Trifter

What does one do with a jar of Smalec Domowy? What is Fasolka? How is Golabki made? Do you fancy a Grodziskie?

As a result of people coming from other parts of Europe to work in the UK, shops have opened to supply their “comforts from home”. In my area these are mostly of Polish and Ukrainian origin. I thought some tasting sessions were in order. Lets start with that gift of a jar of Smalec Domowy from a Polish colleague grateful for some help when she was grappling with the paperwork. It translates as something like Sandwich Fat so I treated it as dripping and smeared it on a chunk of bread, Mmm, yes, well, moving on…

There are similar recipes from different countries, for example, Golabki (Polish) and Holubtsi (Ukrainian) are both cabbage leaves rolled and stuffed with meat and rice.Varenyky (Ukrainian) and Pierogi (Polish) are pastry pockets filled with potato, cheese, sauerkraut or cherries or anything you have handy really. Kovbasa is a smoked porked sausage from the Ukraine and Fasolka is reminiscent of the sort of bean dish we cooked up on camping trips. Nalysnyky are a Ukrainian version of crepes although a Ukrainian acquaintance insists that crepes are a French attempt at Nalysnyky!

For something sweet try Piernik Torunski which are Torun-style gingerbread people, or Szarlotka, a sort of apple cake.

Apparently there is, or I’m beginning to think was, a unique Polish beer called Grodziskie but its not available locally yet. I will keep looking.

A taste of New Europe indeed. There is obviously still much to learn about our new colleagues.