While Poland is probably known more for its recent tragic history than anything else, one thing that sustained war and strife is its rich culinary heritage. From delectable drinks to traditional fare, Poland’s food is sure to please.Soups with bread for dipping is a must for Polish cuisine. Made from homemade and thick tomatoes or the lighter sweet and sour
beet root, the cold weather necessities this starting course. Paired with the traditional 
Polish pilsners like Zywiec or Okocim, cold drinks complement the warm starters well. But for those looking for a bit of the “special” in their choice of beverage, try the hot chocolate. This Polish specialty is literally what the name implies: thick rich melted chocolate available in white, milk, or dark.As for main courses, plate-size potato pancakes, softball-size pork knuckle, and Kielbasa served street-side are musts. And the late night cuisine of choice? Zapiekanka. This Polish style pizza served on baguette topped with cheese, ketchup, and choice of topping complements well an evening of beer drinking. But bring a friend when you order...you may need a bit of help eating it!
While potato pancakes, pork knuckle, and pizza are staples in Polish cuisine, the king of them all is pierogi. Arriving in quantities from 6 to 12, these Polish ravioli-type snacks come in all tastes and flavors. Fillings range from potato with cheese (Ruskie) to spinach to groats and liver (Kresowe) and are typically topped with onion infused oil and pork drippings if you’re lucky. Or for a bit of a gourmet twist on the traditional try pierogis stuffed with lentil, chicken, or chickpeas.
Polish cuisine is more than just a pleasant surprise, it's a truly pleasurable culinary experience.
Poland's culinary heritage sustained war and strife?
ReplyDeleteYup! The buildings (and pretty much everything else) didn't survive, but the couldn't destroy culture (especially their cultural heritage). Thank God, because Pierogis are awesome!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you mean survived, not sustained. sustained implies that the culinary heritage fueled the war.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny...I'm actually working on a paper about linguistic ambiguity right now.=) Perhaps sustained (meaning to put up with something painful or difficult; to endure) would be less ambiguous if I had written "sustained through war and strife"!
ReplyDeleteI would never survive writing legal documents...I'm a very ambiguous writer! Ha!
Hmmm. I see what you mean. Guess the audience and tone/content have a lot to do with your choice. Funny that you're talking about food and use the less obvious definition of sustain. Was that travelogue irony?
ReplyDeleteHa! I'll say yes to that...irony it is=)
ReplyDelete