Wroclaw's Best Street Foods You Need To Try

With summer around the corner, most of us picture a perfect day off or an afternoon after work as one spent outside. Spending time in the open air is enjoyable and rewarding until you get hungry. After that happens, it is better to quickly grab a bite before someone gets hurt (I am speaking from experience here). Thankfully, we have a variety of places that offer take-away food which will definitely save the day. From sweets, through food trucks, to one of a kind spots – street food in Wroclaw is what you should go for when the weather is nice and you want to give yourself a break from booking tables and going through the “restaurant procedure”.

If you have a sweet tooth:

1. Stara Paczkarnia – Swidnicka, Ruska

Stara Paczkarnia offers freshly fried Polish doughnuts. Every day, you can choose from a variety of fillings and just get one (or 3) doughnut to go. To be fair, the ones they make are sizeable, so one should be enough to restore your energy and help you do some more sightseeing. You may face two challenges though: a line of people who had the same idea for their snack, and too wide a selection of fillings. But as they say, ain’t no mountain high enough – you can do it.

2. Polish Lody – Plac Bema

The first ice cream shop in Wroclaw which started making “natural” ice cream. They were one of the precursors of the ice-cream revolution in the city, and since 2014, they have not lost popularity. To get ice-cream there, you may have to reserve some time, as there tend to be very long lines, but if you happen to need a break from walking, give it a shot. If you have company, you can split and in the meantime, they may stand in the line next door to get some other delicacies.

                                                                                             Credit: visitWroclaw.eu

3.Piekarnia na Bema – Plac Bema (open Monday-Saturday)

A real phenomenon – probably the only bakery in the city where you need to stand in line for at least 20 minutes to get your favorite bread and buns. I am a person who values her time more than other things, but all they bake here is absolutely worth waiting for. If you are staying at a hotel, you may skip buying the entire loaf of bread, but you may definitely go for something smaller and easy to carry around with you. I highly recommend: a blueberry bun (jagodzianka), an apple sweet roll and a cottage cheese sweet roll (koperta z serem). They also offer savory pastries, such as rolls with onion, cheese and caraway with coarse-grain salt (solanka).

Savory treats:

1.Frytki + sos – Sw. Antoniego, Olawska

The idea behind Frytki + sos could not be simpler – French fries + some interesting dip and there you go. Based on that, we may say that the simpler one gets, the more genius they turn out to be. The fries are delicious – hot, thick, and crispy. The dips, in turn, are value added. They are based on original recipes and they may differ throughout the week. There are also special dips prepared for vegans. It does not matter if it is lunch time, or if it is 2 AM and you suddenly find yourself craving fries. The fries served in Frytki + sos will solve all your problems, and cater for all your needs.

                                                                                                    Credit: Frtyki + Sos

2.Bratwursty - Szewska

One of the “oldest” street food crews in Wroclaw. They have a food truck and a spot near the market square and the whole city knows their wursts. You may get a classic set with a bun and a wurst (or 2), or you may go in the Czech direction and order fried cheese instead. One thing is certain – you will love it. And the best thing is that you will get it quickly, so there will still be plenty of time to visit the city.

3. Mania Smaku – Legnicka, Slezna, Krzywoustego

They are said to be one of the best pizza food trucks and spots in the city. In Legnicka, there is only a food truck, but thanks to a genuine pizza oven which they have, you will never call their pizza fast food. The ingredients they use are top quality, the dough is perfect and the combination of ingredients pretty innovative. If you want to get a taste of Poland, do not shy away from Rusalka. This pizza is topped with the one and only filling which is normally used in Russian dumplings (which are one of the must-eats when in Poland), i.e. farmer’s cheese, potatoes and onions, plus white sausage, bacon, cream sauce and spring onions. This pizza is to die for. I guarantee you have never tasted anything like that before.

                                                               Credit: Mania Smaku

4.Happy Little Truck – Kazimierza Wielkiego 39, in the backyard

I am not sure what is better – the pizza they make or the beer that the next door multitap, Marynka Piwo i Aperitivo, serves. Fortunately, such dilemmas never need to be resolved. You can simply go there, give both a chance and see if you will manage to choose the winner. Happy Little Truck is another master pizza food truck that serves pizza you cannot get enough of. They use original Italian ingredients and dough that ferments for 24 hours. My personal favorite is Chorizo on top of which they add some honey. The spiciness of the sausage combined with the sweetness of the honey is what will make your day brighter. And if you find yourself thirsty afterwards, fear not, as Marynka’s beers will help you get through it.

                                                                                              Credit: Happy Little Food Truck

5. Panczo – the location of the food truck to be checked on their Facebook profile, a stationary restaurant in Sw. Antoniego

Delicious Mexican food, genuine taste, and original names on the menu. Get one of their Big A** Burritos and you will not worry about being hungry for a long time. They started with a food truck, last fall they opened a restaurant in the Four Denominations District, and soon they are about to open a new breakfast spot near the market square. Obviously, everyone wants more of what they got. Polish food is my absolute favorite, but when I am served such good Mexican food, I start thinking I may have been Mexican in some other life. Absolutely worth trying.

                                                                                              Credit: Panczo

6. Wroclawski Bazar Smakoszy – on Sundays, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Paczkowska 26

If you like natural ingredients and you support sustainability and organic farming, you should visit the weekly foodie market. Apart from the possibility to buy organic produce, such as cheese, meat, honey, fruit, vegetables, bread, etc., you can choose from a variety of dishes served at different stands. There are various things on offer every week, but the most popular ones are pancakes, herring, Ukrainian dishes, coffee and natural ice-cream. It is a great place to spend your Sunday morning at.

Apart from the permanent spots, you will see a lot of food trucks around the city located along the riverside, near the Centennial Hall, and at the city beaches. You can be sure that you will find a nice place to eat at even if you move away from the very center. Also, if you are lucky enough to be in Wroclaw when a food truck festival takes place, take some time to explore the variety there. Nowadays, food trucks are trying to be as innovative as possible to be able to fully compete with traditional restaurants, so you can be confident they want to impress you and serve you something you will remember for a long time.

Krakow Pierogi Festival 2018

Krakow is lucky to host every year the most delicious festival in Poland- Krakow Pierogi Festival. It is a must-to-attend event for every foodie. It is organized every year in the middle of August at Mały Rynek (Small Market Square), in 2018 it will be the 16th edition. This year the festival will take a place between 15th August-19th August. 

The event is a perfect opportunity to try the most famous polish delicacy in different versions. This annual festival promotes the tradition of polish cuisine and folk culture as well. Delicious food is accompanied by the folk music and folk-art festival. For few days you will have a chance to enjoy the pierogi in numerous variations. Exhibitors are outdoing each other to find the unique and tastiest version of that well-known specialty. And it is worth it- the festival's visitors vote for the best pierogi and the winner receive the statue of St. Jack- the patron of pierogi.

                                                                            Photo by Delicious Poland

Few things about Pierogi

Pierogi is the most famous polish dish. If you ask a random Pole ‘’What is the most popular dish in Poland? They will answer you ‘’pierogi’’. Every Pole grew up with the pierogi- the dumplings stuffed with various filling. Pierogi are very filling- it used to be the dish that helped to feed the poorest part of the society. Make sure you don’t eat anything before if you plan to attend the festival yet, Fortunately, the festival last for few days, so you can spread over your degustation several days.

What's worth to try?

It's all up to you- if you want to stick to traditional types, try the Pierogi Ruskie filled with cottage cheese and potatoes, or Christmas version of the dumplings- stuffed with sauerkraut and mushrooms. August is just a middle of summer, the season full of fresh fruits, so don't forget to try some of the fruity filled pierogi- blueberry, strawberry etc. The festival gives a chance to taste also more modern and creative types of the dumplings- all depends on your preferences.

