piątek, 29 lipca 2011
Familia de Manard: Blueberry Pierogi's
Familia de Manard: Blueberry Pierogi's: "Thursday we spent a busy afternoon making delicious blueberry pierogi's. Caitlin has been talking them up since I first met her so it was n..."
sobota, 16 lipca 2011
Finding Breakfast in Warsaw
.... can be a challenge.
So, here are some tips to get you started (disclaimer: not EVERY breakfast place is listed below.. just a few!):
1. Cafe Bar Szpilka
There have been differing opinions of Szpilka, located on Plac Trzech Krzyzy in Warsaw's city center. At the beginning of their existence (way before I was in Warsaw) it was THE place to be and everyone was psyched because it was one of the first places to be open 24 hours a day (they break for cleaning - i hope!- between 6 and 7am). The menu is fairly basic and won't whisk you away to wonderland at first bite, but I do love their breakfasts and the fact that we can go when we wake up as many other places in Warsaw start serving breakfast at noon on the weekends (?!?!?!?).
Here, you'll find: French toast, Eggs with bacon/sausage, Omelettes, Eggs with veggies and a red pepper/sundried tomato mixture that is amazing. You always get served warm rolls with garlic-herbed butter and they are usually one of the first places in Warsaw to set up their outside tables.. as SOON as it gets warm. Check them out, let me know what you think :)
2. Jeffs
My husband likes it. My friends are okay with it. I think it's awful. Terrible. Ick.
They have 2 Warsaw locations - one in Galeria Mokotow which holds the mall opening hours and one in Pole Mokotowskie (I tried to find their opening hours at this location but their website is crap too and lacks the information). They have a 'basic american breakfast menu' but their bacon is crap, the sausage is usually undercooked and the hashbrowns might as well be from McDonalds. Plus, you choose if you want butter or maple syrup with pancakes (which you get charged extra for!).
3. Amadera
Right on Chmielna, Amadera serves up a breakfast buffet for 45zl. Monday - Friday from 7 and Sat/Sun from 8am. I have never been here, so if anyone has any knowledge of the place - let me know!
4. Hard Rock Cafe
Just found out this morning that Hard Rock does breakfast. It's located in Zloty Terasy, right in the city center. They open daily at 9am and serve breakfast until 12. I love Hard Rock because it saved me from the dire lack of Caesar Salads in Poland's capital.
***Now, there is also the option of MG Eats on Chmielna (which I can't find a website for at the moment). My friend Monica introduced me to Magda Gessler's latest feat in the world of restauranteurs and - it's a hit. Their Caesar is the best around!***
5. Cafe 6/12
Another place I haven't been - it's so close to Szpilka that I suppose I'll end up there if I can't get a table at Szpilka someday. Travelocity Reviews say that foreigners tend to approve of the breakfast here - with a lot of smoothie options and decent omelettes :)
Most of the major hotels plus a few restaurants offer brunch on the weekends but I haven't found one that costs less than 100zl per person (about 30 bucks). Since american / english / irish style breakfast hasn't caught on too well in Warsaw, I haven't been overly impressed with the brunches. Most of them are mostly -unch and less br-. I would die for a place that goes wild with belgian waffles, decent french toast and good fruit, but alas, I'll keep waiting :)
Wishing you some good eatin' Warsaw!!
Caity
So, here are some tips to get you started (disclaimer: not EVERY breakfast place is listed below.. just a few!):
1. Cafe Bar Szpilka
There have been differing opinions of Szpilka, located on Plac Trzech Krzyzy in Warsaw's city center. At the beginning of their existence (way before I was in Warsaw) it was THE place to be and everyone was psyched because it was one of the first places to be open 24 hours a day (they break for cleaning - i hope!- between 6 and 7am). The menu is fairly basic and won't whisk you away to wonderland at first bite, but I do love their breakfasts and the fact that we can go when we wake up as many other places in Warsaw start serving breakfast at noon on the weekends (?!?!?!?).
Here, you'll find: French toast, Eggs with bacon/sausage, Omelettes, Eggs with veggies and a red pepper/sundried tomato mixture that is amazing. You always get served warm rolls with garlic-herbed butter and they are usually one of the first places in Warsaw to set up their outside tables.. as SOON as it gets warm. Check them out, let me know what you think :)
2. Jeffs
My husband likes it. My friends are okay with it. I think it's awful. Terrible. Ick.
They have 2 Warsaw locations - one in Galeria Mokotow which holds the mall opening hours and one in Pole Mokotowskie (I tried to find their opening hours at this location but their website is crap too and lacks the information). They have a 'basic american breakfast menu' but their bacon is crap, the sausage is usually undercooked and the hashbrowns might as well be from McDonalds. Plus, you choose if you want butter or maple syrup with pancakes (which you get charged extra for!).
3. Amadera
Right on Chmielna, Amadera serves up a breakfast buffet for 45zl. Monday - Friday from 7 and Sat/Sun from 8am. I have never been here, so if anyone has any knowledge of the place - let me know!
4. Hard Rock Cafe
Just found out this morning that Hard Rock does breakfast. It's located in Zloty Terasy, right in the city center. They open daily at 9am and serve breakfast until 12. I love Hard Rock because it saved me from the dire lack of Caesar Salads in Poland's capital.
***Now, there is also the option of MG Eats on Chmielna (which I can't find a website for at the moment). My friend Monica introduced me to Magda Gessler's latest feat in the world of restauranteurs and - it's a hit. Their Caesar is the best around!***
5. Cafe 6/12
Another place I haven't been - it's so close to Szpilka that I suppose I'll end up there if I can't get a table at Szpilka someday. Travelocity Reviews say that foreigners tend to approve of the breakfast here - with a lot of smoothie options and decent omelettes :)
Most of the major hotels plus a few restaurants offer brunch on the weekends but I haven't found one that costs less than 100zl per person (about 30 bucks). Since american / english / irish style breakfast hasn't caught on too well in Warsaw, I haven't been overly impressed with the brunches. Most of them are mostly -unch and less br-. I would die for a place that goes wild with belgian waffles, decent french toast and good fruit, but alas, I'll keep waiting :)
Wishing you some good eatin' Warsaw!!
