“The Russians Are Already in the Pantry“

The title comes from an old saying in Eastern Europe — a wry nod to the Soviet years.

The idea: by the time you notice, the Russians are already in the pantry, looking for something to eat.

It felt like the perfect headline for an evening that mixed history, wine, and unexpected reconnections.

Reuniting With Leontina

Next on my Hungarian journey was Leontina — a classmate from my WSET days in Rust.

We started the diploma at the same time but, for a mix of life's detours — COVID, personal ups and downs, and general chaos — neither of us finished on schedule.

She still owes a couple of exams.

I… well, I owe a whole lot more than that.

But that's life. You plan, the world shifts, and suddenly years have slipped by.

Leontina's World

Leontina speaks fluent French and now works as a guide in Budapest for French groups — sometimes up to ten days straight in the high season.

She knows she has to push hard in summer, because when winter comes and the tourists disappear, so does the work.

It's a reality for much of Southeast Europe: tourism is the lifeblood, and when it stops, so does the income.

Szalonspicc and an Unexpected Encounter

She chose the wine bar Szalonspicc for our meet-up — with good reason.

Anna runs the bar, but it's Anna's mother, Gabriella Mészáros, who's the legend.

Gabriella and her late husband were among the first Hungarians to complete the WSET Diploma more than 20 years ago and went on to teach a whole new generation.

I had the pleasure of meeting Gabriella briefly as she popped in to visit Anna.

No diva moves, no grand entrance — just a powerhouse quietly picking up essentials to keep the bar running.

Before leaving, she handed me a copy of her book on Hungarian wine — a generous, unexpected gift.

Blind Tasting: Still Got It (Mostly)

Anna had one mission for us:

serve three small glasses blind and let's see if we could still taste our way through.

• First wine: We guessed Sauvignon Blanc. It was Vermentino from Tuscany. Brutal miss.
• Second wine: We debated endlessly. Aromas didn't match, acid wasn't high enough. Turned out to be a Riesling. Another miss.
• Third wine: Red. Blend unmistakable. Left bank Médoc. Nailed it.

At least some instincts survive, even after too many detours.

A Toast to Old Friends

It was wonderful seeing Leontina again — swapping stories, laughing at how life reroutes our grand plans, and still sharing that nerdy love of wine.

Somewhere between Vermentino failures and Médoc triumphs, I even got an invitation:

her birthday, spring 2026.

I might just take her up on it.

 Nagyon köszönöm, Leontina "Polika" Szabó, és szívből kívánok neked sok szerencsét és energiát álmaid megvalósításához!