poland: February 2008 Archives

We heard this walking down the street in Kraków this evening, and didn't realise what it was for a while.  If you understand Polish, presumably this sounds like a very boring string of numbers - which is all it is (it's a bingo caller in action).  But if (like us) you don't, it sounds like some kind of mysterious ritual chant.

Click here to listen.

Click here for more audio samples.

In the basemenent of Maciej Rzankowski's bakery, Cukiernia Samanta, there's a 100-year-old poppy-seed grinder that's been in the family since 1927 - much like the business itself.  It started with his grandparents, in the southern Polish town of Zakopane, up in the Tatras mountains.  And it's still there over 80 years later, and still going strong: Zakopane only has a population of about 26,000, but on the last Thursday before Lent ('Fat Thursday', the Polish equivalent of Mardi Gras) he sells 47,000 pączki doughnuts. 

Since 1927 there have been many changes in Poland, much of which we found reflected in the history of Cukiernia Samanta. There's a lot that his grandparents wouldn't recognise: it's changed from a one-shop operation into an out-of-town factory supplying cafés all over town.

But there's a lot they would recognise, too. It's still an avowedly local, family business, still has the same eye for quality, and the loyal customer base who wouldn't let him get away with anything less. And having tasted a selection of delicious freshly baked goodies - both in one of the downtown cafés and after our tour of the factory - we're sure his grandparents would have been proud of all of them.

Last night Barnaby had a great time in Zakopane drinking 'apple pies' with Anna and Matt's friends Richard and Marzena.  Richard makes a mean cocktail using just Żubrówka, the famous Polish vodka flavoured with bison grass, and apple juice.  Its innocent taste is remarkably like a delicious apple pie, buttery pastry and all.  Today Barnaby is a bear a little worse for wear.  (Although he looks better than Matt and Anna.)

Read recipe here.

The combination of Żubrówka and apple juice is a popular Polish tipple.  (Or of course, you can omit the apple juice.) 

Żubrówka (aka bison grass vodka), made in Poland since the 16th century or earlier, is said to boost manliness, stamina and sexual drive.  This is because it's infused with the grass which the bison of Białowieża forest in Poland love to eat.   These ancient bison are so fond of this special grass that attempts to transplant them to other parts of Europe have failed due to the absence of the grass.  Every bottle of Żubrówka contains one stem of the grass.

This recipe comes courtesy of Richard Abel, our friend in Zakopane, Poland.  Richard welcomed us to Poland with several rounds of apple pies...