Polish food

Here in southern CA we have a Polish church in Yorba Linda. They have a festival where the woman cook great polish food but it's available once a year. polishcenter.org

San Francisco has a great polish restaurant, Old Krakow. Check their menu at http://dziuggy.com/ok/

The Houston Press published a review of Polonia, a Polish restaurant and store, this week:

http://www.poloniarestaurant.com

http://www.houstonpress.com/Issues/2006-11-02/dining/cafe_full.html

There is also a review on line in the Houston Chronicle Dining guide from last year.

I just posted about this in the kolache thread in the International forum here on Roadfood. I know nothing of Polish food but I'm going to be checking it out.

Best place I know is my sister-in-laws kitchen. She makes her own kielbasa etc. which she learned about from Grandma ---who else !!!! Now to get to Barbara and Matts house you take the LIE to Exit --------------

Last week after going for a check up, at Hines V.A. Hospital, in Maywood, Il, I drove into Chicago, and did my Polish food shopping, and ate a great Polish meal. Thank God, that, Chicago still cares to take care of the wonderful Polish people. I hope this never changes. Whenever I can, I take my grandchildren with me to share this great thing. We must keep this alive. I do my part, do you?

Why can't we bring this great foods out to all areas? Does the public not want to eat Polish foods? Or have they not tried them?

What do you think.

Certainly people in areas that have (or had) a large Polish population, still eat Polish; and there are usually at least some good restaurants in those areas.
"Polish food" though, is really very similar (identical in many cases) to the foods that are eaten by other ethnicities that came to America such as Russian, German, Slovenian, Czech, and many others from Eastern European origin. The "style" of food is actually pretty common, particularly in peoples homes.

When it comes to keeping a culture alive, it all comes down to what parents take the time to raise their children with. It's really a decision that has to be made consciously by the parents when children are very young.
It is said that children thrive on "routine", and that would certainly include regularly occurring traditions ... especially seasonal, whether strawberry picking and then cooking and canning with the kids - or a Lenten season tradition like Karneval (which is a 4 month season) etc.; and other holiday traditions, especially the food traditions.

In my family, because we are only one generation removed from the old country on both sides, we have always practiced many traditions (Italian on fathers, and on my mother's: German (actually Ostpreusen, Eastern Prussian ... the only "true" Germans according to my late grandmother ...(ahem) ;-) ... Prussia is sometimes referred to as Royal Germany from the days when Germany had a monarchy ... I digress).

As an adult, I've come back to many of the traditions from my childhood.
It is a shame more parents don't take a moment to think thru some traditions to establish with their kids. It's so simple; and it means so much.

quote:

Originally posted by buffetbuster

Anyone familiar with chrusciki? I had never heard of it until I tried it for the first time earlier today from Forgotten Taste Famous Pierogies, which I mentioned in an earlier post. It is described as an angel wing pastry covered in powdered sugar. It was quite delicious, along with the stuffed cabbage, sauerkraut pierogies and green beans I had for lunch. I am really going to enjoy having a Polish take-out place so close by!

Buffetbuster, Chrusciki are the Perfect Polish Pastry! I've heard them called faworki as well and translated as "twiglets". I don't care what they're called. As long as they are crisp and break apart when you bite them and not "chewy", I could live on them! I have not been able to find good ones in any store/bakery here in Canada. Then again, could anything match my Mama's chrusciki!

Trishaidekaphobia, also called "Khrusty" or "Nothings". We're lucky enough to have several eastern European markets here, one of which that sells them. I have an authentic Ukranian recipe for them, but haven't ever made them myself.

Bobacks is like the McDonalds of Polish food, not as good as you make at home, or what your grandmother made, but O.K., beter than none.

quote:

Originally posted by burgerman206

Dear Aleswench,
Where do you live in New Jersey; which exit? Seriously, though, I think a lot of us Northeast "Roadfoodlers" would like to know which town you're talking about. You describe commuters heading home. Sounds like it's near a NJ Transit train station. Could it be Linden, or is it further north?! There is a good perogi factory and cafe across the street from the Roselle Park train station -- I believe it's on Chestnut Street. Delicious Perogies, Inc.; don't have the phone number handy. All the traditional variations of potato and----, as well as some really good fruit-filled ones. (Cherry and blueberry are my favorites!!!) Get there before 2 or 3pm, as the fruit ones sell out the earliest. You can also buy them frozen by the dozen to take home.