Caity
środa, 1 czerwca 2011
Chata Wędrowca (Hiker's Cabin)
Today I have some news from further ends of Poland. Bieszczady is a fantastic, wild part of Poland where you can face a bear, almost touch a deer and observe hawks. But every hiker has to eat and when You finally get down from the long, weary trail You definitely need something rich, flavoury, big and nourishing. Place to reccomend: Chata Wędrowca (which stands for Hiker's Cabin).
It is absolutely fabulous place at the west end of a small town Wetlina which comforts you with enormous amount of special Polish, Bohemian and Slovakian beer, among which you can taste for example Cherry Beer och Chocolate Beer. I didn't daer to try the latter one... Many classic slovakian lagers and non-pasterized beers - all for tired tourists:).  |
| Blueberry pankake |
The place is known for enormous pankakes which are region's speciality. Their consistency is a bit like that of doughnuts. All are served sweet (blueberries, pineapple, strawberries and cheese). There is possibility to have half-portion and this possibility is a recommended one. Pancakes are reeeeealy big!
We have tried also żurek (a sour soup) with egg, mushrooms, potatoes, carrot and white sausage. Very good and wholesome one. Mushroom soup was on the other side delicate, very tasty and mild.
 |
| Żurek |
Pork on a skewer with vegetables was juicy and intriguing: served with semi-sweet (I suppose) blackberry jam. Another Polish speciality pork-chop is being served with fried cabbage and fried egg. A bit greasy but who cares after all day of hiking. Potato pancake with goulash was definitely pleasant though really big. Trout was ok but I would not say brilliant. But I can strongly reccomend all the venison they serve as well as lamb.
 |
| Szaszłyk (pork on a skewer) |
Generally it is a place where the staff is friendly, food is good or very good and You can spend a decent evening or lunch with lovely view on one of the most beautiful mountains in Poland. Strongly recommended!
Monika
wtorek, 10 maja 2011
Naleśniki z soczewicą (Crepes with lentils)
I think the Polish might like crepes even more than the french. There are crepe shops all over the city and it is one of my favorite things about being here. Crepes come in sweet and savory, plain batter and flavoured, elegant and practically street food. There's a creperie called Nasz Naleśnik that started in my neighborhood and, over the last year or so, has been broadening out and franchising. I'm psyched about this because they have delicious crepes with all sorts of interesting fillings (check out their website for examples :))
One thing that they don't offer is crepes with lentils. I first had this amazing concoction when I was, a hem, not working and meeting my husband for lunch a couple of days a week. I ate them in a typical lunch time canteen where they serve typical foods, usually sitting out and ready... you point (at the time I pointed, I suppose I could order it in polish now..) out what you want, they microwave it (seriously) and you sit down for a quick lunch during your work day. I cannot tell you what this place was called but I can tell you that it was on ul. Rzymowskiego close by Galeria Mokotów. I have attempted to recreate it a few times and I thinkt that last night, I finally got it right.
First things first: Prepare your lentils. It is much easier to fill the crepes when the lentil filling isn't hot.
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
1 medium carrot, grated
1 can of lentils, half drained (of course, you can use dry lentils, just be sure to cook them accordingly)
soy sauce
salt and pepper
In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add 1 tsp of olive oil (keep close by in case you need more). Add onions, cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic and carrots and continue to cook, stirring occassionally until the onions and carrots start to brown and stick to the bottom of the pan. Then, cook a little longer :)
When the onion/carrot mixture is ready, add the can of lentils and mix well. Cook for about 2 minutes until the lentils are cooked through, add soy sauce, salt and pepper. Stire and cook about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Crepes :)
I use my mother in law's recipe that never seems to fail me but has no measurements, so bear with me.
Flour (I usually start with about 1 1/2 cups - to get me about 8 - 10 crepes)
salt (pinch)
Add milk until you get a thick batter
Add 1 or 2 eggs (seriously, this is how she told me the recipe)
Add more milk until the batter is thin enough....
Thin enough is relevant. It should be, in my opinion, much runnier than pancake batter and with very few flour chunks, if any at all.
Then, on a frying pan warmed to medium heat add butter and a little bit of oil (prevents the butter from burning), pour batter (maybe 1/8 cup? maybe 1/4..??) in the middle of the pan and circle the pan around spreading out the batter until the batter doesn't want to move anymore. Wait until the crepe cooks through. You'll know this has happened when the top of the crepe has no more wet batter. Flip, cook for an additional 30 seconds (or whatever) and slide onto a plate. Continue with remaining batter. I usually stack my crepes using paper towels in between each crepe in order to avoid having them stick together.
Once you have your stack of crepes, take one, lay it out flat, place 1 tablespoon (or however much you want) of filling in 1/4 of the crepe, fold the crepe in half and then in half again (you should end up with little crepe triangles filled with stuffing). Repeat with remaining crepes and stuffing. Once stuffed, return the frying pan to the stove and heat to medium high. Add butter and oil to the pan. Fry the crepes on both sides until slightly crispy.
Enjoy :)
C
One thing that they don't offer is crepes with lentils. I first had this amazing concoction when I was, a hem, not working and meeting my husband for lunch a couple of days a week. I ate them in a typical lunch time canteen where they serve typical foods, usually sitting out and ready... you point (at the time I pointed, I suppose I could order it in polish now..) out what you want, they microwave it (seriously) and you sit down for a quick lunch during your work day. I cannot tell you what this place was called but I can tell you that it was on ul. Rzymowskiego close by Galeria Mokotów. I have attempted to recreate it a few times and I thinkt that last night, I finally got it right.