Do not miss trying what the winners from the previous edition prepared for this year- restaurant „Sekret Smaku” (in 2017 their pierogi filled with duck and apricot won the competition) and restaurant „Polskie Smaki” (pierogi with smoked meat and herbs received the Audience Award).

However, it is hard to judge the taste of the pierogi, if you haven't made them by yourself! Delicious Poland organizes the Krakow Pierogi Cooking Class. It is lead by Pani Jasia- our Pierogi- specialist.  Pierogi-making is a family tradition and that's the skill learned from our grandmothers. Pani Jasia is a grandmother itself and has 50 years experience in pierogi making.

Meet our pierogi instructor Mrs. Jasia

                                                                      Photo by Delicious Poland

                                                                          Photo by Delicious Poland

The Most Intriguing Cafes in Wroclaw

Wroclaw is slowly becoming the new Polish capital of coffee. Every week a new place pops up, so coffee lovers cannot feel neglected anymore. (Coffee used to be a luxury product and the tendency to drink it everyday outside of home is still quite new.) Nowadays, there is so much choice and so many interesting places to visit, especially in such creative city as Wroclaw. I would like to propose a list of places that represent an “out of a box” thinking about coffee and a slightly different approach to space we generally call “a cafe”.

KOT Cafe

Definitely not a place for people allergic to cats, as in this place you are going to meet a few of them in person. That’s right, you can order a cup of coffee along with a slice of delicious polish cheesecake and a few rubbs. It’s a first cat cafe in Wroclaw, where cats are permanent residents. Well, at least until someone decides to adopt one, which is an option as the cafe also functions as an adoption center. You can order a “catpuccino” here, as well as “catwhite” and a cup of “catte latte.” The scientists already proved that being among cats increases

                                                                      Photo: Kot Cafe

EGG Cafe

Australia in Wroclaw? Yes, that’s possible. The owner of “The Egg Cafe” came to Wroclaw after living many years in Australia and brought back a bunch of culinary inspirations from that very interesting and diverse region. As Australia became a second home to so many emigrants from different parts of the globe, the culinary influences from other cultures are really noticeable. You can trace that in the menu. From Mexican baked eggs (with chorizo and red beans) through Salmon and halloumi stack, to Reuben sandwich with beef - there is something for everyone. And the place is open from 7:30am, which is not that common in Wroclaw. It’s also one of a few places in the city where you can get my absolute number one for breakfast - eggs benedict. With a cup of coffee of course.

                                                                           Photo: Egg Cafe

Kawiarnia Literatka

An iconic place in the city. The name “Literatka” stands for a 125ml shot glass. Yes, that’s correct. Drinking ridiculous amount of alcohol was quite normal during communism, especially among artists who couldn’t express themselves freely in an era of censorship. Literatka was a safe haven for writers and stand up comedians, and the place hosted unforgettable parties. Until today celebrities from the previous era meet up there to go down memory lane. It’s also a place where books are everywhere around; you can read all day and no one is going to kick you out. The only disadvantage is that smoking is allowed in the back room of the cafe. Unless you’re a smoker - than it’s obviously a big advantage, as it’s probably the last place in the city where you can feel decadent and have a cigarette with your coffee.

                                              Photo: Edi_Studio & Kawiarnia Literatka

Etno Cafe Okrąglak

Finally a beautiful and once abandoned building “Okrąglak”  reclaimed its glory thanks to the owners of Etno Cafe. The coffee served here comes from Ethiopia, Brasil and Nikaragua but it’s roasted in Wroclaw. The coffee is brewed in both classic and alternative ways, so it’s a great place for adventurous coffee explorers.

                                                                      Photo: Delicious Poland

Cafe Rozrusznik

To visit our place number 5 we have to go back to Nadodrze district. (both Kot Cafe and Egg Cafe are also located here). Nadodrze is transforming very quickly from an area notorious for questionable reputation to a hip and arty area which is definitely worth a visit. Cafe Rozrusznik serves great coffee, cakes, and snacks. Despite its small size (or maybe thanks to it), the place has a great atmosphere which makes you wanna come back again and again.

                                                                 Photo: Delicious Poland

 Cafe Muzeum

What goes well with a coffee? A great view. To enjoy it, you have to first reach the last floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art, which itself is a very interesting building - an old air raid shelter built in 1942. The place has been resurrected as a platform for contemporary art in Wrocław. It’s got an elevator which whizzes you up to the fantastic 6th-floor cafe, which features a terrace and great views and may just be the highlight of visiting here.

                                                                     Photo: Cafe Museum

Równik Cafe

The last but not least - Równik Cafe. It’s actually a place that is not open yet (the opening is planned for the 10th of May 2018, so if you’re reading the post after that - you’re more than welcome to go and check it out.) It’s a place that is built by parents who have kids with special needs (down syndrome, autism, asperger). They do not have many options for employment so the parents decided to create the employment for them. The boys are adults now (they helped to build the place and were trained to be bartenders and cooks), so they will serve coffee and prepare lunches. All the money earned will help them open another cafe, (or even cafes) so that more people with special needs find employment. So you’re having a coffee plus you make a positive change in the world. How great is that?

                                                       Text: Jasmina Jasinska

Must-Try Polish Sweets

Harry S. Truman once said: “There's nothing better than cake but more cake.” Whatever is on your agenda when visiting Poland, you need to make sure you taste a few Polish sweets must-have.

Must Try Polish Sweets

The first on the list will be Polish doughnuts – pączki. If you join Wroclaw Food Tour or Warsaw Food Tour you will get to taste the best paczki in the city.  Doughnuts go back as far as Ancient Rome, and in Poland, they have been made and eaten since at least the Middle Ages. The sweet variety of pączki that we can eat these days was first introduced in the 16th century. In the 18th century, yeast was first added to the dough, which made pączki fluffier and spongier. Pączki are always deep-fried in lard, but the addition of grain alcohol to the dough prevents them from absorbing too much fat. Pączki may be filled with a variety of fruit jams and marmalades, as well as other sweet fillings, such as custard, chocolate and coconut. The most typical filling is rose hip marmalade. Confectioners typically cover pączki with powdered sugar, icing or glaze. Pączki can be bought at most bakeries and pastry shops, but there are also special doughnut shops that make pączki on the spot and sell them straight from the frying pot. There is also a pączki related Christian holiday in Poland called Fat Thursday which is the last Thursday before Lent. The day marks the upcoming Lent period and it is the last opportunity to feast and eat lots of things that are “forbidden” during Lent. Pączki are the most traditional element of this day, and Polish people eat unbelievable amounts of pączki and other treats on this day.

                                                                      Photo: Delicious Poland

The most beloved Polish cakes that you may get at most cafés and pastry shops include apple cake, cheesecake and poppy seed cake.

Polish apple cake (szarlotka) is different from typical apple pie. First of all, it is baked in a rectangular baking tin, and second of all, the layer of cake is a bit denser than in apple pie, there is a thicker layer of apples which are slightly softer, and there is a rich layer of crumble on top. It may (but does not have to) contain cinnamon, and it may be served with whipped cream, vanilla ice-cream and a dusting of icing sugar.

Polish cheesecake (sernik) is typically made from farmer’s cheese or curd cheese and it usually has a thin crust base. There are many varieties of Polish sernik, including more modern ones that feature cream cheese instead of farmer’s cheese, but only the age-old recipes guarantee the traditional and unique taste. Among sernik lovers, there has been a long-standing argument whether raisins should be added to it or not. You may think about it and make up your mind when ordering a piece of cheesecake at a café one day.

