Prague roast pork knuckle

Background

Roast pork knuckle is a whole pork knuckle roasted until the skin is crisp, usually served with mustard, horseradish and bread, and sometimes brought to the table whole on a metal skewer. Czech Wikipedia explains that roast pork knuckle is considered a traditional Bavarian dish (Schweinshaxe in German), called Stelze in Austria, and is just as popular in the Czech Republic; the knuckle is usually marinated or pre-boiled, then roasted until the skin blisters and crisps, and can be served with potato dumplings and red cabbage, or with sauerkraut and potatoes. English Wikipedia notes that northern Germany has another version that is cured and then boiled (Eisbein). In Prague, roast pork knuckle is a large dish on the menus of traditional beer halls and restaurants, often shared among several people, with local Pilsner-style beer.

Local customs

• One pork knuckle is a large portion, often shared by two or three people
• once served, cut the meat off the bone with a knife and slice the skin
• eat it with mustard and horseradish, with pickles or bread to cut the richness
• in Czech beer halls, the server keeps your tab on your beer mat or a slip of paper, and everything is settled together at the end.

Religion & beliefs

• Roast pork knuckle has nothing to do with religion
• it belongs to the meat-eating and beer hall culture of Central Europe, and Czech beer halls are places for everyday socialising among locals. It is a pork dish and does not suit travellers with halal or kosher dietary needs, who can order beef goulash (guláš) or other dishes instead.

Travel tips

• Traditional beer halls and restaurants in Prague's Old Town, Lesser Town and New Town serve roast pork knuckle
• a meal takes about an hour and a half, and popular places can be booked for dinner. Before ordering, check whether the price is per 100 grams or for the whole knuckle, and ask the server to confirm the weight if needed. You can combine it with Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and the Lesser Town. Dietary notes: the knuckle is pork and high in fat, so it is unsuitable for those who don't eat pork
• the accompanying bread and dumplings contain gluten
• Czech beer halls center on beer, and drivers must not drink (the Czech Republic has zero tolerance for drunk driving), but you can order non-alcoholic beer. Prices and opening hours are as set by each shop
• popular old establishments often have queues, so avoiding peak mealtimes is more relaxed.