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
1 medium carrot, grated
1 can of lentils, half drained (of course, you can use dry lentils, just be sure to cook them accordingly)
soy sauce
salt and pepper
In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add 1 tsp of olive oil (keep close by in case you need more). Add onions, cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic and carrots and continue to cook, stirring occassionally until the onions and carrots start to brown and stick to the bottom of the pan. Then, cook a little longer :)
When the onion/carrot mixture is ready, add the can of lentils and mix well. Cook for about 2 minutes until the lentils are cooked through, add soy sauce, salt and pepper. Stire and cook about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Crepes :)
I use my mother in law's recipe that never seems to fail me but has no measurements, so bear with me.
Flour (I usually start with about 1 1/2 cups - to get me about 8 - 10 crepes)
salt (pinch)
Add milk until you get a thick batter
Add 1 or 2 eggs (seriously, this is how she told me the recipe)
Add more milk until the batter is thin enough....
Thin enough is relevant. It should be, in my opinion, much runnier than pancake batter and with very few flour chunks, if any at all.
Then, on a frying pan warmed to medium heat add butter and a little bit of oil (prevents the butter from burning), pour batter (maybe 1/8 cup? maybe 1/4..??) in the middle of the pan and circle the pan around spreading out the batter until the batter doesn't want to move anymore. Wait until the crepe cooks through. You'll know this has happened when the top of the crepe has no more wet batter. Flip, cook for an additional 30 seconds (or whatever) and slide onto a plate. Continue with remaining batter. I usually stack my crepes using paper towels in between each crepe in order to avoid having them stick together.
Once you have your stack of crepes, take one, lay it out flat, place 1 tablespoon (or however much you want) of filling in 1/4 of the crepe, fold the crepe in half and then in half again (you should end up with little crepe triangles filled with stuffing). Repeat with remaining crepes and stuffing. Once stuffed, return the frying pan to the stove and heat to medium high. Add butter and oil to the pan. Fry the crepes on both sides until slightly crispy.
Enjoy :)
C
poniedziałek, 9 maja 2011
Eating / Planning / Recipes / Writing
I read something today that sits well with me. I have started a few times, different blogs related to one basic topic (as I think blogs should be) and then, I don't write. I don't write because I hate being stuck into one category. I have at least 5 or 6 restaurant reviews, complete with pictures from the last few months, but I don't want to write them up. Why? Because I feel like someone (the nonexistant reader out there) expects them from me. So, I will stamp my feet like a 2 year old and refuse to do it. Why am I such a PITA?
The thing I have been thinking about the most lately is the amount of time I've spent reading recipes in the past few years. This happened because of a few reasons:
1. I'm in Poland. A lot of things that can be readily bought at home are either a) unavailable b) expensive c) difficult to find or d) labeled as what you are looking for when in fact it is not quite the same thing. So, I look for recipes to make things from scratch that I can't find.
2. I got married. I don't want to sound like a 50's housewife, but I like to have meals cooked for myself and my husband and I don't like cooking the same thing often... so... recipes it is.
3. I didn't have a lot of friends when I got here... and I needed something to do. Cooking takes a lot of time, I like to do it and the results are usually enjoyable.
I've read at least one of Nigella's cookbooks cover to cover. I like her for basic recipes that seem to work every time. I've become addicted to www.skinnytaste.com, where Gina the magician turns food you love into food you love with less calories and fat, without using too many fake ingredients. I squirreled away a copy of "Think Like a Chef" by Tom Colicchio from my friend Sarah in New York over the holidays. And, I call my mother in law more often than I'd like to admit because while she can be a bit trying, she is the BEST cook I know.
And with all that being said, I want to leave you with the most basic of basic Polish recipes today. It couldn't be easier or more perfect for the warm weather we are about to be having (I hope). A simple combination of cucumbers and sour cream called in polish "Mizeria" which sounds a lot like the english word misery but tastes like pure joy.
Mizeria
1 medium cucumber
2 tablespoons of sour cream ( I have actually never measured this... just add as much as you see fit)
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions: Wash and peel the cucumber. Then, using a food processor or the wide grate on your grater, slice into very thin slices. You could also use a knife if you're a proficient chopper :) Place cucumber slices in a bowl, add sour cream salt and pepper. That's it. You might want to let it set for a minute but it's delicious right away too.
Variations: Some people add garlic. Others add fresh dill. Others yet add chives. Some squeeze some lemon juice over the cucs before adding the sour cream. I usually add a teaspoon of sugar (our fav. restaurant does this). You can pretty much do what you want with this, it's pretty basic and if you screw it up, it's not an expensive mistake.
That is what I feel like writing about today :)
C
The thing I have been thinking about the most lately is the amount of time I've spent reading recipes in the past few years. This happened because of a few reasons:
1. I'm in Poland. A lot of things that can be readily bought at home are either a) unavailable b) expensive c) difficult to find or d) labeled as what you are looking for when in fact it is not quite the same thing. So, I look for recipes to make things from scratch that I can't find.
2. I got married. I don't want to sound like a 50's housewife, but I like to have meals cooked for myself and my husband and I don't like cooking the same thing often... so... recipes it is.
3. I didn't have a lot of friends when I got here... and I needed something to do. Cooking takes a lot of time, I like to do it and the results are usually enjoyable.
I've read at least one of Nigella's cookbooks cover to cover. I like her for basic recipes that seem to work every time. I've become addicted to www.skinnytaste.com, where Gina the magician turns food you love into food you love with less calories and fat, without using too many fake ingredients. I squirreled away a copy of "Think Like a Chef" by Tom Colicchio from my friend Sarah in New York over the holidays. And, I call my mother in law more often than I'd like to admit because while she can be a bit trying, she is the BEST cook I know.