                                                                           Photo: Delicious Poland

Polish poppy seed cake (makowiec) is a typical holiday cake. It has been traditionally prepared for special occasions, such as Christmas, Easter and other holidays. It was believed that eating poppy seed on Christmas Eve would bring happiness and protect the family from evil forces. Moreover, poppy seed signified abundance and fertility, as well as it was considered a plant that enabled people to cross the boundary between life and death. Makowiec is a strudel-like cake with a thin layer of pastry and a thick layer of finely-ground poppy seed mixed with nuts, honey, butter and raisins. If you are not lucky enough to come across typical makowiec at a café or a pastry shop, you may go to a bakery and get a sweet roll with poppy seed filling and get an idea of what the poppy seed mixture tastes like.

                                                                 Photo: AniaGotuje.pl

Talking about sweet rolls (drożdżówki), they are another must-have. If you go to any bakery or pastry shop, you will definitely get a chance to choose from among several different sweet rolls. The most typical Polish sweet rolls are made with poppy seed, sweet farmer’s cheese, blueberries, custard and seasonal fruit (most commonly apple, plum or strawberry). They are made from yeast dough and they are either glazed or sprinkled with icing sugar.

Another iconic pastry is the so-called Papal Cream Cake (kremówka). It is a cream pie made of two layers of thin puff-pastry with a thick layer of whipped cream, buttercream or vanilla pastry cream in between, and it is usually sprinkled with icing sugar on top. The name of this cake is connected with Pope John Paul II. When visiting his home town Wadowice in 1999, the Pope mentioned that he loved this cream cake and as a school boy, he would always buy it with his friends at a confectionery shop located at the town square. After this reminiscence, the cream cake got its new name and it has become widely popular in Poland. Another name the cake goes by is Napoleonka.

                                                               Photo: Smaczne-Przepisy.TV

At traditional Polish restaurants and in some milk bars, you may come across a sweet dish called racuchy. They are mini pancakes made from yeast batter, typically with pieces of peeled apples. They are fried in a pan and served with icing sugar on top. Despite being sweet, they are not only served as dessert. In Poland, a sweet dish such as racuchy may be served as main course or supper as well.

                                                                  Photo: Zajadam.pl

If you are not a cake person, or you would like to buy some sweet souvenirs for your nearest and dearest, there is a variety of options available to you as well. If you go to any grocery store, you may buy some traditional Polish sweets, including:

-        Toruńskie Pierniki – traditional Polish gingerbread produced in Toruń since the Middle Ages. First mentioned in 1380, they are still widely popular and they are considered to be an icon of Polish cuisine.

-        Krówki - Polish fudge, literally translated as “little cows” which are semi-soft milk toffee candies. They should be crispy on the outside but liquid and sticky inside.

-        Ptasie Mleczko - chocolate-covered candy filled with milk soufflé; literally translated as “birds’ milk” which is related to a Greek term signifying something unbelievably delicate. There are a few flavors available, but the most traditional one is cream or vanilla filling.

-        Prince Polo – a chocolate candy bar that was first launched onto the market in 1955. It consists of layers of wafer and layers of chocolate filling and it is covered with chocolate.

-        Any candy produced by E. Wedel, one of the most popular Polish confectionery companies dating back to 1851. You may go for Pawełek – a chocolate bar with cream filling and a bit of alcohol, Mieszanka Wedlowska – a selection of different candy, or Torcik Wedlowski – a circular, chocolate covered wafer with hand-made decorations.

                                                      Text: Karolina Jągowska

Best Places to Try Craft Beer in Krakow

Our Krakow Craft Beer Tour aims to show you different places where you can try craft beer in Poland. The craft beer revolution has resulted not only in the appearance of more than 300 new microbreweries but also hundreds of locals that serve good quality beers. Below we listed the type of places where you can find craft beer in Poland. Well, if you would like to join our 3 hour guided Krakow Craft Beer Tour we'd be more than happy to have you along. 

1) Multitap bars

Multitap bars are considered as a symbol of craft beer revolution in Poland. It is the type of the bar that has at least 10 taps and offers beers from different microbreweries from all Poland. The characteristic feature is also beer rotation. Every time when you visit that place, different beers are being served. However, you can follow the offers of multitaps on the regularly updated website: ontap.pl.

Another thing that we appreciate in multitap bars is staff. Mostly they are passionate beer lovers that are always very knowledgeable about their offers. The staff is always happy to advise and give samples before deciding which beer you want to order.

- Omerta Pub & More: First multitap bar in Krakow. The place is designed in a still of the „Godfather” movie. You can find here 2 bars, 30 taps and one of the best selections of polish craft beers.  

Address: Kupa 3

                                                            Photo: Omerta Pub & More

- Multi Qlti Tap Bar: Hidden on the first floor of one tenement house in the old town. 20 beers on tap and a wide range of bottled beers, not only from Poland but from all over the world.

Address: Szewska 21

                                                              Photo: Multi Qlti Tap Bar

- Craftwonia: One of the recent multitap bar located in Kazimierz district. They have 18 beers on the tap and the beers are changed regularly. A broad selection of the styles can satisfy every beer lover.

Addres: Św. Wawrzyńca 22

                                                                         Photo: Delicious Poland

- Wezze Krafta: Being located in one of the trendiest parts of the city (Tytano-Old Tabacco Factory) makes Wezze Krafta always busy. The local is spacious and it can accommodate larger groups. They have 25 beers on tap.

Address: Dolnych Młynów 10/3

                                                              Photo: Delicious Poland

2)Brand-pubs

Opening its own brand-pub is the next step in a microbrewery development. Most of the microbreweries dream about the place where mostly its beers are being served. However, most of the brand-pubs very often host the beers from other breweries.

- Viva la Pinta: Pinta is one of the oldest microbreweries in Poland, responsible for initiating the changes in our beer scene. Their first brand-pub was opened in Krakow at the courtyard just off the Florianska street. Obviously, you can find here mostly Pinta's beer, but Pinta also supports other breweries and very often host them on their taps.

Address: Floriańska 13

                                                                         Photo: Viva La Pinta

- BroPub by Brokreacja: Brokreacja is a microbrewery from Krakow. A few months ago was opened their first brand-pub. The walls are decorated with the painting from their beer's labels. Those labels are hallmarks of the Brokreacja. You can find there also good food. It is a perfect place for football fans- Bropub broadcast most of the matches, you can follow the transmission plan on their website.

                                                          Photo by:  BroPub by Brokreacja

-Ursa Maior Concept Store & Pub: Brand-pub of microbrewery from Bieszczady Mountains. URSA MAIOR is a pub and concept store. You can find there all the bottled beers and 6 taps with the beer rotation. Except that, Ursa offers unique items like chocolate with hops and malts, beer openers, magnets, and T-shirts. All in an ecological-friendly designed local.

                                                                          Photo: Delicious Poland

3)Brew-restaurants

As the name shows- it is a restaurant that brews the beer for its guest. In Poland first brew-restaurant was opened in 1990's. The concept came probably from Germany, where this kind of place can be found in every city. Nowadays we have approximately 90 brew-restaurants in Poland. The beers are based on traditional and unique recipes and all the ingredients are carefully chosen to provide the best quality. Most of the time you can try the beer only on a spot as it is not served in any other place. The brew-restaurants generally specialize in bottom-fermented beers (lagers, pilsners), and wheat beers. From time to time it is possible to find among their offer some IPA's.

The unique beer is accompanied by the delicious food.

- Stara Zajezdnia: The brew-restaurant is located in old tram-depot. The building is on UNESCO list as historical heritage. Its speciality are lager style beers based on a recipe from Pilzno- the capital city of pilsner. Stara Zajezdnia is also known for their seasonal beers like apple or plum lager, wheat beer with pear or honey beers. Wide selection of beer's types provides Stara Zajezdnia status of one of the most popular beer venue in Krakow. Stara Zajezdnia very often hosts different types of events- brand fairs, concerts etc.

