Our January 2012 Newsletter is out!

See great DISCOUNT OFFERS for SOLO TRAVELERS and our NEW 2012 Culinary Vacation “Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk”!

Gdansk, Pomerania region of Poland.

Have the Best of Both Worlds While Visiting Poland in 2012 – Great Sightseeing and Wonderful Cuisine!

Poland Culinary Vacations are carefully crafted to provide you with an authentic Polish experience. If you’re looking for good value on your 2012 travel to Europe, we can assure you that you’ll find it with us. Our small group tours offer both culinary and cultural activities in major regions including those in beautiful quaint villages in the countryside which are truly unforgettable. Read more…

 

Until next time…Happy Travels!

HAVE A FUN & COLORFUL YEAR!

Happy New Year! Szczesliwego Nowego Roku!

Happy New Year! Szczesliwego Nowego Roku!

May your New Year be filled with peace and prosperity and Thank You for your continued support of Poland Culinary Vacations. We’ve enjoyed traveling and cooking with you in 2011 and are very excited about adding new Poland culinary adventures for you in 2012.

Here’s our New Year offer: if you register and pay in full for any of our 2012 culinary tours in Poland before January 10, you will save 15%. We wish you a happy and prosperous New Year!

Christmas trees, lights and colorful ornaments usually come to mind when we think about Christmas. However, in Poland, Christmas celebrations are always related to feasting  and unique dishes served only during the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Similarly to Easter, Poles have rich culinary traditions as they celebrate The Birth of Christ. The preparations start many days before Christmas because traditionally there are twelve dishes served during the Christmas Eve dinner. Today, not every Polish household follows this custom but even if there are not exactly twelve dishes, they are very unique  and rarely served at any other time of the year.  Moreover, the number  twelve  is very symbolic; there were twelve apostles and twelve months in a year.

Pieces of blessed wafer (opłatek)

Pieces of blessed wafer - opłatek

During the Christmas Eve dinner pieces of blessed wafer or oplatek are  handed around and broken. This beautiful tradition is kept not only in Poland but  all over the world among people of Polish ancestry.
Herrings (ryba) with onion served during the Christmas Eve

Herring with onion served during the Christmas Eve dinner

Wigilia dinner is traditionally a meatless fare. Fish, such as carp or herring is often served.  Other typical dishes include cabbage stew with mushrooms, Christmas Eve borscht with dumplings or barszcz z uszkami and dumplings with various fillings or pierogi. For dessert, there’s poppy seed roll or makowiec, honey-spiced cake or piernik, fruit cake, fruit compote and gingerbread cookies orpierniczki.  In some parts of Poland, kutia is served, a very unique dessert with wheat and honey. Similar, but not so sweet is makówki, a dessert made of bread, poppy seeds and honey. Makówki is a South – Western Poland delicacy and kutia is popular in Eastern and Central Poland.

Makowiec - poppyeed roll

Makowiec - poppy seed roll

All the dishes are put on a carefully set table. Traditionally straw is put under white tablecloth. There is also an additional seat kept for a stranger who may appear during the Christmas Eve and would be invited to join in the feast.  After Wigilia dinner, families sing Christmas carols or kolędy and exchange presents.  At midnight, many people in Poland, even non-Christians, attend the midnight Mass, known as Pasterka – “the Mass of the Shepherds”.
Home-made gingerbread cookies (pierniki) beautifully decorated with various sprinkles. See the recipe below

Home-made gingerbread cookies or pierniki beautifully decorated with various sprinkles. See the recipe below.

To bake Polish Gingerbread Cookies please try this easy recipe:

 

Polish Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

10 dkg or 4oz of honey
7 flat teaspoons of spices (ginger, nutmeg, cloves)
1 tablespoon of water (should be added to honey)
30 dkg or 10oz of flour
30 dkg or 10oz of butter
8 teaspoons of sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons of baking soda
sprinkles
chocolate

Preparation:

Dissolve spices with honey and a teaspoon of warm water and let the mixture cool down. In a large bowl, combine and knead flour, butter, sugar, eggs and honey. Place dough in the refrigerator for half an hour. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Put on a greased form and heat oven to 150 degrees Celsius or 300 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for about 20min.