And with all that being said, I want to leave you with the most basic of basic Polish recipes today. It couldn't be easier or more perfect for the warm weather we are about to be having (I hope). A simple combination of cucumbers and sour cream called in polish "Mizeria" which sounds a lot like the english word misery but tastes like pure joy.
Mizeria
1 medium cucumber
2 tablespoons of sour cream ( I have actually never measured this... just add as much as you see fit)
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions: Wash and peel the cucumber. Then, using a food processor or the wide grate on your grater, slice into very thin slices. You could also use a knife if you're a proficient chopper :) Place cucumber slices in a bowl, add sour cream salt and pepper. That's it. You might want to let it set for a minute but it's delicious right away too.
Variations: Some people add garlic. Others add fresh dill. Others yet add chives. Some squeeze some lemon juice over the cucs before adding the sour cream. I usually add a teaspoon of sugar (our fav. restaurant does this). You can pretty much do what you want with this, it's pretty basic and if you screw it up, it's not an expensive mistake.
That is what I feel like writing about today :)
C
niedziela, 30 stycznia 2011
Welcoming you to 2011!
Well, the first month of the year is almost over and today we are finally heading out to try a new place. I had plans to try La Iberica last night (the winner of Warsaw restaurant of the year 2010) but my friend got sick and had to cancel. Such a bummer, I'll have to make up some sort of occassion so that I have an excuse to try it out.
I was in the states for three weeks over the Christmas break and went to a couple of really great restaurants in New York City and Providence. I also hit up an amazing Portuguese restaurant in my home town of Fall River. The most memorable restaurant trips while I was home were to:
The Gnarly Vine in New Rochelle, NY
All I have to say is WOW! My best friend and her husband live close by and brought my husband and I here after our 14 hour trip home (and all that airplane food.. blech). We did mostly apps and split them. The service was INCREDIBLE. She knew the wine menu well and helped us chose things that not only paired well with our food, but also were flavorful for each of our individual pallets. My first was an Austrailian Shiraz. I couldn't tell you which one now since I wasn't taking notes and I was on a serious dose of jetlag, but I do remember that it was delicious. For food, the thing that I remember most was a daily special of BBQ Pork Quesadilla. I could seriously eat that every day. EVERY DAY.
Buddakan - YES! The one from Carrie and Big's engagement party!
If the Gnarly Vine was a 10/10 for me, Buddakan was a 210/10. The prices are outrageous, but thanks to my lovely friend and her amazing husband, we were treated there as a Christmas gift (I have the BEST friends). Here's a sample of some things we shared (there were 8 of us total):
Edamame Dumplings - must have.
Pork Pot Stickers
Scallion Pancakes - these actually weren't my favorite - they have potential
Tuna Tartare Spring Roll - must have
Wild Mushroom Chow Fun
Dungeness Crab Sticky Rice - must have
King Crab Hot Pot
Lobster in Garlic Sauce - must have
We had some other really amazing dishes - one of the chickens was great, but I can't remember which one it was. If you are in NYC and have a little cash to spare, you just MUST MUST make a trip to Buddakan!
Andrea's Restaurant - Providence
Ok, so I have to admit that I worked here for about a year (the summer in between freshman and sophmore year of college, and then again the summer and fall before I set out to California to finish school). The quality of the food at this restaurant has been great for at least 10 years so I see no reason for it to stop now!
They have the most amazing calamari (I think my favorite ever), salad dressing, braised lamb, avgolemono soup and a great wine/bar menu to boot. My family (who lives closeby) comes to this restaurant every friday and they aren't sick of it yet. They had never been before I started working there, but now they know the maitre' d, the owner, the co-owner and have a definite list of their favorite waitresses. Pop in if you're in town, you won't be disappointed!
And last but not least - a restaurant from my home town of Fall River, MA (also the hometown of Emeril Lagasse!!)
Sagres - Portuguese Food
If you are looking for decent Portuguese food and you are in the area, this is one of the best. There are also great restaurants in New Bedford and the surrounding areas, but Sagres takes the cake for me. There is a city rivalry between Sagres and Caravella - the difference for me is in the portuguese steak. Caravella serves a well tenderized (read: beaten down) steak which a lot of people absolutely adore. When I have a steak (which is a rare occurence) I want it to be thick and juicy, just the way Sagres serves it up. When you go, just order the portugese steak (I get the junior version - the big boy version is too much for me) and enjoy!
Time to get ready for today's restaurant outing - one of us will check in later with the results!
Happy Eating!
I was in the states for three weeks over the Christmas break and went to a couple of really great restaurants in New York City and Providence. I also hit up an amazing Portuguese restaurant in my home town of Fall River. The most memorable restaurant trips while I was home were to:
The Gnarly Vine in New Rochelle, NY
All I have to say is WOW! My best friend and her husband live close by and brought my husband and I here after our 14 hour trip home (and all that airplane food.. blech). We did mostly apps and split them. The service was INCREDIBLE. She knew the wine menu well and helped us chose things that not only paired well with our food, but also were flavorful for each of our individual pallets. My first was an Austrailian Shiraz. I couldn't tell you which one now since I wasn't taking notes and I was on a serious dose of jetlag, but I do remember that it was delicious. For food, the thing that I remember most was a daily special of BBQ Pork Quesadilla. I could seriously eat that every day. EVERY DAY.
Buddakan - YES! The one from Carrie and Big's engagement party!
If the Gnarly Vine was a 10/10 for me, Buddakan was a 210/10. The prices are outrageous, but thanks to my lovely friend and her amazing husband, we were treated there as a Christmas gift (I have the BEST friends). Here's a sample of some things we shared (there were 8 of us total):
Edamame Dumplings - must have.
