Going wild

Hello and welcome back to the ABC of Czech in which this season we look at words to do with Czech food and cuisine. The hunting season has just started so we'll be focusing on game in Czech cuisine.

The word for venison or game is zvěřina, from the word zvěř, meaning game or wild animals, and related to the word zvíře, meaning simply animal.

If you come to the Czech Republic at this time of year, you might be invited to a venison feast - zvěřinové hody. Here are the most common types of game you'll come across on a Czech table: Srnčí - which is roe deer meat, from the words srna and srnec meaning roe deer. For example srnčí kýta is leg of venison.

Then there is jelení - deer meat, from the word jelen - deer. Boar is called kančí and the animal is kanec (the male of divoké prase - wild boar). Typical meals are for example kančí guláš - boar goulash or kančí steaky - boar steaks.

Then there is wild duck - divoká kachna and pheasant - bažant. Pretty much any poultry can be prepared ŕ la bažant - pheasant style. That means you only have to add what is called in Czech divoké koření, "wild spices", that is thyme - tymián, juniper - jalovec, bay-leaf - bobkový list, rosemary - rozmarýn and others.

And not just poultry - any meat can be prepared, as Czechs say, na divoko - venison style (literally wild style). It usually implies the "wild spices", root vegetables and ingredients like dried plums and rosehips.

And that's all from us today. Till next time dobrou chuť - bon appetit!