Food / Poland and the Juice [35]

I love black currant juice, and was puzzled about why I couldn't find it in the United States. I could find black currant syrup for pancakes or sometimes black currant jam, the jam clearly coming from Europe. Just this past week I saw it in local, very high end, supermarket. From going to the web site: currantC I now know why I couldn't find it in the United States. Little did I know that black currants had been banned in the United States for nearly 100 years. People in Poland will be amazed to know I paid the equivalent of 13 PLN for 0.5 liter. I think that would cost me about 2 PLN in Poland!

Travel / What is a milk bar and are there any still remaining in Poland? [14]

These are simple restaurants in which the meals are subsidized by the government and so the prices are lower. They are beginning to disappear. I've seen very few in my travels through Poland in the past couple of years.

Travel / Ukraine / Poland border travel [12]

A great time to arrive is on the weekend because vehicle traffic is totally shut down in the central city, and everyone is out enjoying the weekend. I love Saturday afternoon in L'viv. There were countless wedding parties and many, many people out walking, men playing chess, it was amazing.

Food / Best donuts in Warsaw? [22]

It's probably wise to go to McDonald's with a critical eye, but be aware that McDonald's sells many things in other countries that arent' sold in the U.S. Whether it's sold in the U. S. or not is not a good standard of measure. Last summer McDonald's in Poland had all kinds of shrimp dishes, in conjunction with the Olympics, that never saw the light of day in the U.S.

Food / Baking soda/wodoroweglan sodu - where do I buy it? [7]

Baking soda is often used for cleaning. I would be careful to review the package materials and make certain what you buy can be used in food. In the U.S we often put baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb odor. Baking soda poured down a drain followed by vinegar is a way to clean out an oil glog. The most common brand in the U.S is Arm and Hammer. My box says it can be used for baking, cleaning and deordizing. Good luck.

Life / Hej Sokoły - Ukrainian version of this Polish song. [16]

I was told this song was much older than being a 20th century song. Does anyone know?

Travel / WrocLOVE or Wroclaw,which is the better ? [8]

Thanks for the photos. I'll be there in July. Looking forward to seeing with my eyes.

Travel / Safety when visiting a Polish city. [8]

Just use the usual street smarts that you would use in any large city anywhere in the world.

Life / Poles in Poland: How did you learn your English? [60]

This summer I will be in Poland doing three language camps. One camp is with high school students who have studied a good bit of English. What is the best way a native speaker can help students such as this? This is my third time of doing this, so I'm not a novice, but I become a better teacher.

Life / Polish city streets - why do trucks go around spraying water on them ? [28]

Probably for the same reason in my city in the U.S. Clean up the streets.

Food / [Quiz] And you thought you knew Polish cuisine? (in Polish language) [27]

Doing it all with my minimal Polish skills and my eating experience I got 4 of 10 correct. I didnt use a translator nor Google anything.

Travel / Getting from Wroclaw to Krakow [15]

I've ridden many 2nd class trains in Poland and have never been met with anything but kindness. I'm sorry to see those negative comments above.

Travel / Zakopane! At last! Holiday advice visits. [11]

Give considersation to the Hotel Wanta. It has a nice location, the rooms are comfortable, the food is good. It is place where Polish people will stay. Some staff speak a bit of English, but will always provide you with the very best service.

Food / TINNED CORN (MAIZE) GALORE IN POLAND [11]

Well, here is a response from a genuine Iowa farm girl. Sweet corn has always been a major vegetable in the United States and is nearly my favorite. I never regarded it as the poor person's vegetable. We ate corn, green beans, yellow string beans, -- in the spring and summer also lettuce, radishes, and asparagus from the garden -- and then in the late summer comes the tomatoes.

When I was growing up, my father planted rows of sweet corn just across the driveway from the house. One put a pot of water on the stove and walked across the driveway to pick the ears of corn. They went into the pot of water only about 5 minutes after coming off the stock. This quick cooking helps the corn to stay sweet; when corn got old, that is starchy, my dad always said it was ready for the animals.

One eats corn on the cob with plenty of butter and salt. One of my grandfathers also added pepper. I feel sorry for anyone who has never had treat of corn on the cob. Since I grew up in the 1960s freezing had become the major way to save food, rather than canning. We also picked the corn on the cob and cut it off the cobs and froze at least 60 quarts to last all winter until the next season.

I find it strange to find corn in so many unusual foods in Poland. Yes, we make cole slaw (cabbage salad) in the midwest of the United States, but no one puts sweet corn in it. Vegetables such as peas, corn, and green beans are eaten rather simply in the U.S, not mixed up with other things. The only thing I can think about adding corn to would be vegetable soup.

Food / Recipe for mince meat dish? [13]

Mince meat has a different take in some cultures. I think of meat,usually we used roast beef, mixed with apples and lots of spices such as cinnamon and cloves. My mother mixedTtogether and baked it a very low heat in the oven for something like 10-12 hours. This is put into a pie. In the U.S. one seldom now finds real mince meat; rather it is only the apple mixture. Meatballs are something quite different.

Food / TINNED CORN (MAIZE) GALORE IN POLAND [11]

Polenta is made from what we call in the United States as corn meal. One can also use the corn meal to bread fish, for example, before frying it. It can also be used to make corn bread.

Travel / Wireless Internet connection in Poland [18]

On international flights I've never seen an Internet connection on the plane.