Pork Pot Stickers
Scallion Pancakes - these actually weren't my favorite - they have potential
Tuna Tartare Spring Roll - must have
Wild Mushroom Chow Fun
Dungeness Crab Sticky Rice - must have
King Crab Hot Pot
Lobster in Garlic Sauce - must have
We had some other really amazing dishes - one of the chickens was great, but I can't remember which one it was. If you are in NYC and have a little cash to spare, you just MUST MUST make a trip to Buddakan!
Andrea's Restaurant - Providence
Ok, so I have to admit that I worked here for about a year (the summer in between freshman and sophmore year of college, and then again the summer and fall before I set out to California to finish school). The quality of the food at this restaurant has been great for at least 10 years so I see no reason for it to stop now!
They have the most amazing calamari (I think my favorite ever), salad dressing, braised lamb, avgolemono soup and a great wine/bar menu to boot. My family (who lives closeby) comes to this restaurant every friday and they aren't sick of it yet. They had never been before I started working there, but now they know the maitre' d, the owner, the co-owner and have a definite list of their favorite waitresses. Pop in if you're in town, you won't be disappointed!
And last but not least - a restaurant from my home town of Fall River, MA (also the hometown of Emeril Lagasse!!)
Sagres - Portuguese Food
If you are looking for decent Portuguese food and you are in the area, this is one of the best. There are also great restaurants in New Bedford and the surrounding areas, but Sagres takes the cake for me. There is a city rivalry between Sagres and Caravella - the difference for me is in the portuguese steak. Caravella serves a well tenderized (read: beaten down) steak which a lot of people absolutely adore. When I have a steak (which is a rare occurence) I want it to be thick and juicy, just the way Sagres serves it up. When you go, just order the portugese steak (I get the junior version - the big boy version is too much for me) and enjoy!
Time to get ready for today's restaurant outing - one of us will check in later with the results!
Happy Eating!
środa, 24 listopada 2010
Cafe Baobab
Cafe Baobab is situated in one of the nicest areas in Warsaw – Saska Kępa, at Francuska Street. Among many cafes and restaurants that you can find there this Senegal restaurant is quite modest or even a bit shabby. There is a small room at the back with four tables and in the front a tiny bar preceded by two coffee tables. 
Menu is short but definitely interesting. We have tried the Yassa ginar – grilled chicken in onion-mustard sauce served with olives and paprika and accompanied by rice. Taste is quite original and a bit surprising but in a pleasant way. I have tasted also the Mafe yap – beef in a peanut sauce and it was absolutely delicious. Fish-filled dumplings served fried were very good as well. I still need to taste some fish and salads and definitely will do that on my next visit to Saska Kępa. They have also hilarious teas – fruit and mint and a cake of the day was really good as afternoon snack. And if you need coffe that kicks you out of your shoes this Senegal one is definitely better than 10 energy drinks in a row.
Staff is friendly they speak Polish, French and English. Menu is available in English.
Monika
Café Baobab
Francuska 31, Warszawa 
sobota, 20 listopada 2010
Wine Review
Keep an eye out for: Vina Maipo Carmenere Reserve!
Restaurant of the Year Award!
For the past few years, there has been a contest to choose Warsaw's best restaurant. The final drawing happens next week on the 26th of November! I've only been to one of them so far - but I may have to do some 'research' this week and fill you in on some others! Here are the options:
El Greco - ul. Grzybowska 9 - Greek Cuisine (I'll write a review on this one soon!) Website in Polish
La Iberica - ul. Płowiecka 35 - Tapas (I need NO excuse to try a new tapas bar! :)) Website in Polish/Spanish only.
La Table - ul. Nowogrodzka 38 - French Cuisine - First minus - they don't have a functioning website that I can find :(
Maho - aleje Krakowska 240/242 - The claim to be the first 'real' Turkish restaurant in Wawa
Tamka 43 - ul. Tamka 43 - Cafe / Wine bar which I think has been included because it's in the new Chopin Center and this is Chopin's year (if you all hadn't noticed).
See the nominees on a map
Let the Eating Begin! :) :)
~Caity
El Greco - ul. Grzybowska 9 - Greek Cuisine (I'll write a review on this one soon!) Website in Polish
La Iberica - ul. Płowiecka 35 - Tapas (I need NO excuse to try a new tapas bar! :)) Website in Polish/Spanish only.
La Table - ul. Nowogrodzka 38 - French Cuisine - First minus - they don't have a functioning website that I can find :(
Maho - aleje Krakowska 240/242 - The claim to be the first 'real' Turkish restaurant in Wawa
Tamka 43 - ul. Tamka 43 - Cafe / Wine bar which I think has been included because it's in the new Chopin Center and this is Chopin's year (if you all hadn't noticed).
See the nominees on a map
Let the Eating Begin! :) :)
~Caity
niedziela, 14 listopada 2010
Słodki ... Słony (Magda Gessler)
http://www.slodkislony.pl/
45 Mokotowska
This was a long awaited trip. The first time I had a dessert from Słodki Słony (which means Sweet Savory/Salty) was at a friend's house. These are the things I knew about the dessert: It was VERY expensive and AMAZINGLY delicious. It was a chocolate cake, rolled and filled with marscapone (mixed with a lot of sugar) and dark red cherries. I melted with every bite. That was about a year ago and last week, I finally made it down to the real deal!
After looking at the website, I expected the inside to be bright and modern which heightened my excitement. I like showy fashionable places. Then, I showed up and here is the entrance:
It is homey, warm and cozy. WHAT?!? I usually like this kind of atmosphere (it's a bit like Casa To Tu, which I LOVE inside) but it was so far from my expectations that I found myself a bit disappointed in it. I took some time to try and look in the display case while I was waiting for my company but it was hard to catch a glance due to the amount of people who were in line. The place was packed - and at 250.00zl per cake, I guess business is going pretty well.