If you’re planning to travel to Poland this December, you must visit Christmas markets now being organized in major cities. You’ll notice that Polish Christmas markets have a specific character and are often located in beautifully decorated, historic Market Squares. Christmas markets in Poland are popular among both locals and tourists and even the smallest markets will give you a good idea of how Poles celebrate the Christmas season. You’ll find unique, hand-made gifts, regional cheeses, meats, breads, beer, hot chocolate, sweets and mulled wine. Whether you’re visiting Wrocław, Kraków, Warsaw or Gdańsk get into the holiday spirit at Christmas markets these cities offer.  

Sweets and ginger bread sold during the fair.

Sweets and gingerbread beautifully wrapped for sale during a Christmas market in Upper Silesia region of Poland

These curious balls are made of rice and honey, very light and tasty. Next to rice balls traditional food is also displayed; marinate mushrooms and oscypki.

These interesting looking balls are made of rice and honey and are very light and tasty. Next to rice balls, traditional food is also displayed; marinated mushrooms and oscypki - smoked sheep cheese

If you’re heading to Lesser Poland, don’t forget to visit the Krakow Christmas Market held in the Market Square. This is the largest and most famous Christmas market in Poland. It always attracts lots of visitors. In wooden stalls wrapped in Christmas lights you’ll find: hand-made Christmas tree ornaments, ceramic decorations, regional food and delicious hot spiced wine.

Christmas Market of Krakow – Market Square
From November 25 to December 26, 2011

Display of beautiful Christmas figures.

Display of beautiful hand-made Christmas figurines

In Warsaw’s Castle Square, in front of the Royal Castle – the main Christmas market is held every year. Another Christmas market can be found in front of the Palace of Science and Culture. Both of them take place throughout December and although smaller than the one offerd in Krakow, many great attractions await all visitors.

Christmas Markets of Warsaw - Old Town and Palace of Science and Culture                                                                                                                           From November 26, 2011 to January 8, 2012

Christmas wreath

Christmas wreath

The Christmas Market of Wroclaw takes place on the main square in the heart of the old town from November to December. When visiting this historic city in Lower Silesia, you can’t miss it’s Christmas market if you want to get into the holiday mood in no time. Find unique gifts and plenty of mouth-watering foods, bring your family and friends and enjoy arts, crafts and music.

Christmas Market of Wroclaw - Market Square
From November 25 to December 23, 2011

Christmas cards made by primary school children

Christmas cards made by primary school children

Gdańsk Christmas Fair will be organized for the 16th time this year. Visitors can buy original gifts, tree ornaments and meet Santa on December 6th!

Gdansk Christmas Fair – Targ Weglowy                                                                   
From December 5 to December 23, 2011

To learn more about Christmas Markets in Poland, view additional photos and videos, please visit the following website (use Google translate feature to translate text):

http://www.polskawita.pl/inspiracje/jarmarki-bozonarodzeniowe.html

Sign up for communications from Poland Culinary Vacations

Click here if you are not already registered to receive e-mail communications directly from Poland Culinary Vacations. Once registered, you will stay current with our newsletters, promotions, news, and special offers! Thank You.

Miss an issue of our newsletter? Here’s an archive of past Poland Culinary Vacations Newsletters we’ve sent…

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, January 2012

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, November 2011

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, April 2011

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, March 2011

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, October 2010

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, May 2010

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, April 2010

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, November 2009

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, August 2009

Poland Culinary Vacations E-Newsletter, April, 2009

 

 Your information will only be used for Poland Culinary Vacations Newsletters, Promotions and News. Your information won’t be sold, rented, shared, or given away to anyone else.

 

 

Highlander selling oscypki cheese at summer festival.

Highlander selling oscypki cheese at summer festival.

If you’re heading to Krakow, Warsaw , Wroclaw and/or Gdansk, Poland this summer and fall, plan to attend culinary, cultural and harvest festivals in those three cities and surrounding areas. You’ll taste great regional cuisine and get to sing and dance with the locals. What a treat!