The two Polish deli's I was talking about are on Route 23 in the Butler/Kinnelon area. One is on 23 North, and one on 23 South. The one on 23 South is on the corner of Boonton Ave, and on 23 North in a small strip mall just past Boonton Ave. Haven't been to either in while, come to think of it! Sue

What will you all eat for your Polish Christmas eve and day meal?

Many of us, eat the same meal each year, do you? If yes what will it be?

Does anyone still put straw on the table for this meal? Do you know why we do?

Do you still exchange the waffer on this meal? Do you know what this is for?

I got three Wigilia's to go to this year ... two are vegetarian, the third serves meat. The big public Wigilia we had to buy tickets for ($20 per ticket) ... the other vegetarian Wigilia one is at the Rectory of our Church with the Pastor of the parish and about 40 other people. The third one that's not vegetarian is at my girlfriend's neighbor's house (Górale if there ever were some).
The one at the Church Rectory is our main Wigilia which, this year, is on Saturday the 23rd because Christmas Eve is on a Sunday ... and you can't fast on a Sunday - Wigilia is a "black fast" - no meat.

Yup, we put straw under the tablecloth (we always make sure the longest one is at Father's seat - good luck and long life and all) I'm told the tradition is to remind people of the manger ... yup, there are Oplatki at all of them ... and the littlest kids are always sent out to look for the star.

And after dinner, while the children go to see if the dog and cat will talk to them yet, the rest of us have a little Krupnik and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Great information for all, but what is Krupnik?

Any others have any input on this? Like what you will be having to eat?

Do you all go meatless on Eve? What do you have?

What do you have on the day?

In New Jersey, very good Polish cuisine is served at Tania's, Grove Street, Jersey City.
The Bear

Krupnik is 80proof Honey-Liqueur

Since Grandma died several years ago, our family has been kind of lax about the whole Wigilia meal, but this year all the cousins will be in town and we are trying to remember all the Polish traditions. We always did the hay under the tablecloth, and set an extra place setting for an unexpected visitor (or was it for the baby Jesus?). I'm not sure about how many courses the meal had, but it was definitely meatless. I've been doing some web-searching for more info on Wigilia dishes, but I think I need a good Polish cookbook too. (Grandma never measured a thing, and didn't read or write English, so we have no recipes to follow)

This website has been pretty helpful: http://acweb.colum.edu/users/agunkel/homepage/polxmas.html

Some more about Polish Christmas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigilia

Does anyone have a recipe for the honey cakes (Pierniki)?

quote:

Originally posted by Polish guy

Why won't the rest of you, Polish-Americans share with us, your Christmas past and your plans for this one?

Maybe because there aren't a whole lot of Polish Americans on this forum. Here in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, Polish Americans are very few and far between.

I too would like good mail-order sources for Polish foods, of which I'm woefully ignorant.

We're lucky to have two really good Polish stores within 5 miles of my house.

I think it may be the case that there are not a lot of people who practice Polish holiday traditions on the board, even people of Polish descent get away from the customs (just like the other ethnicities eventually do).

quote:

Rick F. Posted - 11/26/2006 : 14:32:04
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I too would like good mail-order sources for Polish foods, of which I'm woefully ignorant.

Rick I know you have been around the block more then a few times so this ought to be a "no brainer" for you....
Google advanced search... with all of the words...."mail-order" " Polish foods"
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22mail-order%22+%22+Polish+foods%22&btnG=Search&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=all

http://www.polana.com/?gclid=CPLYmb6N6IgCFU5xFQodtGZ-og

quote:

Originally posted by fpczyz

quote:

Rick F. Posted - 11/26/2006 : 14:32:04
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I too would like good mail-order sources for Polish foods, of which I'm woefully ignorant.