Addres:Świętego Wawrzyńca 12

                                                                        Photo: Delicious Poland

- Browar Lubicz:  The place refers to the history of the city- the building of Browar Lubicz used to be a brewery between 1840 and 2001. After being renovated, the brew-restaurant was opened in 2015. The brewhouse is located just next to the entrance to the restaurant. Lubicz offers a wide range of wheat beers, lagers and IPA's. Their beers have been awarded many times on beers contests in Poland.

Address: Lubicz 17J

4) Brewpub

It is a brewery combined with a pub. A brewpub is a relatively new concept that came to Poland from the homeland of real ales- England. Krakow is the lucky city to have the only one brewpub in Poland, which is T.E.A. Time.

- T.E.A. Time: the name of the place is a shortcut from „Traditional English Ales”. The brewery is located in the basement of the pub and it's opened for visitors. The staff is always happy to help and show the brewery around. T.E.A Time is also the only one brewery in Poland that offers real ales in a traditional English way- using the hand-pumps without extra carbon dioxide.

Address: ul. Józefa Dietla 1

                                                              Photo: Delicious Poland

                                                 Text: Kamila Sliwinska

Easter in Poland- The Beginner's Guide to Polish Easter

How to survive Polish Easter when you have absolutely no idea what’s coming next?

Poles are almost as obsessed about Easter as they are about Christmas, and the reasons are numerous. Easter is seen by many as the most important event in the Catholic calendar. It begins on Good Friday, which should be no surprise as the day is widely celebrated around the world. The mood among the devout Catholics is sombre as the day marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. You may see many Poles marching towards Churches although, as in most European countries, the decline in numbers of religious participants is clearly visible.

Saturday is a different story all together! The mood changes visibly and the proper Easter celebrations begin. By “proper” we mean “happy” which is what Easter really feels like in Poland. The first huh? moment for those visiting the country will come as they see people, at times hundreds of them gathered outside the many churches, carrying wicker baskets with food in them. Central to the whole tradition is always eggs - they symbolize the beginning, a new life and are thus linked to the idea of the Resurrection. Many Christians in Poland will tell you that painted/dyed eggs are typical of the Polish culture but don’t be fooled! - first dyed eggs date as far back as ancient Mesopotamia. Eggs were also central and symbolic within pagan tribes.

It is, however, true that Poland has pushed the tradition of egg-dying to a whole new level. Everyone has their own way - from boiling eggs in onion skins to obtain a brown, slightly rustic color, to hand-painting, even hand-carving the most complex decorations. Don’t be afraid to take a peek - there’s a proud artist behind every egg and they will be more than happy to show you the results of their work!

What else are you likely to find in the basket? Meat, and probably a lot of it. If you’ve never seen a white sausage, you are about to see one. They are an important element of the Easter menu - you’ll find them on a plate with mustard and horseradish spread and in żurek - a typical Easter soup made from sourdough with potatoes, sausage, and eggs. It’s as delicious and heavy as it looks.

Bread, salt, cakes and anything else that a person finds important to their Easter menu will also find its way into the basket. The food will later get blessed by priests and brought back home. The real temptation lies in not eating all of it on the way home. Many have tried and even more have failed! Whatever makes it home, will be shared at the beginning of the Easter Sunday breakfast.

If you are lucky to be invited to one such breakfast, or have a chance to try it in one of the many restaurants around the city, make sure to taste the Easter classics - żurek soup mentioned above, white sausage with beetroot and horseradish relish, Russian vegetable salad and cakes, especially mazurek, a sponge cake decorated with icing and dried fruit.

Worried that you’ve eaten too much? Don’t worry. If you are brave enough to leave your hotel or hostel on Easter Monday, you will most definitely have some running to do. Have you ever run for your life? Well, now you will. Regardless of the weather, even when it’s as cold as it is this year, there will be groups of pranksters who will chase others with buckets and bottles of water. This weird and slightly tortuous tradition has its roots in pagan times. The water associated with spring rains was to bring a good harvest. Fast-forward a few hundred years and all it brings is flu and cold. Although less and less popular among the health-obsessed Poles, Smigus Dyngus still attracts the hordes of testosterone-buzzing teenagers so expect the unexpected and run for cover!

                                                          Text: Jasmina Jasinska

Wroclaw's Best Breakfasts: 7 Coolest Places to Start Your Day

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”

“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”

“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.”

– A.A. Milne

Breakfast – the most important meal of the day. It can give you all the energy you need to get through the day and at the same time, so much more. When properly made and served, it can set the right mood for the entire day, and make you change your outlook on even the ugliest Monday morning.

They say there is nothing better than breakfast in bed on a Saturday or Sunday morning. But if today happens to be a Wednesday, or if it is Sunday yet you decide you would rather explore the city instead of lazing around in bed, here are a few places you may go to and have the breakfast you have always wanted.

Concept Stu Mostow, ul. Dlugosza 2-6

One of the highlights of the city. An awesome craft brewery with a pub and a restaurant upstairs, and a breakfast spot combined with a store. You walk in and you wonder whether to start with shopping, or sit back, relax and pick one of the delicious breakfast proposals first. The menu is all about quality, not quantity. There are several items only, but it is still hard to decide which one to order, as they all look great. You can choose one of the 5 sandwiches, or you can go for Spanish omelet, toast with avocado and roasted egg or traditional sunny-side egg with bacon, maple syrup and a cinnamon bun. If you like your breakfast sweet, matcha pancake cake should be your choice. All the dishes have a modern twist to them, and most of them are based on bread, rolls and buns which are made there with the addition of beer, wort, malt and spent grain. While waiting for your breakfast, you will be served a pre-starter consisting of a few pieces of delicious bread and a selection of their signature toppings, e.g. beer mustard, mayonnaise with hops or beetroot ketchup. Depending on your plans for the day, you may have the breakfast served with coffee or tea, or order a bottle of one of their amazing craft beers. In the meantime, you can look around and decide what you want to buy and take home with you to keep the memory of this amazing place alive.

                                                                   Photo: Concept Stu Mostow

Szynkarnia, ul. Sw. Antoniego 15

Szynkarnia is a place that has it all. In the morning, you can pop in for breakfast; later on, there are numerous brunch and lunch options available; in the afternoon, evening and at night, the place is all about craft beer and various snacks that will make you want to never leave. And the most important thing is that all the products that are used to prepare the delicious meals and snacks are top quality. Szynkarnia promotes a modern, healthy lifestyle and supports local farmers and producers of food.  A selection of local cheese, ham, sausage, honey, flour and various dairy products is the basis for all the menu items. The produce is top quality, lots of it comes from organic farming and has been awarded organic farming certificates. Let’s focus on the breakfast offer. Depending on your preferences, you may either go light and have one of their super smoothies or muesli, go sweet with a butter croissant or brioche and jam or honey, or go hard and order a breakfast set consisting of various combinations of sausage, eggs, bread (that they make themselves), cottage cheese and veggies. The breakfast can be paired with 100% Arabica coffee roasted at Etno Café, or with some great and sometimes very rare craft beer.

                                                                          Photo: Szynkarnia

Dinette, pl. Teatralny 8                                                     

Dinnette at Teatralny Square is a follow-up to a restaurant located in Skytower. Their breakfast range of choice is so wide that it is virtually impossible to have problems choosing your breakfast menu there. The classic overlaps with the modern and the combination is to die for. You can choose from a variety of light options including smoothies, muesli, oatmeal and granola, or go more serious with English breakfast, shakshouka, omelet, scrambled eggs, toast, bagels and the specials, including hummus, black pudding and fois gras. A glass of Prosecco or freshly squeezed fruit juice will perfectly complement whatever you go for.  

