have the opportunity to sample hot dishes and desserts, as well as buy “Kundziņsiers” cheeses, ice cream and cocktails. It will be a cosy place for a leisurely break with family and friends.

Families with children are especially welcome to come and enjoy the flavours of autumn, leisurely conversations and the pleasant atmosphere by the coast, surrounded by family and friends.

The café at the fishermen’s homestead “Dieniņas”

The fishermen’s homestead “Dieniņas” is run by the Celkarti family – Oskars and Iveta, along with their daughters Annemarija and Emīlija. This autumn they will once again be serving a feast at their café, where coastal traditions are still very much alive. In their day-to-day lives, the family are home-based producers who prepare fish and host historical events and gatherings. Oskars has inherited the skills of fishing and fish preparation from his ancestors and still goes out to fish.

What can we expect from the fishermen? At this café, you can “get zīvs (transl. — “fish” in local dialect) in all sorts of ways: dried zīvs, cured zīvs, fried zīvs, grilled zīvs, boiled zīvs and stewed zīvs”. That’s what the owners say – in the local dialect. Put simply — we’re in for a proper fish feast, prepared by a genuine Latvian housewife!

In the area of Irlava

The people of Tukums tend to refer to the Irlava area as their own “Vecpiebalga” or the cultural heartland, where, in days gone by, more than one notable local figure grew up and was educated. The hills here attract drivers and motorbike riders, as they offer wonderful views of the Kurzeme countryside during the ride. During the Home Café Days, four hosts will be inviting visitors to come and visit their home cafés. Here, the visitors will have an opportunity to experience and sample cuisines from around the world, as well as visit cafés offering to indulge in a variety of senses. It will feel just like garden parties and picnics. It is sure to satisfy meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.

A pop-up café “Little Italy” by the “Bridge to Nowhere” – 2

In Sāti, near the much-talked-about “Bridge to Nowhere”, the old boulder walls will once again be transformed, for one weekend, into an Italian-style open-air café, where you can enjoy pizza made on the premises, fresh pasta, tiramisu, cannoli and ice-cream. This is where the home café “Pop-up Little Italy” will be set up once again.

Guests will have the chance not only to enjoy the tastes of Italian cuisine, but also to make their own pizza and learn tips from the head chef and the secrets of pizza-making. The head chef of “CORNER’s Catering” Mārtiņš Zelmenis will ensure this special culinary experience, creating a joyful atmosphere of togetherness and an Italian sense of hospitality, fuelled by his love of food and people.

Looking Westwards at Austrumi

Home café “Looking Westwards at Austrumi” in the centre of Irlava, invites you to enjoy the flavours of American BBQ in a welcoming atmosphere. The head chef of the café will once again be Krists Austrums, who enjoys American-style barbecue dishes. He will, together with his large circle of relatives and friends, spend those two days in September trying to recreate the sense of community seen in American Westerns. Guests will be treated to slow-smoked BBQ dishes, cooked for between 3 and 12 hours, as well as fresh salads and pickles. The day will be offer a family-friendly filled with activities and the chance to sample the delicious cakes from the Irlava-based bakery “AMSA”.

Stories of Flavours at “Romju pojenes”

“Romju pojenes” is the garden of senses created by Laila Leja with blossoming peonies in June, bird song and a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy. Everyone can expect a warm welcome here to share in the joy of the magic of flowers, even when the peonies are no longer in bloom.

This autumn, everyone is invited – just this once – to join the long festive table at “Romji” to sing, play games, have fun, chat and enjoy the dishes that are a favourite at “Romji”. Whilst here, you will have the chance to hear a special story about flavours and enjoy a short musical performance, too.

Closer to Earth!

The home café “Closer to Earth!” will be hosted at a venue known to the people of Tukums as the “Nature Events Garden”. The owner is Arta Dumbre, who, together with her team, knows how to prepare vegetarian dishes that even omnivores enjoy.

The hostess also embraces new ideas and creative challenges, which is why this autumn, on the café days at the “Garden of Natural Events”, guests will be treated to a special experience – a table shaped like a flower bed, where they can enjoy the meal in an unusual environment. Set within extensive grounds, featuring an authentic wedding barn, a romantic garden and a tea house, even those seeking a more traditional experience will find a pleasant spot here for a leisurely break.

In the ancient Abava river valley – between Amula and Imula

The Abava Valley is especially picturesque in autumn. In the golden autumn, its hills and valleys, cultivated fields and lush meadows take your breath away with the sheer beauty of Latvia.

The four local cafés in this area will offer a varied range of options. Picnics will be organised in gardens and in meadows. Here, you’ll have a chance to experience the flavours of Latvia and the southern countries all in one place. This offer will be perfect for anyone travelling to or from Kuldīga to Tukums, Riga, Jūrmala or the rest of Latvia!