JUNE – AUGUST 2012

KRAKOW

Regional Food Contest in Lopuszna – Taste hundreds of delicious home-made recipes – 22, July 2012 in Lopuszna, Lesser Poland region

Oscypek and All Cheeses Festival- A celebration of all cheeses  - 4 & 5 August 2012 in Zakopane, Lesser Poland region

Pierogi Festival- Polish stuffed dumplings festival – 10, 11, 12 August 2012 – location: Maly Rynek square in Krakow, Lesser Poland region

XLV Sabalowe Bajania- Annual festival of the local folklore – 9 – 12 August 2012 in Bukowina Tatrzanska, Lesser Poland region

The International Highland Folk Festival- Highlanders from all over the world descend on Zakopane – 21 – 28 August, 2012 – Zakopane, Lesser Poland region

Malopolska Taste Festival– Grand Finale – 24 & 26 August 2012 – location: Plac Wolnica, Kazimierz district, Krakow in Lesser Poland region

VI International Wine Day – August, 2012 – location: Jaslo, Lesser Poland region

WARSAW

XV Biesiada Weselna – Celebrating Polish Wedding Traditions  – 24 – 25 June, 2012, Wegrow, Mazovia region

VII International Folk Festival “Warsfolk” – Folk ensambles from all over the world perform in Warsaw - 16 – 19, August, 2012, Warsaw, Poland

XIX Kurpie Bee-Keepers Festival – Honey, regional food and bread festival  - 26 August, 2012 – Myszyniec, Mazovia region

 WROCLAW

Ceramics Festival in Boleslawiec- Boleslawiec Polish pottery festival – 17 – 19 August 2012 – Boleslawiec, Lower Silesia region

IX Lower Silesia Soup Festival – 19 August 2012 – Jedlina Zdroj, Lower Silesia region

XIV International Bread Fair- Polish Baker of the Year competition and more – 24 -26 August, 2012 – Jawor, Lower Silesia region

Flour Fest – Breads and sweets on display – 26 August 2012 – Botanical Garden in Wroclaw, Lower Silesia region

Polish-Czech Harvest Festival- 26 August 2012 – Lawica village, Klodzko Commune in Lower Silesia region.

GDANSK

Fishermen Sea Pilgrimage by Boats – 29 June, 2012 in Puck, Pomerania region of Poland.

Kashubian Strawberry Harvest -  1 July, 2012 in Zlota Gora near Kartuzy, Pomerania region of Poland.

Wdzydze Fair – 15 July, 2012 in Wdzydze, Pomerania region of Poland.

Kashubian Fair & Regional Cuisine – 21 – 22, July, 2012 – in Kartuzy, Pomerania region of Poland.

St. Dominik’s Fair & Bread Festival -  28 July – 18 August, 2012 in Gdansk, Pomerania region of Poland.

Polish Championships in Tobacco Snuffing – 29 July, 2012 in Chmielno, Pomerania region of Poland.

Pomerania Fair & Regional Cuisine – July/August, 2012 – in Bytow, Bytow Castle, Pomerania region of Poland.

International Folklore Festival – July/August, 2012 – in different Kashubian towns, Pomerania region of Poland.

Kashubian Flavors/ Malënowi Bęks – End of strawberry harvest – July/August, 2012 – in Wygoda Laczynska, Pomerania region of Poland.

Magic Malbork and Medieval Fair – 11 August, 2012 in Malbork, Pomerania region of Poland.

Days with Music and Bread – every Saturday and Sunday in July and August – in Kluki at the Slavic Village Museum, Pomerania region of Poland.

 

Harvest Festival in Klodzko, Lower Silesia region of Poland.

Harvest Festival in Klodzko, Lower Silesia region of Poland.

SEPTEMBER 2012

KRAKOW

Krakow Honey Harvest – XVIII Bee-Keepers Festival – 31 August – 1 September 2012 – Plac Wolnica, Kazimierz district, Krakow in Lesser Poland region

XI Bean Day Celebration - 8 & 9 September, 2012 – Zakliczyn, Lesser Poland region

WARSAW

Mazovian Bread Festival – Annual best Mazovian breads and harvest festival  - 18 September, 2012 – in Wegrow, Mazovia region

V Ecology Fair in Ostroleka – 26 September, 2012 - in Ostroleka, Mazovia region

WROCLAW

Jelenia Gora Fair– 1 & 2 September, 2012 – in Jelenia Gora, Lower Silesia region

XI International Bee-Keepers Fair– 1 & 2 September, 2012 – in Jelenia Gora, Lower Silesia region

Potato Day Celebration- 15 September, 2012 – in Pstrazna, Lower Silesia region

Wine Day Celebration in the Treasure City- 8 & 9 September, 2012 – in Sroda Slaska, Lower Silesia region

GDANSK

Regional Contest for Best Pomeranian Fruit Cordial – 1 September, 2012 in Swolowo, Pomerania region of Poland.