                                                              Photo: Dinette

Charlotte, ul. Sw. Antoniego 2/4

A breakfast classic since 2015. Typical French breakfast served based on home-made bread, baguettes, croissants, brioche and madeleine. A selection of breakfast sets, patisseries, tartines and salads guarantees that everyone will find something they like best. You may also order some French must-eats, such as croque-monsieur or croquet-madame and quiche. You will definitely feel this French bistro vibe there which you may also take home with you by buying some bread to go.

                                                           Photo: Charlotte

Frankies, ul. Wita Stwosza 57

Frankies is a place to be if you want to start your day in the healthiest way possible. A selection of their juices, power shakes, super juices, sandwiches and salads contains nothing but super ingredients, vitamins, fiber and microelements. Everything is healthy, natural and freshly made, and at the same time, it is absolutely delicious. If you combine super juice consisting of watermelon, strawberries, chia seeds, apple and mint with a spicy chicken or club sandwich and you order their delicious coffee, you can be sure your day will get better in the blink of an eye.

                                                                            Photo: Frankie's

Plastrami, ul. Wita Stwosza 44

Plastrami is where you want to be as early as 8:00 AM. With their bagels and breakfast sets (served after 8:00) and pastrami sandwiches (served after 12:00), you will realize there is nothing you cannot do on that particular day. All the bread is home-made, the portions are significant and the ingredients are good quality. Everything is prepared properly, and the location almost at the very center of the market square is an additional advantage.

                                                                 Photo: Plastrami

Central Café, ul. Swietego Antoniego 10

Hungry at breakfast time? An American-style bagel or pancakes should solve your problem. At Central Café, you can choose among a variety of bagels, pancakes, eggs, oatmeal and sweets. By pairing the breakfast of your choice with a cup of nice coffee, cocoa or tea, you can face yet another day with a smile on your face. Great location, nice interior and friendly staff will make your morning as enjoyable as possible.

                                                                       Photo: Central Cafe

                                                                   Text: Karolina Jągowska

Poszukujemy Pasjonata Piw Rzemieślniczych w Krakowie!

Poszukujemy osoby, która będzie odpowiedzialna za przeprowadzanie wycieczek Craft Beer Tour w Krakowie. Praca z nami będzie dla Ciebie doskonałym sposobem na dodatkowy zarobek- jest to doskonała możliwość, zarówno dla osób pracujących na pełen etat, jak i freelancerów. 
Jeżeli nie boisz się nowych wyzwań, jesteś osobą otwartą i komunikatywną, czujesz się specjalistą w dziedzinie polskiego browarnictwa, zgłoś się do nas! 

Obowiązki:

• oprowadzanie małych grup (2-10 osób) w ramach wycieczek Craft Beer Tour  w języku angielskim:(szczegółowy opis znajdziesz na stronie: www.deliciouspoland.com)
• wspieranie bloga Delicious Poland

Zapewniamy:

• ciekawą pracę i możliwość zostania częścią interesującego projektu
• elastyczny grafik (wycieczki zdarzają się kilka razy w tygodniu- w godz. 13:00-16:00 lub 17:00-20:00)
• atrakcyjny system wynagrodzenia
• możliwość rozwoju i zdobycia nowych doświadczeń

Wymagania:

•  bardzo dobra znajomość j. angielskiego 
• wiedza na temat piw rzemieślniczych (zwłaszcza polskich)
• łatwość w nawiązywaniu kontaktów i komunikatywność
• dostępność (grafik jest elastyczny, ale wymagamy dostępności przy najmniej 2-3 razy w tygodniu- jeżeli jesteś w ciągłych rozjazdach i rzadko bywasz w mieście, to nie jest to praca dla Ciebie)
• „lokalna” znajomość Krakowa (znajomość interesujących restauracji, pubów, miejscówek itp.)

Brzmi zachęcająco? Jeżeli tak, zgłoś swoją kandydaturę, wypełniając poniższy formularz.  

Poszukujemy Przewodnika Wycieczek Kulinarnych w Krakowie!

Poszukujemy osoby z pasją do polskiej kuchni, która będzie odpowiedzialna za przeprowadzanie wycieczek kulinarnych w Krakowie (Food Tour, Vodka Tour). Praca z nami będzie dla Ciebie doskonałym sposobem na dodatkowy zarobek- jest to doskonała możliwość, zarówno dla osób pracujących na pełen etat, jak i freelancerów. Dodatkowo ta praca to czysta przyjemność- spotykasz ludzi z całego świata, delektujesz się pysznym jedzeniem i zarabiasz pieniądze:)
Jeżeli nie boisz się nowych wyzwań, jesteś osobą otwartą i komunikatywną, a krakowskie knajpy nie mają przed Tobą tajemnic, zgłoś się do nas! 

Obowiązki:

• oprowadzanie małych grup (2-10 osób) w ramach wycieczek kulinarnych w języku angielskim (szczegółowy opis wycieczek znajdziesz na stronie: www.deliciouspoland.com)
• wspieranie bloga Delicious Poland

Zapewniamy:

• ciekawą pracę i możliwość zostania częścią interesującego projektu
• elastyczny grafik (wycieczki zdarzają się kilka razy w tygodniu w godz. 13-16:30 lub 17-20:30, czas trwania wycieczki: ok. 3,5 h)
• atrakcyjny system wynagrodzenia
• możliwość rozwoju i zdobycia nowych doświadczeń

Wymagania:

• bardzo dobra znajomość j. angielskiego 
• łatwość w nawiązywaniu kontaktów i komunikatywność
• dostępność (grafik jest elastyczny, ale wymagamy dostępności przy najmniej 2-3 razy w tygodniu- jeżeli jesteś w ciągłych rozjazdach i rzadko bywasz w mieście, to nie jest to praca dla Ciebie)
• wielozadaniowość
• pozytywne nastawienie
• umiejętność opowiadania historii (storytelling)
•  wiedza na temat kultury i zwyczajów polskich i umiejętność jej przekazania
• zainteresowanie polską kuchnią będzie dodatkowym atutem
•  „lokalna” znajomość Krakowa (znajomość interesujących restauracji, pubów, miejscówek itp.)

Brzmi zachęcająco? Jeżeli tak, zgłoś swoją kandydaturę, wypełniając poniższy formularz.

The Best Ice Cream Shops in Krakow

As you walk through the streets of Krakow during the summertime, you may start to wonder if ice cream is some kind of Polish specialty because it seems like there’s an ice cream shop around every corner.  This frozen treat is so common that lody, the Polish word for ice cream, is possibly the first word you’ll learn after you arrive. Summertime in Poland is quite short, so Polish people make the most of the season. This involves taking every opportunity to enjoy the warm weather and eating a lot of ice cream. Especially popular right now are lody naturalne — natural, artisan, ice creams made with high-quality ingredients. In fact, there has recently been a huge growth in the number of ice cream shops in Krakow. And now that there are so many options, it raises the question: Where is the best place to get ice cream in Krakow?

In this post, we’ll tell you about our favorite ice cream shops in Krakow. We judged them based on texture, the variety of flavors, quality of ingredients, and finally — on the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. We hope you’ll enjoy these suggestions and that they will help you to find the perfect place to satisfy your ice cream craving.

 Lody Na Starowiślnej

upadate: Still thriving and shining, Lody na Starowiślnej remains one of the most popular spots among locals.

This small shop is an established favorite and has been in the business of making ice cream for over three decades. Their traditional recipe has remained constant for years and they have best chosen as the best ice cream in Poland. Our favorite flavor is nuts and dried fruit, which is difficult to describe but is absolutely perfect. You’ll just have to try it and we promise you won't be disappointed. This shop is open from March to November. In the winter, instead of ice cream, you’ll find delicious pączki — Polish donuts. The Lody Na Starowiślnej, which translates to simply “Ice Cream on Starowiślna,” has become an iconic product in the city and sometimes you’ll find a huge line outside, so be prepared. Nevertheless, this is our number one choice and we promise the ice cream is worth the wait.

