What to eat in Poland when you are a pain

I will be visiting Poland this spring and I’m a little worried about the eating arrangements, I don’t eat butter or margarine and generally only use olive oil [although I will eat pork and goose fat]- I don’t drink milk and I’m not a great fan of eggs. I can explain away the butter/ milk by claiming a lactose intolerance [in truth it just makes me vomit] and the margarine and eggs is just a matter of personal taste. I also have some problems with certain cheeses, hard cows cheese doesn’t cause problems, and [ewe’s] sheep cheese is fine, but ‘cottage’ type cheese will make me sick.

I’m not entirely alien to Polish cooking, my GF likes to cook, and as long as she observes the above proscriptions it’s very nice [mainly she cooks perogi/pancakes and zupa- however she’s vegetarian [what a couple we make!] so I don’t have any knowledge of meat dishes beyond an English language cookery book on Polish cuisine, although I love the sausages from the Polish Deli.

I do find that the food my GF cooks is very heavy, but I think Polish portions are made for ‘working people’ and not a soft arse Briton like me.

OK, enough life story: What the hell am I going to eat? I will be visiting her family and I don’t want to offend them, although GF can explain my dietary disabilities in advance to avoid embarrassment I hope. Will I have to survive on ‘picnic’ foods based on vegetables, sausage, cheese and bread, or will restaurants be an option?

Can anyone suggest any dishes I might be happy ordering, my Polish is limited so I’ll need the Polish and English explanation of the dish- I can then take a list with me of dishes I’m likely to enjoy- GF can help with pronunciation.

Thanks guys [and girls]

I say kapusta and potato should do.

sorry, what is kapusta?

"kapusta" in Polish is "cabbage" in English.

You can get almost everything in Poland.
The Salads are excellent, called "Surówka".
In Zakopane you can get "Oscypek". Cheese made from goat or sheep milk.
Soups- "Zupa" are delicious, my favorite is "Zupa Grzybowa". Mushroom soup.
You can try "Barszcz" - beet soup. Excellent.

At least you are willing to try... once I traveled with a friend from the US who brought her own bottled water with her... 1/2 a suitcase full... Never again!

Some of the restaurants will have a little description of the food in English. I found this quite often in Wroclaw & Krakow. Also suggest one of those Polish prase books. Lots of great menu info in there.

Hmmm... when I ordered salad it was Salatky. ???

Yes, "sałatka" is salad and "sorówka" comes from the word "raw", which can be raw red cabbage salad, tomato salad, vegetable salad. It's the same thing.

I think I have add I’m not keen on cabbage [I can eat it raw in salads] and I don’t eat mayonnaise- I know I sound like a wind up but I’m being honest. Anyway Polish GF isn’t any better in the UK, when we go to a restaurant it can’t be no smoking and it has to serve chips and coleslaw, as that is the only British [?] food she‘ll eat unless I cook it.

Anyway I won’t be defeated, I’m not going to Poland to avoid Polish food- I’m already in love with the mushrooms and sausages and I’m sure I’ll find much more to enjoy even with my fussy eating habits.