Forest People Mushroom Holiday - 15 September, 2012 in Bory Tucholskie, Osieczna, Pomerania region of Poland.

Cysterian Fair - 16 September, 2012 in Pelplin, Pomerania region of Poland.

Kashubian Singers Convention – 16 September, 2012 in Zukowo, Pomerania region of Poland.

Potato Harvest – 16 September in Wdzydze Kiszewskie, Pomerania region of Poland.

Get ready to join us in 2012 in beautiful Pomerania region of Poland, located on the Baltic Sea coast!

Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk culinary vacation in Poland.

"The Black Pearl" - a beautiful galleon-styled ship cruising on Motlawa River in Gdansk. We take the ship from Gdansk to Westerplatte - the site of first battle of WWII and back while on "Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk"culinary vacation.

We visited the region last month and found great people and places to share with you next year while on “Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk” culinary vacation, our newest itinerary in Poland (click here to see more photos from Pomerania region). We’re planning a week of delicious regional cooking, Goldwasser Vodka tasting – made in Gdansk since the 16th century and containing real gold flakes, dining, sightseeing and shopping all in the company of locals very excited to share with us “Best of the Best” the area has to offer.

Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk culinary vacation in Poland.

Fish, fish, fish everywhere - street vendors sell fresh smoked fish at stands like this one we found along Motlawa river in Gdansk.

Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk culinary vacation in Poland.

Delicious treats on display at a Sopot bakery & cafe.

We’ll begin our Pomeranian adventure in Gdansk Oliwa, a lavish small city and home to Oliwa Cathedral, Abbot’s Palace, well maintained parks and residence of Lech Walesa, Solidarity movement leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. From there, we’ll head north, to Kashubian country where we’ll stay for the next three days in beautiful Palace in Slawutowko. Kashubians are a West Slavic ethnic group living in north-central Pomerania. We’ll be cooking regional recipes with Kashubian women and learning about their folklore during our stay in Pomeranian countryside. Besides cooking and tasting regional and Polish cuisine, we’ll spend time at pristine beaches, get spectacular views from historic lighthouses and spend an entire day exploring Hel Peninsula lined with picturesque small towns and centuries-old fishing villages.  

Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk culinary vacation in Poland.

Kashubian handicrafts are meaningful gifts - potential gifts to keep an eye out for include Kashubian floral table clothes, pottery, glassware and wood carvings.

On return from Kashubian countryside, we’ll make stops in Sopot and Gdynia and explore these charming seaside cities. Arriving back in Gdansk, we’ll check into luxurious four-star Hotel Gdansk located in old town. From here, we’ll take off to Malbork in the morning, on a half-day tour of the Teutonic Knights castle and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon return to Gdansk, we’ll tour the city’s most important historic sites, shop for amber and other souvenirs and dine at some of the best restaurants serving regional and Polish dishes prepared by top chefs. Our final day in Gdansk and Pomerania will include a Polish cooking class at the Pomerania Culinary Academy with chef Krzysztof Szulborski, additional sightseeing, cruising on the Black Pearl ship to Westerplatte, shopping and a farewell dinner at Pod Lososiem (Under the Salmon) restaurant serving Goldwasser. Pod Lososiem restaurant is one of the oldest and best restaurants in Gdansk and it’s here that Goldwasser Vodka was first distilled in 1598.   

Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk culinary vacation in Poland.

Inside "Bar Przystan" in Sopot. Located right on the beach the restaurant is popular among locals and serves outstanding fish soup.

Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk culinary vacation in Poland.

The famous Neptune Fountain in Gdansk - symbol of Gdansk in the center of the Long Market.