My friends showed up and we sat in a little corner that was a bit dark ---->
There were doilies everywhere (I hate doilies) but it was time to eat, so I figured we should get to it. Poland as a general rule does an amazing job with seasonal eating. Everywhere right now has pumpkin everything which is a big plus for me because I'm a big fan. I ate some really delicious pumpkin soup that had a hint of cheese in it with some pan fried pumpkin seeds and followed it up with a salad. While Poland does seasonal foods well, as a general rule, it sucks at great salads but this one was an exception. Arugula, Bacon, Cheese, YUM. Both of my friends ordered (keeping in tradition with pumpkin season) pumpkin pancakes with goat cheese, spinach and walnuts. Also amazing. I was really surprised by the quality of the "savory" food choices considered this restaurant is so well known for it's sweets. But, here, check it out for yourself.. the savory dishes were GREAT.
And then, finally, it was time for dessert. I was so excited. So so excited. And they were just alright. My Napoleonka was a little hard on the edges (sat there all day pre cut?) and cost 12zl. My friends had a type of donut stuffed with cherry and a type of french crust with sliced plums. All just ok. For the full meal, we paid over 200.00zl. The desserts look amazing, so I'll include pictures but when you make your trip to Słodki Słony, be sure to get that chocolate roll that I mentioned at the beginning - I guarantee it's a success, even if it will costyou 18zl :)
Enjoy!
Caity
45 Mokotowska
This was a long awaited trip. The first time I had a dessert from Słodki Słony (which means Sweet Savory/Salty) was at a friend's house. These are the things I knew about the dessert: It was VERY expensive and AMAZINGLY delicious. It was a chocolate cake, rolled and filled with marscapone (mixed with a lot of sugar) and dark red cherries. I melted with every bite. That was about a year ago and last week, I finally made it down to the real deal!
After looking at the website, I expected the inside to be bright and modern which heightened my excitement. I like showy fashionable places. Then, I showed up and here is the entrance:
 | |||
| Entrance to Słodki Słony at Mokotowska 45 |
It is homey, warm and cozy. WHAT?!? I usually like this kind of atmosphere (it's a bit like Casa To Tu, which I LOVE inside) but it was so far from my expectations that I found myself a bit disappointed in it. I took some time to try and look in the display case while I was waiting for my company but it was hard to catch a glance due to the amount of people who were in line. The place was packed - and at 250.00zl per cake, I guess business is going pretty well.
There were doilies everywhere (I hate doilies) but it was time to eat, so I figured we should get to it. Poland as a general rule does an amazing job with seasonal eating. Everywhere right now has pumpkin everything which is a big plus for me because I'm a big fan. I ate some really delicious pumpkin soup that had a hint of cheese in it with some pan fried pumpkin seeds and followed it up with a salad. While Poland does seasonal foods well, as a general rule, it sucks at great salads but this one was an exception. Arugula, Bacon, Cheese, YUM. Both of my friends ordered (keeping in tradition with pumpkin season) pumpkin pancakes with goat cheese, spinach and walnuts. Also amazing. I was really surprised by the quality of the "savory" food choices considered this restaurant is so well known for it's sweets. But, here, check it out for yourself.. the savory dishes were GREAT.
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And then, finally, it was time for dessert. I was so excited. So so excited. And they were just alright. My Napoleonka was a little hard on the edges (sat there all day pre cut?) and cost 12zl. My friends had a type of donut stuffed with cherry and a type of french crust with sliced plums. All just ok. For the full meal, we paid over 200.00zl. The desserts look amazing, so I'll include pictures but when you make your trip to Słodki Słony, be sure to get that chocolate roll that I mentioned at the beginning - I guarantee it's a success, even if it will costyou 18zl :)
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Enjoy!
Caity
poniedziałek, 8 listopada 2010
Przekąski –Zakąski Bistro a la Fourchette
Bistro is remarkable, original and has a special quality all of its own. The place is small but the bar is massive. They have two prices: 4 zl for beverages and 8 zl for food. Those are just simple appetizers heavily rooted in Polish history, best known as tasters to accompany vodka drinking. When it comes to drinks: vodka, beer, red wine, white wine, coffee – just one brand and kind. It is a perfect place for a drink between a dinner and heading for a club. It is great when late in the night you need just the last shot and a titbit. It is charming on the early afternoon when you can observe Krakowskie Przedmieście while sipping coffee. It welcomes you in the morning after a tough night with cold beer and hot sausages. It warms you up with wine after the sightseeing. Open 24/7. People come and go. None of them spend long time there but everyone adds something to the place’s unique ambiance.
I encourage you to watch a bit of the documentary “From Poland with Love” where you can see more explanations from the owner himself.
Na zdrowie!
Monika
Przekąski-Zakąski Bistro a la Fourchette
Krakowskie Przedmieście – corner with Ossolińskich Street, just across The Bristol Hotel
open 24/7
Krakowskie Przedmieście – corner with Ossolińskich Street, just across The Bristol Hotel
open 24/7
sobota, 6 listopada 2010
Papu
Papu restaurant is situated in Mokotow, a part of town I have been living in for almost four years now and first time I dined there was no earlier then spring this year. Really do not know why I waited so long...
Décor is absolutely ornamental, abundant in flowers and with rigid white linen on the tables. After entering you are welcomed by a warm semi-darkness (because of thick window dressings) and wooden walls. Charming lights in the evening complete the ambiance of relax and food-fiesta. As one of my friends summed it up accurately: Christmas but without reindeers.
