Lively, with enthusiasm and cheerful revelry! That was the Žolinė celebration at the “Grandmothers’ Residence.” The spacious restaurant courtyard was colored with meadow and garden flowers, grandmothers dressed in national costumes tied Žolinė bouquets, and guests were invited to perform one of the most important rituals of the festival – throwing dough over the fire to bake bread. Grandmother Virgutė kneaded a whole tub of bread dough and joined the unusual fun with the residence visitors.
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Traditional activities were accompanied by fun games: some picked peas from grains, others tied bouquets for a contest, and others competed in herb recognition tasks. Throughout the day, the residence courtyard was bustling with a wheel of fortune, giving away many prizes. Throughout the celebration, as is customary for Lithuanians, there was no shortage of dancing. From the afternoon, dancers from the Palanga Cultural Center’s folk dance group “Banguolis” and the Palanga Third Age University dance ensemble “Jūrė” were tapping here, and in the evening, the Birutė and Anželika Petrikytė duo invited visitors to the dance floor.
The restaurant’s idea was born from childhood memories
“Yes, I know that’s what they already call us. We certainly don’t lack hustle and good mood,” said Rokas Galvonas, founder of the “Grandmothers’ Residence,” smiling and himself caught up in the wild dance frenzy on the evening of the celebration. “How could I not dance with the grandmothers? It’s simply impossible!”
And indeed – there is simply no chance not to dance in this place. The grandmothers (as R. Galvonas himself affectionately calls the working grandmothers here – ed.) find even the most remote seated customer and very simply, with their characteristic temperament, energy, and broad smile, involve them in the whirl of fun.
“What is our secret to success? That we do everything very simply, sincerely, truly, and most importantly – consistently,” reflects the entrepreneur, chef, and social media content creator R. Galvonas.
The “Grandmothers’ Residence” was born precisely from his childhood memories: “I spent my entire childhood with my grandmother. I watched how with love, patience, and dedication she passed on her knowledge to me, working in the kitchen with the same mood and tirelessly performing traditional farm and field tasks throughout the year… From those times, I have an ever-growing love and respect for the elderly, Lithuanian customs, and, of course, the food prepared by my grandmother. That is why this place was created to pass all these feelings on to our visitors, to help them return to what is important.”
Having fun and infecting others with joy
What happens on summer evenings at the “Grandmothers’ Residence” reminds some of the final of the TV show “Duokim garo” season competitions, others of a giant family party, and others of nostalgic post-war times when women, having lost their husbands, danced energetically in pairs with each other…
How could we not talk to the very culprits of this wild hustle and bustle? Grandmother Virgutė not only baked bread with the restaurant guests during Žolinė but also, as always, devoted herself to the allure of dancing. “Where does my passion for dance come from? Probably I was born that way? I never sit in the corner of the hall during celebrations. I have fun myself and try to infect others with my joy,” Virgutė said joyfully, calling her favorite dances “Malūnėlis” and “Polka with horns.” According to her, Lithuanians have a Nordic nature; they need to be stirred up, and then they won’t want to leave the celebration until dawn.
As grandmother Raimonda says, she simply lives joyfully. Music gives the woman energy and joy. Raimonda is convinced that people are most driven to dance by schlager music. She is one of those grandmothers for whom gathering everyone into a common dance circle or lining them up into a “train” is a piece of cake. “I always feel that feedback from the guests, and that is the most important thing to me,” the energetic interlocutor reveals.
“Dancing? I just live for it!” proudly declares grandmother Fausta, who has danced for many years in the Palanga ensemble “Banguolis.” She combines dancing with work at the “Grandmothers’ Residence.” She is convinced that her lifestyle is due to her inability to stay still and her desire to organize everything. Together with the restaurant guests, she braided wreaths and tied bouquets on the day of the celebration.
Undisputed leaders – cepelinai
Visitors to the “Grandmothers’ Residence” know – true Lithuanian flavors here are always accompanied by emotion. So let’s talk about flavors with Rokas himself. The well-known chef says that the favorites of the “Grandmothers’ Residence” are still cepelinai. Last year, as many as 38,000 portions were sold. This year, R. Galvonas hopes to surpass the 40,000 mark.
“After cepelinai, ribs come next. Visitors also really like the locally cooked aspic here: who nowadays could afford to stand for several hours by a steaming pot at home,” Rokas smiles.
Among drinks, according to the kitchen expert, the leading position is held by homemade bread kvass, and for sweets, people choose žagarėliai, and they also cannot resist Napoleon, Honey, and the traditional meringue cake “Jubiliejinis.”
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