As we tour Pomerania, we’ll make sure to participate in cultural and culinary festivals happening in the region. There are too many to list here (we’ll make sure to include those events in our 2012 calendar) but some like The Cod Fish Harvest – Polish Seafood Championships in Gdynia at the end of August or the upcoming  VIII Picnic at the Goose Coop in Debogorze on Nov. 12, 2011 are definitely worthwhile to attend if you happen to be in the region.

What & Where: “Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk” culinary vacation in Poland.

When: July 15 – 21, 2012 and September 16 – 22, 2012

Cost: $2350 per person, double occupancy

Detailed day-by-day itinerary will be published on our site soon! Please keep checking back. Email us at info@polandculinary.com to reserve your spot early and SAVE $100 or if you have any questions. Safe travels and see you in Poland!

We’ve met amazing people on our cooking vacations in Poland and they’ve shared with us some wonderful memories and thoughts inspired by their Poland Culinary Vacations. Here are some of our favorites:

Poland Culinary Vacations presented a fabulous culinary program, an excellent tour of Malopolska (Lesser Poland) and an overall fun time. I rate this culinary vacation a definite 10. – Christine B., Atkinson, NH
 
"Cooking Your Way From Krakow to Zakopane" cooking tour in Poland.
What an amazing experience, to walk in the country of your ancestors, meet the people and feast on the food you love! Poland Culinary Vacations far exceeded my expectations in their care, knowledge and love of “foodies”! Each guided day brought a new adventure, breaking bread with local village ladies sharing their knowledge of cooking with us, visiting historical sites, rafting and the biggest flea-clothing-shopping market anyone has ever experienced. Carefully selected restaurants highlighting local cuisine ended our evenings.  Each succulent mouthful was wonderful!  Top this all off, by staying in a Palace with a spa in Zakopane, was just out of this world. Would I recommend Poland Culinary Vacations…Absolutely!  Would I vacation again with them…Absolutely!  Would I go back to Poland…Absolutely! - Cathy M., Barrie, ON, Canada

 

"Cooking Your Way From Krakow to Zakopane" cooking tour in Poland.
 
Krakow, Zakopane and the surrounding areas are such beautiful and interesting places to see and get to know and don’t think that I will ever tire of visiting the Lesser Poland region. What really made this holiday such a memorable one was the cooking sessions with village ladies from the villages in the Podhale area. Allowing us to see them prepare never ending array of dishes, explaining about ingredients and various ways of preparation (inevitably each of them had their own method) was just a start. Their hospitality I could easily say was unmatched with homemade cakes and “digestives”, as they described their hand finished liqueurs and wines they welcomed us with, followed by all the dishes we were shown how to make during the course of the morning.  The inevitable singing and joking would ensue and by the time we were leaving we were the best of friends. The whole experience would be very hard to match and definitely never to be forgotten. – Maria F., Caversfield, United Kingdom  
"Cooking Your Way From Krakow to Zakopane" cooking tour in Poland.
We’d like to thank Sarna Rose, our fabulous host, for the great Culinary Vacation. It exceeded all expectations. The small group made it possible to be very flexible, especially with such an accommodating driver and wonderful guide. We were privileged to cook in a restaurant, a community center, the  Culinary Institute in Krakow and in a private home where the local village ladies patiently shared their knowledge of cooking and culture with us. Moments to treasure! We relished the marvelous cuisine in a variety of restaurants and the sightseeing tours were incredibly interesting and varied. We would recommend it to any age of either sex. – Ed & Terri H., Victoria, B.C., Canada    

I can’t speak highly enough about my tour to Krakow and Zakopane with Poland Culinary Vacations. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken! Malgorzata ‘Sarna’ Rose runs a first-class operation. I am not a fan of large tour groups so this tour with its small number of participants and its flexibility really appealed to me. Our time was divided between cooking, sightseeing and, of course, lots of good eating. Because I’m of Polish descent the tour took me back to my “roots”. The hotels and restaurants chosen for us were excellent. My fondest memories are of the cooking sessions with village women in their kitchens. They were so welcoming and eager to share their recipes with us. After enjoying the lunch we had prepared together we were treated to singing by the women. – Nancy J., Springfield, VA

Want to say it has been a wonderful trip! I especially enjoyed the countryside, towns and shopping was good, too. – Kris A., Great Falls, MT