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| Shrimps on hot lava |
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| Carpaccio |
Soups: I haven’t tried the cucumber soup so I have yet to have an opinion on that one, but from other three the wild mushroom soup evokes the best emotions. Obviously you need to like wild mushrooms (boletus to be precise). Lemon soup is just not to my taste. Truthfully I have no idea if it was good lemon soup or not because it was simply strange. Seasonaly, they are offering pumpkin soup on the menu but previously they had tomato cream which was really nice.
All salads (except Caesar salad) are interesting with not so common in Poland add-ons as pear, balsamico-honey sauce, chicken livers etc. Nice, fresh, proper portions and absolutely as it should be. Regarding Ceasar salad… It needs a few words of explanation. I am an absolute fan of Ceasar salad and I try it in every restaurant if it is on the menu. But as a fan I’ve become quite a purist in the subject and I want it to be done the classic way. No changes in salad type, no extras as tomatoes or other vegetables, proper sauce etc. And it is not served that way in Papu – nevertheless the chicken is tasty and juicy, bread toasted nicely and sauce is good. Still…. It is not The Right Ceasar salad I would love to have.
Main courses: Papardelle with prawns and vegetables is very nice, though not being fan of pasta I shall not be eating it regularly. Cod fillet – I have tried a bit and it was very good but generally Poland is not a country where fish is served in an impressing way. Pork cutlet with mashed potatoes is so Polish and conventional for me that I skipped that one but might be a new experience for foreigners. Unfortunately I haven’t tried goose yet. But I recommend definitely beef fillet – truffle oil gives it quite a splendid taste. Duck is perfect – Polish are good in preparing duck and if you have a feeling for that and a chance to try – go for it. As for the ribs this honey glaze they do fights now for the first place with BBQ sauce in my personal “way to serve ribs” contest.
The menu is in Polish and English and there is special menu for kids as well. Staff is nice, they speak English and are perfectly able to recommend and explain how dishes are served and made. Good wine list and wide range of aperitifs and afters complete the picture. Prices are rather high, You can check them on the website, but it is really worth trying. I would rather recommend it for dinner than quick lunch – it is such a nice place to sit and relax that it is worth at least 3 hours of your time.
Monika
Monika
Al. Niepodległości 132/136
tel.: (+48) 22 856 77 88
Delizia
This Italian restaurant was strongly recommended by one of my friends and he insisted that this is the only place in Warsaw where you are served decent portion of truffles. So be it, tonight is the Italian night.
The restaurant has big windows but the view onto Poznańska Street is not exactly spectacular. Just an average street in a busy city. There are about 8 tables and a small bar, so it is better to book ahead if you are planning on having dinner in the evening. The atmosphere is a bit different from what I expected (a cosy Italian restaurant). The décor is rather simple, lot of shades in shades of beige and brown. The tables are wooden but either were they too high or the chairs were too low because I needed a pillow to feel comfortable with the height between my mouth and the plates. And just for the record 1,70m is not small, is it?;-)
But let’s get to the point, which is food, shall we? I was a bit nervous due to the character of the meeting so I lazily but willingly followed recommendations of Lorenzo and pick up tuna tartar and tagliolini with truffles. Tuna was perfectly fresh, delicate and not spoiled with any unnecessary spice, just fresh pepper and a dash of balsamico. The main course was an absolute REVELATION: truffles freshly sliced, aromatic and lavishly scattered all over the plate and the best tagliolini I have ever had. Pasta generally is at the end of my food list and I hardly ever order it, but here it was worth every penny.
I’ve tasted a bit of carpaccio as well and it was nothing but good. We took a bottle of house wine and the choice was really good (I.G.T. Montagner Veneto) and in a reasonable price (65zł).
Menu is in English, Polish and Italian. Lorenzo speaks English, Italian and very good Polish, which is a reason to congratulate him. Staff is helpful, friendly and ambiance is very familial. I would definitely recommend delizia and shall be coming back there from time to time.
Monikahttp://www.delizia.com.pl/
ul. Hoża 58/60 Warsaw
(entrance Poznańska Street)
Monday to Saturday, 12 to 22, Sunday closed
Reservations:+48-22 6226665
środa, 3 listopada 2010
Food Food and more Food
Hey :) Caity here.
So, it's after work (yes, I admit it, the last post was written on work hours.. oops!) and I've already made dinner (turkey meatloaf - recipe below) and somehow, again, I ended up on foodblogs. There are a a few that I really love that I'd like to share. They mostly have to do with baking and since that's what I love the most . . .
http://bakingbites.com/ - amazing recipes. I made the Lemon Curd Cream Cheese Pie for the hubster's birthday this year (he's a huge lemon fan) and it was a huge hit.
http://www.visionsofsugarplum.com/ - There is nothing healthy about this website, but man she has some amazing recipes!
http://stephchows.blogspot.com/ - and finally, a girl after my own heart. She loves food and recreates her own healthier version of non healthy items - check out her homemade nutella (which is how I found her.. searching the vast internet database for a decent homemade nutella recipe that didn't include white refined sugar!
Today's Dinner: Turkey Meatloaf
*side note: I don't actually measure things when I cook, so the below are estimates.. you'll have to play around with it to figure out what you like!
*side note 2: I usually use onions in meatloaf, but I didn't have any so I left them out.
.5 kilo (~ 1 lb) of ground turkey meat
3 garlic cloves, mashed and chopped
1/3 cup of sundried tomatoes, chopped (I use the kind soaked in oil)
1/3 cup of bread crumbs
1/3 cup of rolled oats
splash of milk
egg
Topping
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons mustard
3/4 cup of tomato sauce (just the plain stuff, no flavor and NO, not ketchup)
1 teaspoon of honey
Mix topping ingredients together, set aside.
Mix meatloaf ingredients together.
