Polish food strikes a delicate balance between old-world taste and new-world technique. Many Polish dishes date back to the Middle Ages with recipes that have been passed down from one generation to the next with great appreciation for the nation’s culinary heritage. Polish classics, like sausage and dumplings, are widely loved, while other local favorites, like pickled fish and beet soup, have a growing international following. It is encouraged to keep an open mind and a healthy appetite when visiting Poland. To learn more, local guide Mr. Szymon Gatlik from Krakow Food & Travel, a Polish food tour in Krakow, shares his knowledge about food in Krakow.

Mr. Szymon Gatlik, Kraków Food and Travel

How would you describe the Polish food in Krakow? And, what are some common flavors?

Polish food uses local products and old recipes to create traditional dishes. At the same time, there is more and more willingness to explore and experiment, however still within Poland’s gastronomic heritage. The food is tasty, traditionally meaty, but not too fatty and heavy, while at the same time, it embraces seasonality using fresh vegetables, fruit, forest mushrooms and berries.

What are some of the most authentic Polish dishes?

The first food to taste should definitely be the pierogi (dumplings) with different fillings like pork meat, sauerkraut and mushroom, sweet cheese, spicy cheese and many others. Other very traditional foods include rosół (broth), red borscht (red beet soup), żurek (sour oath soup) and bigos (slow cooked sauerkraut and meat). There’s also a number of products enjoying a revival in the past 10 or so years, like lamb and poultry (mostly goose and duck), venison meat and local fish varieties (trout, carp, zander, herring).

Roast Pork Hock

Chlodnik Soup

Polish Herrings

What may surprise travelers about Polish cuisine?

I always say that the most surprising thing is that people come with no initial image of Polish food whatsoever, and they usually leave with impressions of great tastes, lovely dish presentations and still very friendly prices. The average price for a main dish is 8 to 16 GBP, but you can enjoy a great 2-course lunch for just about 10 GBP, including a drink. You can also enjoy a lovely fine dining 7-course tasting menu in one of the best restaurants in Kraków, my city, for around 90 to 100 GBP.

What is the proper way to drink vodka in Poland?

Visitors should definitely have a shot or two (50 or 100 grams each) of vodka together with a cold snack like pickled herring or sour jelly with pieces of meat and cooked veggies inside.

Why is the pierogi so popular in Poland? And, does the filling change depending on the region?

I can’t tell you really why the pierogi is such a beloved dish, but it has always been a tradition. Most people in Poland knows how to prepare them. It is a cheap, filling and tasty dish, and it can be prepared with so many different fillings. There are even sweet versions with things like strawberries and blueberries. The tastes are basically the same in the whole of the country, with just some minor variations in some parts (e.g. sheep cheese in the mountain areas).

Pierogi

What are some unique Polish dishes that travelers must try?

Beef tartare, the Polish style, and also fried carp, tripe and pickled forest mushrooms. All classics of the Polish cuisine.

Which Polish city has the best food culture?

Definitely my city, Kraków, which now holds the title of the European Capital of Gastronomic Culture. The next big event in the city will be, believe it or not, a famous Pierogi Festival, August 15­–18, 2019. You should also check out some of the open-air food events like Najedzeni Fest and Art & Food Bazar. I am involved in the slow food movement, so I organize an event called Slow Food Masterclass, which is a series of tasting dinners and meetings of international and Polish chefs dedicated to slow food values. On September 26, 2019, we will host Peter McKenna from the lovely The Gannet in Glasgow.

Thank you, Szymon!

Check out 5 easy-to-make Polish recipes at home (courtesy of the Polish Tourism Organization).

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