If I had to pick a highlight I couldn’t, I’d pick three. The three mornings we spent cooking with the country housewives were great. From the food to the nalewki it was great. There was plenty of wonderful food – especially borscht and croquettes. But, the highlight was being in those kitchens, working as a group, then sitting down to a great lunch you had a hand in making. If you’re lucky there will be singing – and you will probably be lucky. - Jim B., Minneapolis, MN

I recently spent a wonderful week in Lower Silesia, Poland, participating in a culinary tour. Our accommodations were great staying part of the time in a 16th century castle! How often can you say that, lol. It was a beautiful place to stay in the countryside of Poland. We spent part of our time in the country visiting some of the villages and participating in the hands on cooking with the village ladies. These wonderful women cooked and sang for us sharing their cooking knowledge. We made pierogi, golabki, and red beetroot borscht among the many dishes they shared with us. Our week was busy with touring as well as cooking. We got to experience the Polish culture and history of the area. We ate in fine restaurants, eating the tasty Polish cuisine. Being third generation Polish I found it a very emotional trip. My Grandmother had grown up near the area I was touring and I felt a part of the country. My thanks goes out to all who accommodated us, especially Sarna, the President of the Poland Culinary Vacations, Inc. - Barbara M., Great Falls, MT

Summer is nearly over, it has been a busy one here at Poland Culinary Vacations, therefore, we’re just now sitting down to report to you on all the exciting events, festivals and culinary adventures we’ve experienced in various regions of Poland. We’re still planning on visiting Pomerania region in September, that’s the northern region along the Baltic Sea coast, as we’re preparing a new culinary program, “Coastal Cooking in Pomerania and Gdansk” for 2012. We’ll post a preview of the trip, including photos, as soon as available on our website. For those of you who love seafood the Polish way, if you know what we mean, or would like to try it for the first time, plan on joining us in Pomerania, Poland next year!

Gdansk, Pomerania region of Poland.

Gdansk, Pomerania region of Poland.

Our August “Cooking Your Way From Krakow to Zakopane” culinary vacation was once again a wonderful adventure. The weather was perfect all week! Our cooking classes in Waksmund and Lopuszna villages unforgettable experiences! We also visited the IX Pierogi Festival in Krakow where this year we had a brief meeting with hosts of the festival, Krakowska Kongregacja Kupiecka (Cracow Merchant’s Congregation) and a representative from the Municipality of Krakow/Tourism Office who discussed with us the importance of “pierogi” in Polish cuisine and the history of Pierogi Festival in Krakow.  This year’s winner of the best pierogi voted by the public and awarded the Statue of Casimir the Great is Krolestwo Pierozka restaurant. Professionals chose Galicja restaurant and their pierogi with bryndza cheese – a regional sheep cheese. Galicja restaurant will keep the statue of St. Jack with Pierogi for a year. St. Jack is said to bring pierogi to Poland from Ukraine to feed the poor. Click here to view photos from IX Pierogi Festival in Krakow and outdoor grilling party at Villa Marilor Palace in Zakopane. We’ve also posted photos from Dining, Cooking and Sightseeing in Krakow and Dunajec River Rafting. Enjoy!

IX Pierogi Festival in Krakow, Poland

IX Pierogi Festival in Krakow, Poland

There’s wine industry revival going on in Poland and great wines are already being produced in small, family owned vineyards in three major regions of Poland. We visited a luxurious SPA Hotel and Resort and wine region in southern Poland for an upcoming “SPA and Wine Vacation in Poland”. We hope to bring it to you within the next two years. Click here for photos from beautiful JASIEL Winery in southern Poland.

JASIEL Winery in southern Poland

JASIEL Winery in southern Poland

JASIEL Winery in southern Poland

JASIEL Winery in southern Poland

We’re adding “A Three-day Culinary Adventure in Warsaw” for 2012 and perhaps more major cities in Poland. The program is ideal for the many foreign business visitors and leisure tourists who we hope will find extra three days to discover Poland’s capitol from kitchen side! The culinary adventure in Warsaw will be available all year long. The day-by-day itinerary and price will be posted in November of this year. We also offer the week-long program in Mazovia and Warsaw, “A Taste of Poland in Mazovia and Warsaw” for those who would like to venture out into the Mazovian countryside, spend four nights at a 19th century palace and cook with local village women.  