Spread 1/4 cup of the topping in the bottom of a loaf pan. Add meatloaf mixture to loaf pan. Add remaining topping and bake, uncovered for 35ish minutes in a 175C oven. I served this with some stir fried brussel sprouts (make sure to cook them until they are fairly dark brown - they turn sweet!). YUM!
So, it's after work (yes, I admit it, the last post was written on work hours.. oops!) and I've already made dinner (turkey meatloaf - recipe below) and somehow, again, I ended up on foodblogs. There are a a few that I really love that I'd like to share. They mostly have to do with baking and since that's what I love the most . . .
http://bakingbites.com/ - amazing recipes. I made the Lemon Curd Cream Cheese Pie for the hubster's birthday this year (he's a huge lemon fan) and it was a huge hit.
http://www.visionsofsugarplum.com/ - There is nothing healthy about this website, but man she has some amazing recipes!
http://stephchows.blogspot.com/ - and finally, a girl after my own heart. She loves food and recreates her own healthier version of non healthy items - check out her homemade nutella (which is how I found her.. searching the vast internet database for a decent homemade nutella recipe that didn't include white refined sugar!
Today's Dinner: Turkey Meatloaf
*side note: I don't actually measure things when I cook, so the below are estimates.. you'll have to play around with it to figure out what you like!
*side note 2: I usually use onions in meatloaf, but I didn't have any so I left them out.
.5 kilo (~ 1 lb) of ground turkey meat
3 garlic cloves, mashed and chopped
1/3 cup of sundried tomatoes, chopped (I use the kind soaked in oil)
1/3 cup of bread crumbs
1/3 cup of rolled oats
splash of milk
egg
Topping
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons mustard
3/4 cup of tomato sauce (just the plain stuff, no flavor and NO, not ketchup)
1 teaspoon of honey
Mix topping ingredients together, set aside.
Mix meatloaf ingredients together.
Spread 1/4 cup of the topping in the bottom of a loaf pan. Add meatloaf mixture to loaf pan. Add remaining topping and bake, uncovered for 35ish minutes in a 175C oven. I served this with some stir fried brussel sprouts (make sure to cook them until they are fairly dark brown - they turn sweet!). YUM!
Mały Belgrad
ul. Belgradzka 4 lok. 9U
Metro Natolin
18 - 26zł for a main dish
Serbian / Bulgarian
http://malybelgrad.pl/index.htm
My husband and I LOVE Mały Belgrad. First of all, for us it's conveniently close to home and second of all, the food is consistently delicious. We've eaten here at least once a month since they opened (in 2008??) and have never had a bad meal. One major con is that the restaurant is quite small and often full. There are 8 tables, most of them 2 tops that can be pushed together for bigger groups, but be sure to ask a polish speaking friend to make a reservation for you! Another trip up for foreigners is that they don't have an english menu - but there are pictures and some names are common enough to recognize (musaka, cukinia, etc.) besides the fact that I'll give you the scoop on all their best food right now, just be sure to grab a paper and pen . . .
Starting at the beginning -
SOUP
As a general rule, Warsaw isn't the best place for getting great salads (I'll keep you posted as to where the best are) but the salad I'm about to list my husband dies for every summer. It's his favorite meal then, not exactly healthy but...
Been to Mały Belgrad and loved it? Tell us about it below!
Have another favorite dish? We'd love to hear from you :)
Metro Natolin
18 - 26zł for a main dish
Serbian / Bulgarian
http://malybelgrad.pl/index.htm
My husband and I LOVE Mały Belgrad. First of all, for us it's conveniently close to home and second of all, the food is consistently delicious. We've eaten here at least once a month since they opened (in 2008??) and have never had a bad meal. One major con is that the restaurant is quite small and often full. There are 8 tables, most of them 2 tops that can be pushed together for bigger groups, but be sure to ask a polish speaking friend to make a reservation for you! Another trip up for foreigners is that they don't have an english menu - but there are pictures and some names are common enough to recognize (musaka, cukinia, etc.) besides the fact that I'll give you the scoop on all their best food right now, just be sure to grab a paper and pen . . .
Starting at the beginning -
SOUP
- Zupa z Soczewicy -- Lentil soup -- this is how my husband and I fell in love with this restaurant, it is the most delicious lentil soup I've ever tasted
- Gęsta Zupa z Kurczaka -- Chicken Soup -- just like grandma used to make it!
- Zupa z klopsikami -- this actually IS the chef's grandmother's soup and really worth a try :)
- Smażona Cukinia -- our favorite appetizer. Butter fried zucchini (courgette) topped with garlic sauce
- Naleśniki po Jugosłowiańsku -- Spinach crepes, battered and deep fried, covered in the same delicious garlic sauce. I order this often as a full meal
- Kurczak "Montenegro" -- My absolute favorite dish. Chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce with potatoes or rice and coleslaw. I don't even like mushrooms, but I love this.
- Saszłyk "Hajducki" -- Pork, wrapped in bacon cooked on a skewer on the grill. YUM.
As a general rule, Warsaw isn't the best place for getting great salads (I'll keep you posted as to where the best are) but the salad I'm about to list my husband dies for every summer. It's his favorite meal then, not exactly healthy but...
- Sałata Leskovaczka - bed of greens topped with liver, wrapped in bacon and grilled. Served with toast.
Been to Mały Belgrad and loved it? Tell us about it below!
Have another favorite dish? We'd love to hear from you :)
poniedziałek, 1 listopada 2010
To Be Reviewed . . .
Just a quick list of haunt that we like to frequent - stay tuned for full reviews and our favorite dish picks!
Hektor
Casa to tu
Mały Belgrad
Nasz Naleśnik
Izumi Sushi
Rimini Pizzeria
Mistrz Asia
and many more to come!
Hektor
Casa to tu
Mały Belgrad
Nasz Naleśnik
Izumi Sushi
Rimini Pizzeria
Mistrz Asia
and many more to come!
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