FB           |  Address: Starowiślna 83

                                                       Photo by Delicious Poland

Good Lood

update: This ice cream spot is better than ever! Currently, they operate at 15 locations around the city and you can find them now in Warsaw as well!

It’s true the Good Lood is incredibly trendy and has become a very popular choice for ice cream in Krakow over recent year. It is known for its value, serving huge portions at a reasonable price. We do love their ice cream (dark chocolate is our favorite), but these shops have a tendency to be crowded, especially those on Plac Nowy and Plac Wolnica, in the Kazimierz district.

Good Lood offers traditional flavors, like vanilla and dark chocolate, but they also have more modern flavors like oreo, salted caramel and more. Growing quickly and widely popular, this has become a local chain, and there are currently ten locations in Krakow.

FB:             |  Address: Plac Nowy and Plac Wolnica 11

                                                              Photo by Delicious Poland

Lodziarnia Tiffanny Ice Cream

update: Tiffany is still open and continues to bring joy to a faithful group of local fans every day.

Located in the heart of Krakow, just a few steps from the Main Square is this tiny shop. It is the only place in Krakow with authentic Persian ice creams made with an original recipe. Run by a Polish-Persian couple, this shop’s ice creams are prepared on location, with some ingredients imported from Iran. The flavors change from time to time, and their most unique flavor is saffron, prepared with the world’s most expensive spice.

FB               | Adress: plac Szczepański 7

                                                      Photo by Delicious Poland

Emil kręci Lody

update: Emil still operates at its usual location, and it's as good as always!

If you’re looking for variety, Emil kręci Lody is our top choice. This shop has a huge variety of flavors, possibly the biggest selection in Krakow. It just opened this summer and is located in Podgorz, just in front of the Rynek Podgorski, where the beautiful St Joseph’s church is located. With an open, modern design, this shop is a comfortable and unique place to sit and enjoy an ice cream with the whole family. Our favorite flavor choices here are mango and peanut butter.

FB              |    rynek Podgórski 13

                                                       Photo by Delicious Poland

Nice Ice Lody

update: Unfortunately, Nice Ice Lody has ceased its operations and remains closed.

Open for only a few months, this shop is located on Krupnizca Street. Their six standard flavors are produced in the back of the building. Our favorite flavor, and also their most popular, is peanut butter. The owners also plan to begin operating an ice cream truck, as part of Krakow’s burgeoning food truck scene, and we love the idea!

FB                |      Adress: Krupnicza 28

                                                                   Photo by Delicious Poland

We are Delicious Poland. We run memorable and personal culinary tours in Krakow, Wroclaw and Warsaw. Join us and experience the tastes of Poland.

Must Try Traditional Polish Dishes

So you decided to pay a visit to that mysterious country that lies in the very heart of Europe - Poland. Taking into consideration that the country was pretty much separated from the rest of the world during 50 years of communism, you might wonder - what is there to eat?

Once you start exploring Polish cuisine you will most definitely be surprised. Poland has a lot to offer to people who are looking to challenge their taste buds. If you start digging into Polish traditional recipes, you might come across dishes that you might not even want to try, (soup made of duck blood - anyone?)  but some of them are so delicious that you will simply want more and more. On our food tour in Krakow and Wroclaw, we serve all traditional must try dishes so that you can experience all the dishes once you book a food tour with us.

One of the must try Polish dishes are definitely pierogi, (Polish dumplings). They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are served both on special occasions (like Christmas Eve) and as regular everyday meals. There are tons of different fillings to choose from (meat, potatoes, cottage cheese, lentils, spinach or all kinds of berries if you are a sweet tooth), so it’s difficult to ever get bored of that dish.  The best ones are handmade pierogis that are prepared by an experienced Polish housewife.  If you ever have a chance to pay a visit to a Polish household, try to persuade the lady of the house to prepare that dish for you. Yammi!

credit. Delicious Poland

Another interesting dish are placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), which in times of economic difficulties in 19th century often replaced bread among the peasants. They are made of grated and ground potatoes, flour and eggs, than deep fried in oil and topped with a variety of condiments. As with pierogis, you can choose between a savoury option (potato pancakes served with sour cream or goulash) or a sweet one (the same potato pancakes served with applesauce or sugar), they may also be served plain. If you’re really hungry, go for the pancakes with goulash. The rich, savory Polish goulash is made from pork and is a perfect topping for that delicious dish.

credit: Delicious Poland

You cannot leave Poland without trying traditional Polish soups. The most intriguing ones are Barszcz (the beetroot soup) and Zurek. Barszcz is always served on Christmas Eve in a company of cute little dumplings called “uszka” (which literally means “little ears”); these always have a mushroom and sauerkraut filling. The popularity of borscht has spread throughout Eastern Europe and the former Russian Empire, so you might find different types of borscht in each of the Eastern European countries. The Polish version is made of beets, meat stock, a bit of sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Some recipes consider adding other vegetables like carrots, parsley roots, white cabbage or even tomatoes, but the quintessence of the soup is beetroot, which gives the dish a distinctive red color.

Zurek is quite different. Very popular during Easter, this soup is made of soured rye flour (akin to sourdough) and is served with meat (usually boiled pork sausage or pieces of smoked sausage, bacon or ham). The recipe varies from region to region (in Silesia, for example, people add mashed potatoes to the soup), but most Poles will not accept Zurek without halved hard-boiled egg inside. It’s simply a must!

If during your stay in Poland you somehow end up partying with some Poles, Zurek is then highly recommended the day after - there is no better cure for a hangover!

Credit: Milli Studio

Another suggestion for culinary adventurous travellers is “Golabki” ( literally “little pigeons), which are Polish cabbage rolls. To make them you need soft-boiled cabbage leaves and some minced pork or beef. You also need to have skillful hands - the cabbage leaves need to be wrapped around the meat! The meat is not the only delicacy inside the rolls. There is also rice or barley, chopped onions and herbs. The rolls need to be baked in the oven in a casserole dish and served with a creamy tomato sauce.

Poles are definitely creative in the kitchen and are able to create a dish from nothing. A good example of that culinary ability is Bigos. If you need to clean out your freezer and use up leftovers from other meat dishes - make yourself some Bigos! Worth trying if you ever feel nostalgic after your trip to Poland. All you need are assorted kinds of meat chopped into small chunks and a mixture of sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) and shredded fresh white cabbage;  you mix all ingredients and the result is that delicious Polish stew. A couple of good quality shots of vodka and you feel like you’re in Poland again!

We are Delicious Poland. We run memorable and personal culinary tours in Krakow, Wroclaw and Warsaw. Join us and experience the tastes of Poland.

Krakow's Best Coffee Shops

update 2023: After a span of 5 years, we find ourselves in need of updating our list. With delight, we announce that certain places remain open and are still offering delicious coffee!

Krakow is just full of great and unique coffee places so it’d be a shame to drink coffee in just any random  cafe or at an international chain. Recently, we have been lucky to see an increase in the number of artisan coffee shops in Krakow that use independent roasters and different modern and classic brewing techniques. Since such high-quality coffee is still a growing sector in Poland, local roasters are constantly working to educate others about how to brew better coffee by offering monthly cupping events. On our tours, we often get asked by our guests for recommendations on where to find the best coffee shops in Krakow, so we decided we should make a list specifically for all the coffee lovers. Here are our recommendations for the best Krakow coffee shops. Enjoy!

JAVA Coffee Showroom & Cafe

update: Regrettably, Java Coffee has ceased its operations.

Java Coffee was one of the first specialty coffee roasters to open in Poland. Their Krakow coffee shop, located on Joselefowicza Street, is open from Wednesday to Sunday. This is not only the perfect place to find an excellent cup of coffee but is also a showroom where workshops are led. The mission of the Java Coffee team is to spread coffee-drinking culture and their helpful baristas will be happy to advise you on the perfect beverage and brewing method for your tastes.