Just this past weekend we’ve spent time in Szalejow Gorny village, Lower Silesia region at Klodzko Commune annual harvest festival. What a treat! As tradition dictates, the festival started with a Catholic mass and later blessing of the breads and beautifully decorated wreaths brought by each of the participating villages. The food was delicious and singing by ladies from Circle of Country Housewives made the entire outdoor event spectacular! Join us in Lower Silesia with the ladies from Klodzko Commune on our “Flavors of Lower Silesia and Wroclaw” trip next year and experience both their culinary and singing talents first hand. We’re planning on adding a day trip to Boleslawiec, Polish Pottery Factory during this Lower Silesia adventure. Click here to view photos from 2011 Harvest Festival in Szalejow Gorny village in Lower Silesia.

2011 Harvest Festival in Szalejow Gorny village, Lower Silesia

2011 Harvest Festival in Szalejow Gorny village, Lower Silesia

We still have one more trip in September. Now is your time to act and join us on our “Cooking Your Way From Krakow to Zakopane” culinary vacation. We still have a few spaces available. Squeeze that vacation into the ending summer!

If you plan on visiting Poland in September click here for a calendar of upcoming 2011 Culinary & Cultural Events in Poland.

Please feel free to contact us anytime for additional information or further details on our existing and upcoming culinary itineraries! We work with great pride and love to talk about our trips, Polish cuisine and Poland in general.

Happy travels and see you in “delicious” Poland!

Food Festival Season Is Well Underway in Poland!

The VI Food Festival of Silesian Tastes (Festiwal Śląskie Smaki) is one of the many food festivals celebrated throughout the various regions of Poland during summer months. Amateur and professional chefs gathered in the Upper- Silesian town of Gliwice to take part in rich culinary tradition of Silesia presented at an open-air festival. They all  competed to win “The Golden Colander” award and the title of  The Expert of the Silesian Tastes. The top winners were students of Vocational School in Żorki, who prepared cheesecake with cranberry dip. After the dessert they also served Silesian onion soup and stuffed duck with apples and cranberry.

One of the professional teams

One of the professional teams.

Everyone was trying to

Everyone was trying to do their best to win the main award.

Tasty food straight from Upper-Silesian town of Pszczyna.

Tasty food straight from Upper-Silesian town of Pszczyna.

Winners of "The Brown Colander”, Valdi Plus restaurant from Mikołów.

Winners of "The Brown Colander”, Valdi Plus restaurant from Mikołów.

The jury had to taste 60 dishes prepared both by amateur and professional chefs. The main award for the amateurs went to the Farmer’s Wives’ Association from Udórz.  The jury had very difficult decisions to make, all dishes were not only mouth-watering but also beautifully presented.

Members of the jury tasting variuos dishes.

Members of the jury tasting variuos dishes.

The winners of "The Golden Colandar” among amateurs, The Farmer’s Wives’ Association from Udórz.

The winners of "The Golden Colandar” among amateurs, The Farmer’s Wives’ Association from Udórz.

Among the amateurs were Nina and Mirek Gliszczyńscy from Tarnowskie Góry, who treat cooking as a their hobby. Because they want to share their passion with others, they set their own website http://gotuj-sam.pl/ During the festival they presented cabbage soup, pork chops with mushrooms and kasha dish. The dessert consisted of crepes with cheese and preserves. Of course, all the dishes had unique Silesian names attached to them.

Nina and Mirek, a cooking couple, from Tarnowskie Góry.

Nina and Mirek, a cooking couple, from Tarnowskie Góry.

Pancakes with cheese and preserves served by Nina and Mirek.

Crepes with cheese and preserves served by Nina and Mirek.

A member of jury tasting Nina's crepes.

A member of jury tasting Nina and Mirek's crepes.

During the Festival, guests could taste and purchase various locally produced foods.

Smoked meats and sausage.

Smoked meats and sausage.

Honey that could be bought at the festival.

Honey that could be bought at the festival.

For 2011 calendar of upcoming food and cultural festivals in Lower Silesia, Mazovia and Lesser Poland follow this link:  Culinary and Cultural Festivals in Poland – 2011 Calendar.  

Next Page »