Ward Goes to Poland, Food

 
Ward recently took a trip to Poland, and he is sharing some of his experiences here. 

This was a family sampler (otherwise known as the "Trough of Variety) we had in Wadowice. There was more food than the four of us could eat.

I didn't know anything about Polish food before I went. Still don't know much, except what I saw in restaurants where we ate most of our meals. Here's a summary of my restaurant adventures.

Pierogis are considered the national food of Poland. You'll find these on _every_ menu in _every_ restaurant. Pierogis are dumplings, always boiled, then sometimes baked or sauteed. They are made with unleavened dough, wrapped around a variety of fillings, including potato, cheese, sauerkraut, different meats, mushrooms, and more. Sweet varieties have fruits or berries. The dough sometimes includes mashed potatoes for a smoother consistency. Savory pierogies are often topped with bacon bits, sour cream, or caramelized onions. They are typically served six on a plate with toppings. My favorites were the sauteed pierogis.

Typical plate, this was a variety plate with two each of meat, mushroom and sauerkraut filling. I cut them in half so I could tell which was which.

An interesting side note on the pluralization of the word pierogi:

• one pierog (PEE-er-oog)
• two or three or four - pierogi (pyeh-ROH-ghee)
• five or more - pierogow (pyeh-ROH-goo)

A family member described it like this - Mr. Pierog, Mr. and Mrs. Pierogi, or the extended Pierogow family.

These are larger than normal.

Another meal I frequently encountered was goulash with potato pancakes. The goulash (stew, usually pork) is sometimes served on the potato pancakes (see photo above, across the table), other times separately in a bowl (see photo below).


We got a lot of soup and had it at almost every meal. It was usually either tomato or a traditional sour rye soup that is sometimes served in a sourdough bread bowl.

There was a hard-boiled egg in the soup.

When we stopped for lunch in Kielce on our way to Łomża, I had what may have been the best tomato soup I've had on this trip (even though I've been pleasantly surprised with pretty much every meal I've had on this trip).

And schnitzel was a common option on most menus. Basically, country-fried steak, either chicken or pork.

I think a lot of Polish words translate to "salad". This plate had schnitzel, French fries, salad, salad, and salad.

We got vegetables at every meal. Not surprising except for breakfast (in my experience). Hotel breakfasts include scrambled eggs with bacon, sausage (looked like boiled hot dogs), sliced tomato and cucumber, sliced breads (toasted if you like), and butter.

We ate very well on our trip, and I liked all the food I had. Surprisingly, none of us gained any weight. I guess it was all the walking we were doing. The only thing I really missed and wanted to have when I got home was a good burger. I rarely saw hamburgers on the menu.

Until next time...

P.S. Can't leave without mentioning the "Kremowka z Wadowice" aka "Pope Pies". Before he was Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla was a priest in Wadowice, and he loved these pastries from a particular bakery in town. Then, after he was Pope, he mentioned that in an interview, which resulted in the bakery becoming famous for its Pope Pies.

Pope pies