Rick I know you have been around the block more then a few times so this ought to be a "no brainer" for you....

And you think I have a brain because. . .? The quality's the issue; that's where I'm weak (with hunger? ).

quote:

Rick F. Posted - 11/28/2006 : 11:03:16................ And you think I have a brain because. . .?

you have a point there Rickie....................... lol

Kurowycky on the lower east side of Manhattan is a great Polish butcher that makes great sausages & smoked hams. In Riverhead, on the North Fork of Long Island there is neighborhood called Polish Town which has several good restaurants & marketss (don't remember the names). I do recall one place that advertised as an appetizer a Polish Pu-Pu platter, featuring kielbasa, kraut & pierogies instead of the usual "Polynesian" fare.

quote:

Originally posted by burgerman206

Dear Aleswench,
Where do you live in New Jersey; which exit? Seriously, though, I think a lot of us Northeast "Roadfoodlers" would like to know which town you're talking about. You describe commuters heading home. Sounds like it's near a NJ Transit train station. Could it be Linden, or is it further north?! There is a good perogi factory and cafe across the street from the Roselle Park train station -- I believe it's on Chestnut Street. Delicious Perogies, Inc.; don't have the phone number handy. All the traditional variations of potato and----, as well as some really good fruit-filled ones. (Cherry and blueberry are my favorites!!!) Get there before 2 or 3pm, as the fruit ones sell out the earliest. You can also buy them frozen by the dozen to take home.

Although I see Delicious Pierogies almost every day from the train, I've never been there. Didn't know they had a cafe.

Maybe I can fill in the blanks about Linden, one of NJ's best-kept foodie secrets. Especially for Polish--Linden has a huge population of Polish immigrants, and I know of two great food sources. On Wood Avenue, near the train station, is Pulaski--in addition to imported products, it has all sorts of kielbasca, as well as prepared foods to go. There is another small deli on a side street just across from Pulaski--I don't know anything about it. Then there is Syrena, a deli/butcher located in the National Wholesale Liquidator strip mall on St. Georges Ave, just south of Stiles Street. Smaller and less fancy than Pulaski, I don't like their kielbasca as much, but their prepared meals are outstanding--you get a huge portion of meat (pork chop, chicken cutlet, meatball, etc.), potato (roasted, boiled or mashed), and red cabbage or some other veggie, all for 5 bucks. I get two meals out of one portion. Wish I lived closer.

For dessert, you can go up St. George a short distance to Beinstein's Village Bakery, an old-fashioned Jewish bake shop, one of the few left in NJ.

Charlie

There used to be a polish restaurant in the old downtown section of Lemont, i had quite a few good meals there, Is it still there ?

Where is Lemont?

Does the Polish Guy have any recommendations in the Chicago area to kep the fires burning? You mentioned eating after a visit to Hines...where? Was it good? Where else do you go? How about Fat Tuesday Patzki's - I buy a hundred for the office...all flavors.

Lemont is SW of Chicago along the I&M Canal district

quote:

Originally posted by Polish guy

What are your plans for the Holidays? Share with us, we want to know.

We've had an unbroken tradition for over 30 years of going to our best friends, who live 10 minutes away--they invite about 20 people (usually the same ones every year) for Xmas. I bake some pies for dessert, but they always order miniatures from Bovella's, an excellent Italian bakery in Westfield, NJ. There is enough food to feed twice as many people. We always go back for leftovers the next day.

As part of the same tradition, we have New Years Eve dinner at our place. We reciprocate the Xmas invitation, add a leaf to the dining room table and invite 2 or 3 more couples. Everyone brings champagne, we get blasted, I bake more pies, wife makes a big NY cheesecake. The next day I wake up feeling like the Philadelphia Mummer's Parade is going through my head. Then we serve leftovers to the friends who had us over for Xmas.

quote:

Originally posted by Polish guy

I still can't place it, what is it near? How far from Chicago. I live in Valparaiso, Indiana, so how will I get there?

They invented these new fangled things----They're called MAPS! Check one out!