Vidzeme

Vidzeme is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. Literally meaning "the Middle Land" it is situated in north-central Latvia north of the Daugava River. It is famous with its beauty of nature, rich heritage relating to the history and traditions.
People in Vidzeme bake rye, wheat, barley, spelt and grit bread with various seeds, caraway seeds, nuts, dried fruit and hemp seeds. Hemp is used to produce traditional butter, oil and dumplings made with grey peas. It is also added to candies and even chocolate. Taste traditional Summer Solstice cheese, as well as Green cheese and tasty goat cheese. Various river and lake fishes are popular, as are local meat and fowl dishes and wild game with tasty sauces. Treat yourself with fresh honey, bacon pies, sheet cakes, pastries, rye breaddesserts, honey cakes and gingerbread. You will find simple and traditional dishes, romantic meals in castles and estates, as well as a special knighthood repast with spices typical in the age of the Livonian Order. Slake your thirst with herbal teas, birch juice, berry beverages, tasty beer or wine or a glass of something stronger.
Vidzeme can be proud about the first cookbook in Latvian “Tā pirmā pavāru grāmata, no vāces grāmatām pārtulkota” (“The First Cookery Book Translated from German Books”), published in 1795 by the German priest of Rubene Christoph Harder ( 1747-1818) -  a great 18th century personality.