FB     |     Wednesday-Sunday / 10:00-18:00             

Adress: Joselewicza 12

                                                    Photo by Delicious Poland

Urban Coffee

update: Urban Coffee remains operational.

This tiny coffee shop occupies just a single room and is located in front of the Hala Targowa (Market Place), one of the busiest places in town. As you sit and enjoy a coffee, roasted by Krakow’s own Coffee Proficiency, you can people-watch and observe the bustling daily life of the city.

FB     |     Monday-Friday 07.30-18:00  / Saturday-Friday 08:00-18:00   

Adress: Wielopole 26

                                                       Photo by Delicious Poland

Coffeece

update: Coffeece remains operational.

You’ll find this friendly little cafe situated in the Zabłocie district, not far from the Shindler Factory Museum. Zabłocie is an old industrial district that has been developing over recent years and is now bustling thanks to the help of the many offices and companies in the area. Coffeece serves a variety of roasts from different companies such as Etno Cafe, Audun Coffee, and Coffee Grange. And this cafe carries more than just coffee, with different types of coffee brewing accessories and products from local designers also for sale.

FB     |     Monday-Friday 07.30-18:00  / Saturday 10:00-17:00 / Sunday Closed

Adress:  Przemysłowa 12

                                                          Photo by Delicious Poland

Karma

update: Karma remains operational.

For the past six years, this company has been roasting coffee in Krakow. They have their own coffee shop, located near the Main Square on Krupnicza Street. Every day, they serve their own roasts for both espresso and filter coffee. Their food menu changes daily, according to what’s available and in-season. They also have a location on Sw. Wawrzynca, in Kazimierz, where they brew and serve coffee on the weekend. They are also known for their vegetarian and vegan dishes, with gluten-free options available.

FB     |     Monday-Friday 08:00-19:00  / Saturday-Sunday 10:00-19:00

Adress: Krupnicza 12

                                                        Photo by Delicious Poland

Wesoła Cafe

update: Wesoła Cafe remains operational.

With its cool interior and shaded garden, this cafe is the perfect place to work or meet with friends. It has been open for three years and is located near the Central Train and Bus Station. This cafe serves coffee from different roasters including Krakow’s Coffee Proficiency and Casino Mocca in Hungary and they are happy to prepare you the classics, like cappuccinos and espressos, while also offering beverages made with trendy new brewing methods like Chemex and Aeropress. Their wide food menu features a variety of different dishes and an assortment of craft beer and wine.

FB     |     Monday-Friday 07:00-21:00  / Saturday-Sunday 08:00-19:00

Adress: Rakowicka 17

                                                      Photo by Delicious Poland

We are Delicious Poland. We run memorable and personal culinary tours in Krakow, Wroclaw and Warsaw. Join us and experience the tastes of Poland.

Blogger / Content Creator (Remote)

Delicious Poland is looking for a talented freelancer content creator (foodies are more than welcome) who can write blog posts on Delicious Poland’s website. This is a remote job (you can work from anywhere) but we expect 4-5 blog posts every week. To know more about us click here

Responsibilities:

• Writing unique blog posts (approx. 15  articles per month) about Krakow and Polish culture (places to visit, good restaurants, cafes activities etc)

• Coming up with new ideas and topics that help foreigners who visit Krakow

What we expect:

• Fluent English

• Excellent overall writing skills

• Impeccable spelling and grammar

• Knowledge about Krakow (places to visit, good restaurants, cafes activities etc.)

• Creativity and originality

Nice to have:

• Experience in blog writing

• Passionate about travel, food, and drinks

Please send your application with a short cover letter and an example of your work to hello@deliciouspoland.com if you live in Krakow. If you have questions please use the same email.

Miejscówka- Snowboard Rental Shop with Craft Beer

Miejscówka is a multitap pub in Podgórze near Kładka Bernatka in Krakow, just on the other side of Kazimierz. Miejscowka used to serve regular beers before transforming into multitap bar, which has been a good move and probably it attracted more customers. So far it'is a first good craft beer pub on this river's side. Miejscówka cooperates with microbrewery Trzech Kumpli and most of the beers in pub come from there. Trzech Kumpli is a small contract brewery from Tarnów. On my last visit in Miejscówka I had a chance to try Misty- Contemporary IPA from Trzech Kumpli and probably it will be my favorite IPA this Summer! However beer's offer in Miejscówka is quite broad and you may find there also some good crafts from other breweries like Podgórz, Piwojad, Piwne Podziemie.
What makes this pub a great “Miejscówka” (in Polish- a cool place to hang out in) besides good Polish craft beer, is a great front garden and beautiful river view.

                                                                       Photo: Miejscówka

Miejscówka has also daily offers, for example on Thursdays some of the craft beers on taps have 50% discount (only from Trzech Kumpli brewery) starting at 6 pm till the kegs are finished.

It's not only the place where you can try the great beer, delicious sandwiches and drink good coffee, but also a snowboard’s rental shop. It's a perfect place for snowboard's fans- check the photos, the interior designs is impressive.

Miejsowka is becoming one of our favorite place to stop by and have a glass of good Polish beer. If you want to get out of Kazimierz and Main Square for a while and chill out and enjoying the sun, Miejscówka is a perfect choice.

 We are Delicious Poland. We run Craft Beer Tour in Krakow, Warsaw, and Wroclaw.

FB: Miejscówka

Józefińska 4

Kraków 30-529

6 Things You Must Know About Polish Wedding

Even if you haven't been at Polish wedding yet, most probably you have heard how fun attending it is. A lot of vodka shots (believe me you stop counting a number of shots), plenty of food, dancing all night.. Countless of vodkas shots may sound scary but you will be doing well thanks to Polish tapas. (We will come to that point) On our vodka and culture tour, we have been asked many times how Polish weddings look like so we decided to write a blog post about it. I hope it helps you answer your questions regarding the Polish wedding. Enjoy!

1-Ceremony: Most of the Polish people still get married in a church, as Poland is one of the most Catholic countries. It is also quite common to be invited only to the ceremony in a church, not for the wedding party. That's why we advise reading your invitation carefully. The Polish word „ślub” refers to a ceremony in a church and „wesele” means wedding party. Generally, Ślub is held on Saturdays and starts around 3 pm and finishes in 1,5 hour. Wedding party starts after the ceremony and it can last even until early morning. 

2-Bread and Salt: After the ceremony in a church, newlyweds go to the venue where the wedding party will be held. There they are welcomed by parents with bread and Salt and two shots of vodka. They have to drink vodka in one gulp and throw the glasses behind their back. If the glasses are broken, it means they will leave together long and happy. Welcoming with Bread and Salt is also tradition for greeting important guests in Poland. We also practice that on our Krakow Food Tour.

3-Food: Wedding party obviously starts with the dinner. Traditionally the broth (in Polish „Rosół” is served as a first dish. As second course you may expect a lot of different meats and potatoes. After dinner on the table is served „zakąski”. Zakąski is kind of polish tapas- small snacks that perfectly go with vodka. They are generally very fatty like pork lard or herring. Don't count calories on Polish wedding, fatty food will help you to get along with the next point on the list!
 

4-Drink: Vodka is a thing that cannot be missed at Polish Wedding. It is not surprising that most of the Polish people drink the only vodka at Polish weddings. Sometimes some wine can be served as an option, but generally, it stays untouched through the whole party. Take it as a hint- Poles are experienced drinkers and they know that the worst thing what can be is a mixing different alcohols. So if you want to survive a Polish wedding, stay stuck to the vodka. How many vodka's shots people drink during the wedding is an unanswered question. It is impossible to count it as glasses are immediately refilled and the shots are drunk one after another. Between the shot take some fatty food, it will help you to slow the absorption of alcohol and you will stay sober longer.
 