Mediterranean vibes in “Kalnēni”

Mārcis and Kristiāna Kūmi, the owners of the home café “Kalnēni”, invite you on both days in September to enjoy a leisurely southern-style adventure in the Latvian countryside – a place where rural tranquillity, an unrushed atmosphere and Mediterranean flavours come together. Drawing inspiration from their family trips around southern Europe, they have created a special menu, which will be complemented by music, tours of the farm and the chance to buy sauces, pickles, smoked meats and other treats made by the hosts.

With their wonderful stories, the hosts will take guests on a tour, explaining the pickling and smoking processes on their farm, while also offering guests the chance to purchase sauces, pickles, pâtés, home-smoked meats and other delicacies prepared by the hosts.

If you are travelling along the Tukums–Kuldīga highway, stop off to enjoy a relaxing experience of the south in the Latvian countryside!

A Spanish-style terrace at “Kalnmuiža”

This year, during the Home Café Days, Kristīne Otmane, the hostess of “Kalnmuiža Manor”, invites you to sample the flavours of Spain, which she has brought back from her 29-day trek across Spain — from Navarre to Galicia.

Every dish has its own special back-story, and over the two days in September, guests will have the opportunity to experience these flavours in a special atmosphere that blends the excitement of travel, the warmth of the Spanish sun and the hospitality of Kalnmuiža Manor in the picturesque Abava Valley. As Kristīne says now – ¡Salud!

An Evening on Amula River

On the picturesque banks of the Amula River, near Matkule, the busy Zilberts family – Toms and Maija, along with their children – are hard at work on the homestead “Lejaskroķi”. They run their own farm, promoting rural values and the importance of natural meadows, but are best known for their large herd of rabbits. On the Saturday in September, this farmstead will be transformed into a riverside café, serving simple, home-cooked dishes prepared especially for this occasion and available exclusively to guests on that day.

Visitors will also be able to meet and cuddle the rabbits, relax in the countryside, go for a walk along the river and play games. The hostess will treat guests to bread made with natural sourdough starter and will lead a masterclass of bread-baking using an open-air oven, whilst the host will offer home-made berry wine.

Tomato Party “La Dolce Vita”

This autumn, Aiga Bitmane, the owner of the creative retreat “Smilgāji”, and her friends are inviting guests to an Italian-style tomato party, called “La Dolce Vita”, where sun-ripened Latvian tomatoes will take centre stage. All the dishes will feature delicious sun-soaked Latvian tomatoes. The atmosphere of sunny Italy will be brought to life with mouth-watering food, drinks and the rhythms of music. You’ll be able to taste the flavours of Italy in appetisers and main courses, as well as in desserts and drinks.

Children are sure to be entertained, as there will be a variety of activities and inflatable attractions available. Adults will have a chance to visit the tomato exhibition and meet the tomato collector Inta Seredjuka, who grows around 150 different varieties of tomatoes on her farm, as well as buy some tasty treats at the market. Visitors will be able to capture lovely memories of this atmosphere in the tastefully decorated photo corner.

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Why visit home cafés?

Home Café Days is an event aimed at encouraging everyone to discover Latvia’s various tourist destinations – both large and small – by exploring the traditions, culture and local communities of each area through food. Home cafés offer a unique opportunity to get to know the locals – their homes, traditions and the dishes they enjoy with their families – as they are run by local residents or tourism businesses that do not usually offer catering services. Some might have more experience in cooking or serving food, some less so, but they all share the desire to create something new and to delight others with what they have created.

Why visit?

- To discover and taste dishes that aren’t usually made at home, but which you’ve always wanted to try, such as fish dishes and those made from forest produce or with unusual spices brought back from abroad

- To sample dishes you haven’t yet got round to making yourself, and to pick up some interesting ideas and recipes for your meals.

- An opportunity to discover the cuisines of foreign lands without leaving Latvia: this autumn, in the Tukums area, you can sample southern flavours from Italy and Spain, and eastern flavours from Thailand, Vietnam and Japan

- The opportunity to meet a specific person or family, or to visit a company that one has not previously had the chance to visit

- When visiting home cafés run by people of a specific trade, you also have the chance to learn about the craft or trade and perhaps plan to take them up more seriously in the future

- Many hosts also set up small stalls at their home cafés manned by local farmers, craftspeople and home producers, which means that the guests have a chance to bring back home something special, such as vegetables, berries and fruit grown in Latvia

- Enjoy your meal, see how the home cafés are run, and perhaps give it a go yourselves next year

Why visit Tukums, of all places?

- Tukums Municipality enjoys a favourable location on the map of Latvia – it is situated practically in the centre of the country and is easily accessible from neighbouring municipalities and from those further afield

- When visiting the home cafés, be sure to stop at some of the more popular and lesser-known attractions along the way, as the Tukums area has a wealth of castles, palaces and manor houses from various periods, large and small museums – appealing to all ages and interests – as well as nature trails and places for creative activities

Why visit in autumn?

Autumn is the most bountiful time of year, when nature has given its very best to the vegetables and fruit grown over the summer, served to us in our families’ best recipes.

See you in the area of Tukums on 12th and 13th September at local cafés to savour autumn to the fullest!