Anna J
1 Jun 2007 / #1
On the basis of my recent observations, the culinary affections of the Poles have changed significantly during the last few years. The pork chop with mashed potatoes and cooked cabbage do not satisfy the taste of the majority of the Polish consumers any more. If you browse through female magazines or watch popular television programs related to the subject of food, you will easily notice that now it is sushi, Italian pastas, French pate and even more sophisticated dishes that are popular among the Polish restaurant goers. In particular in big cities, due to higher financial possibilities of their inhabitants, people have a big craving for Thai, Mexican, Italian, Russian and other types of exotic food. Some of them not only go to restaurants but they also try to prepare foreign sophisticated dishes at home to impress their friends or to add some variety to their mundane eating habits. Below, I would like to provide examples of the most prominent contemporary modern food trends in Poland.
Firstly, the most vivid phenomena on the culinary map of big cities are the places offering sushi. There are two attitudes towards this dish in Poland. On the one hand, there is a great group of sushi lovers (by the way, it is the name of the chain of Japanese restaurants in Poland) praising the Japanese specialty for its unique taste, organic character of its ingredients and dedication put into preparation of it. On the other hand, there are those who claim that is trendy to be a fan of sushi because it somehow lifts your status in the society. The last group of typical “down to earth” consumers claims that sushi has no taste at all and it is just a piece of raw fish. However, you can order it in many places not only in Warsaw, even at a lake district and in the mountains, or buy it in the large supermarkets.
The other food that is gaining a supreme place in the hearts of the Polish culinary aficionados are the specialties of the Mediterranean cuisine. Almost all restaurant goers know not only the name but also the taste of tiramisu, pana cota, musaka, lasagna, rigatone, etc. The choice of Italian food in Poland is no longer limited to pizza served with ketchup which would probably be perceived by the native Italians as a great sin. Moreover, it is no longer a problem to buy hundred types of pasta or macaroni and various types of Italian cheese in the more upscale food stores.
The third type of food, which is quite new in Poland is a Mexican food. However, here I cannot present the situation in a positive light. The Mexican food I had a chance to try in Poland is incomparable to the one I tried in the United States, not to mention Mexico itself. With no doubt there will be no problem with finding lots of places offering tacos, quesadillas, guacamole (Just to mention a few in Warsaw: Taquerilla Mexicana, which I strongly recommend, as well as EL Popo, Blue Cactus) but their quality will be far below the expectations. Most of these places offer rather Mexican fast food than national cuisine.
Above, I named only the upper level of the recent culinary tastes of the Poles but I cannot avoid mentioning the fact that there is 24 h line on one of the main streets of Warsaw – Marszalkowska leading to two similar looking booths selling Turkish and Arab food: pitas, kebabs, shawarmas and baklava. There are many reasons which help to understand this phenomenon. Firstly, this food is affordable. It quickly satisfies hunger due to its generous quantity. Moreover, those small bars are open late and are perfect destination for the party goers seeking desperately for some bite after hard dancing night.
Thanks to restaurant owners like Magda Gessler, Kreglicki family and the owner of very much renowned among the foreigners coming to Warsaw – Miedzy Nami, the Polish food also regains its unique and sophisticated character. Even simple and traditional Polish dishes are served in a way pleasant for the eyes. The food is lighter, more healthy, prepared from the organic ingredients and seasoned with herbs.
In my opinion it is wonderful that Poles are becoming more and more open to culinary novelties and are willing to introduce them into their home menus. However, at the same time it is positive that we still want to preserve a strong national character of our exemplary dishes like bigos, pierogi, wild mushroom soup and potato pancakes. Only in Poland can you try them and they will taste amazingly and remind you of your childhood and the way your grandma used to prepare them.
Anna J
Firstly, the most vivid phenomena on the culinary map of big cities are the places offering sushi. There are two attitudes towards this dish in Poland. On the one hand, there is a great group of sushi lovers (by the way, it is the name of the chain of Japanese restaurants in Poland) praising the Japanese specialty for its unique taste, organic character of its ingredients and dedication put into preparation of it. On the other hand, there are those who claim that is trendy to be a fan of sushi because it somehow lifts your status in the society. The last group of typical “down to earth” consumers claims that sushi has no taste at all and it is just a piece of raw fish. However, you can order it in many places not only in Warsaw, even at a lake district and in the mountains, or buy it in the large supermarkets.
The other food that is gaining a supreme place in the hearts of the Polish culinary aficionados are the specialties of the Mediterranean cuisine. Almost all restaurant goers know not only the name but also the taste of tiramisu, pana cota, musaka, lasagna, rigatone, etc. The choice of Italian food in Poland is no longer limited to pizza served with ketchup which would probably be perceived by the native Italians as a great sin. Moreover, it is no longer a problem to buy hundred types of pasta or macaroni and various types of Italian cheese in the more upscale food stores.
The third type of food, which is quite new in Poland is a Mexican food. However, here I cannot present the situation in a positive light. The Mexican food I had a chance to try in Poland is incomparable to the one I tried in the United States, not to mention Mexico itself. With no doubt there will be no problem with finding lots of places offering tacos, quesadillas, guacamole (Just to mention a few in Warsaw: Taquerilla Mexicana, which I strongly recommend, as well as EL Popo, Blue Cactus) but their quality will be far below the expectations. Most of these places offer rather Mexican fast food than national cuisine.
Above, I named only the upper level of the recent culinary tastes of the Poles but I cannot avoid mentioning the fact that there is 24 h line on one of the main streets of Warsaw – Marszalkowska leading to two similar looking booths selling Turkish and Arab food: pitas, kebabs, shawarmas and baklava. There are many reasons which help to understand this phenomenon. Firstly, this food is affordable. It quickly satisfies hunger due to its generous quantity. Moreover, those small bars are open late and are perfect destination for the party goers seeking desperately for some bite after hard dancing night.
Thanks to restaurant owners like Magda Gessler, Kreglicki family and the owner of very much renowned among the foreigners coming to Warsaw – Miedzy Nami, the Polish food also regains its unique and sophisticated character. Even simple and traditional Polish dishes are served in a way pleasant for the eyes. The food is lighter, more healthy, prepared from the organic ingredients and seasoned with herbs.
In my opinion it is wonderful that Poles are becoming more and more open to culinary novelties and are willing to introduce them into their home menus. However, at the same time it is positive that we still want to preserve a strong national character of our exemplary dishes like bigos, pierogi, wild mushroom soup and potato pancakes. Only in Poland can you try them and they will taste amazingly and remind you of your childhood and the way your grandma used to prepare them.
Anna J