Polski Smak

By Annella Kochanowski

One very defining aspect of Poland is the abundance of delicious food. Walking through the streets of Krakow the statement holds true; the food here is great! On any given daily stroll to the Rynek (the city center) coming across cute little fresh produce markets is not only a treat, but a common occurrence. Also scattering the city are many different restaurants and cafés all serving authentic Polish dishes and a surprising variety of other ethnic foods as well. For instance, there’s a nice Chinese restaurant on the main floor of our dorm building (Dom Studenckie Piast), and just a short walk down the road you’ll find a pizzeria that serves up many nice Italian appetizers. Take a walk across the Planta to Kazimierz and you’re sure to find all sorts of fun places to grab a bite. I was delighted when we came across a themed restaurant decorated with musical instruments and all sorts of little musical trinkets

Some of the best deals can be found at the Bar Mleczny. Even before you walk in, the smell of good, homemade cooking emanates through the windows. Translating to “Milk Bar,” these little soup-kitchen-esque establishments are ideal for the average college student when you can get a plateful of pierogi for a handful of change. Translating the menu can be a bit tricky without a Polish-English dictionary but ordering blind is always fun since it all tastes so good.

Polski smak! Polish flavor! There sure is something to say about the Polish palate and their preference on flavors! Wandering the isles of the local grocery, the Biedronka (literally meaning “Ladybug”), it becomes quite clear the Poles have acquired a taste for certain things. Some of the more interesting foods I’ve encountered here include paprika flavored potato chips, beet and dill pickle flavored ramen noodles, not sweet sweets, and black current EVERYTHING (from juice and donut filling to oatmeal).

Growing up in a very Polish household I was already familiar with many of the traditional Polish dishes served in all the restaurants here. For starters, we all know what a kielbasa is (they have them here too) and from kebabs to chicken stir-fry, cabbage is the condiment of choice in this Eastern country. Some other popular dishes include: Gołąbki (stuffed cabbage rolls) often served up with a good dollop of creamy mushroom sauce; pierogi (imagine giant ravioli or stuffed noodles) can be filled with almost anything such as (more) cabbage, mushrooms, meat, potatoes and cheese, or even fruit. I’ve been told the best way to wash down a meal here is with a locally brewed piwo. Some of the preferred labels are Żywiec and Ksiąz. I, myself, prefer a nice hot cup of herbata (tea).

My word of advice to the hungry traveler in Poland: Loosen your belt and prepare to feast on the Polski smak!