In the Interwar period, the factory workers of the Železarna Jesenice iron foundry were entitled to a 10-minute lunch break during each shift. Their meals were either brought to them by family members or they brought something along themselves. Most often, their lunch was simply okisan fržov – cooked kidney beans with some onions in vinegar-and-salt ‘dressing’. After WWII, the Železar kitchen and canteen facility was introduced and initially, they even served beer. Since many workers drank too much during shifts, some even adding brandy to it, beer was soon removed from the menu despite the objections of the workers’ union. The workers’ families lived modest lives. The factory provided them with a roof over their heads and the basic necessities of life. The food was simple but the ingenious housewives knew how to prepare many delicious meals from the limited choice (and amount) of ingredients.