Always time for cake

For all the guff foreigners give Czech cuisine for its aversion to spice, it's only fair to note that Czechs appear to be trying, at least, to come around to spicier food. For the third year in a row, the Vikarka restaurant at Prague Castle will host the Hot Food Festival, with spicy dishes in three different categories of ascending heat. The festival is a one-day event Nov. 20 from 4 p.m. to midnight, in a refurbished historic room that used to serve as a foundry - how appropriate! The meals on offer will come from traditionally spicy Thai, Indian and Pakistani cuisines, all prepared by head chef Michal Zvara.

On the milder scale, guests will be able to try Hungarian sausage or spicy ribs, and the more adventurous can graduate to vindaloo and madras curries. Those with something to prove can dive in to Tasmanian Headhunter Shrimps, Satan's Beef, Dragon's Blood Chicken or Horrifying Pomelo Salad. These translations are not our own, and in fact the Satan's Beef dish was even more graphically named in the press release, but we've edited it for decency. Boy, was it funny though. Translations aside, the dishes sound like they might be fun to try.

If they aren't so fun to try, or are even damaging to try, the festival's organizers have promised to provide water free of charge and in great supply, milk to quench bigger burns and even a first-aid station with a nurse on hand. Festival admission costs 200 Kč and includes five tokens, with additional tokens sold onsite. For more information and in case you want to sate your curiosity about the beef dish name that made this writer explode in giggles, visit the Czech version of Vikarka.cz.

A cake for Klaus

Dining Guide 2011

Ever found yourself wandering the streets with a growling stomach, trying to remember suggestions you'd heard from friends or read online about good restaurants in the area? Well, with The Prague Post Dining Guide on hand, you'll have a pocket-size reference that includes 280 recommendations of the best restaurants, bars and cafés in Prague. Our annual booklet, now in its ninth year, is expanded and updated, with categories for restaurants by cuisine and a handy location finder to see what's near you - as well as the closest transport connections. There's also a price key to let you know what's in your budget. So, pick a part of town and decide what you're looking for, be it a cocktail bar, wine shop, lunch stop or fine dining. The Prague Post Dining Guide 2011 is out now, available for purchase online or at local booksellers for 190 Kč.

- Fiona Gaze 

We're not sure if the man has a sweet tooth (I'd put my money on not) but the Hilton's head pastry chef Youri Baltalijski built President Václav Klaus a cake. No, it wasn't for Mr. President's birthday or a random act of admiration, but in honor of the 92nd anniversary of the Independent Czechoslovak State Foundation. Markéta Šebková, PR manager at the hotel, delivered the cake to Klaus a day before the holiday, Oct. 27. The admittedly beautiful cake was decorated with national symbols.

New (sort of) look, new Starbucks

With its newest location in Dejvice close to Vítězné náměstí (are you keeping track? That's No. 12), Starbucks has for the first time brought its redesign to the Czech market, a remodeling the company says has "woven touches of ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship and community involvement in the final design." The newest café seats 70 customers and even includes a second floor "library" filled with books patrons can peruse. No details on what Starbucks' literary tastes are, but if this was the United States, I'd be happy to bet money on David Sedaris, Dave Eggers and, to create a suitable mix of gender and cultures, say, Junot Diaz and Jennifer Egan.

Claire Compton can be reached at
ccompton@praguepost.com