5-Dance: Dance is another important part of Polish wedding. Poles dance a lot, especially with a partner. The wedding generally is accompanied by a live band playing mostly Polish songs. Be prepared for hours of dance, remember to wear comfortable shoes. Don't worry if you don't have a partner for a wedding, it is very common to change the dancing partners and dance with everybody. It is also compulsory to dance with the bride.

                                                          Photo: Delicious Poland

6-2nd day of Wedding: The Polish wedding takes two days. The second day is called „Poprawiny” which can be translated as a „to correct” or „improve”. The second part starts on Sunday around 1 pm and lasts generally until 7 or 8 pm. It is very similar to the first day but less formal. It the occasion to drink the rest of vodka. 
 

5 Must Try Polish Vodkas

On our Vodka and Culture Tour, we have heard many times the hard question: Which Polish vodka is the best? The reason why we think that the question is really hard to answer is that we have got different types of vodkas in Poland and each of them is characterized by different things. Below we listed 5 must try Polish vodkas which you can try almost in every bar and restaurant. In this post, you will not find the flavored vodkas as we decided to write them in another post.

1-Żubrówka: Żubrówka is called Bison Grass Vodka. This intriguing name comes from the one of its main ingredient- grass, that is gathered in Bialowieza Forest- home of polish bisons. Żubrówka delights unique, herbal taste. Generally, vodka is not served in Poland in cocktail form, but with Żubrówka we make an exception and mix it with Apple juice. Apples perfectly emphasize herbal notes. 

2-Żołądkowa Gorzka: It is herbal alcohol beverage with a beautiful, golden color. A blend of dried fruits, herbs and spices give unforgettable taste. However, Żołądkowa is not a proper vodka as its alcohol content is less than 37,5% abv (exactly 36% abv).So why Żołądkowa Gorzka has been listed here if it can not be called real vodka? Żołądkowa used to have 40% abv, but the number has been decreased without changing the taste.  It has very distinguished flavor and it's one of the few alcohols that are distributed only in Poland. Don't miss a chance to try it!
    

3-Sobieski: Sobieski is a vodka named after Polish invincible and fearless king Jan III Sobieski. The king had won Battle Vienna stopping the invasion of Ottoman Empire. Sobieski is based on high-quality rye and crystalline water. The careful selection of all ingredients makes Sobieski one of the smoothest and purest vodkas in Poland. It's not only premium quality vodka but also a history lesson.

4-J. A. Baczewski Vodka Monopolowa: Baczewski is a legendary vodka produced since 1781. It's one of the few vodka distilled from potatoes. Baczewski is distilled based on a traditional formula. You will be surprised by its smoothness and distinctive taste.

5-Dębowa: Dębowa literally means Oak Vodka. It's a herbal spirit based on Black Elderflower and Oakwood. The taste is a mixture of sweetness and spiciness. It reminds vanilla and pepper.
Visually Dębowa's bottle looks very impressive.
 

If this post made you more into the Polish vodkas join our vodka and culture tour! Our tour is not only about tasting but also learning traditions, drinking habits, and history.

The Art Restaurant and Cafe: The Unique Restaurant that Offers The Old Taste of Wroclaw

When you walk around Wrocław, you see plenty different restaurants and cafes. The culinary scene in Wrocław is rich and variety. However within the offer of Wroclaw's restaurants is hard to find the one that serves authentic Wroclawian cuisine. Maybe regional cuisine of Wrocław does not exist? Nothing could be more wrong!

 

Although the taste of Old Wrocław is almost forgotten, there are still few restaurants that maintain the memory of its traditional cuisine. One of them is The Art Restaurant and Cafe located on Kiełbaśnicza street. The restaurant offers the original delicacies and tastes of Wroclaw from the past ages. The cuisine of Old Wrocław is as rich as its history- it's a mixture of numerous culinary traditions, different cuisines and influences.
Chefs in Art restaurant use regional and seasonal products, that's why their menu often changes as it is prepared seasonally. Their menu has been influenced by the Italian recipes and traditional Polish cuisine. Sound interesting and exciting, isn’t it?

Also The dishes inspired by Wroclawian cuisine are always marked within the letter „W”. For example in their actual offer you may find the original dumplings with crayfish tails in a Wrocław manner with thyme sauce or spelt soup with poultry meatballs.

The Art Hotel restaurant is located near Old Town,  in a beautiful 16th century tenant house. You can easily make a booking if you want to indulge yourself with their a delicious food as well as a great atmosphere.

 As the food scene is developing day by day in Wroclaw we can easily say that Art Hotel has the one of the kitchen that has to be followed and experienced. Art restaurant is also a member of the prestigious network "The Culinary Heritage of Lower Silesia" and promotes regional cuisine of Lower Silesia.

If you are looking for something unique, you should definitely take into consideration having a dinner at The Art Restaurant and Cafe.

The Art Restaurant and Cafe

 20 Kiełbaśnicza Street, 50-110 Wroclaw

Phone +48 71 78 100

http://www.arthotel.pl/en/restaurant-page-59146

Would you like to join our Krakow Food Tour? Book your tour now!

5 Facts About Christmas Traditions in Poland That Might Surprise You

Christmas celebration starts in Poland on 24th of December and most of the traditions are connected with Christmas Eve. It's the most special and meaningful day of the year. On 24th of December Poles gather around the table and eat Christmas dinner. After dinner family sits near Christmas tree, sing Christmas carols and exchange gifts. 
Christmas traditions can be different depending on the region. However below you find five most common traditions that are known and practiced in all Poland:

1) 12 dishes: There must be served 12 dishes on Christmas table. Everybody should try every dish, so in the next year nothing will be missing. Number 12 refers to number of the apostles and number of months.

2) Meatless dishes: Meat is not served on Christmas Eve in Poland. On the table, you will find mostly fishes, soups (mushroom, beet), various dishes made of potatoes, sauerkraut, mushrooms, dried fruit compote. The most common „Christmas” fish is carp- before Christmas, you can buy in many markets a live carp. Poles keep live carps swimming in the bath for few days and kill it on the day of Christmas Eve. Carp can be served fried, baked or in jelly form.

3) One empty seat: There should be left at least one empty seat with full tableware in every polish home (plate, cutlery, glass). The place is for stray wanderer- whoever knocks the door on Christmas Eve, should be invited for joining the dinner. Nobody should be alone during that day.

4)Hay under the tablecloth: The hay is put on the table and covered by a tablecloth. It is related to the fact that Jesus was born on a hay in the stable.

5)Sharing the wafer: Before starting eating, Poles share the wafer (in polish „opłatek”) and wish each other all the best. 

                                                           Photo by FotoKatolik

5 Polish Craft Beers You Must Try

1) AleBrowar: The brewery was established in 2012 by the three beer enthusiasts and it’s located in the north of Poland (Pomorze). AleBrowar has been one of the initiators of the polish craft beer revolution. My favorite is Rowing Jack- American IPA.

AleBrowar-Rowing Jack- American IPA

2) Artezan: Artezan is a first established craft brewery in Poland. It has been opened in 2012 and as one of the first, they started offering another style of beers except for broadly known lagers. Among offered beers, you may find very intriguing types, for example: Cymbopogon (Wheat Ale with lemongrass), Bevo! Bevo! (Rye Ale with orange zest and bergamot).

                                                             Artezan - Wheat Ale

3)Podgórz- It is a small brewery from the south of Poland that exists since 2014. I have discovered Podgórz by trying its American Pale Ale- “Space Sheep” and must admit it was one of the best I’ve tried so far. As a big fan of light, summer beers, I can definitely recommend you also its Summer Ale: Sheldonada.

                                                  Podgorz - Space Sheep

4)Bazyliszek: The brewery has existed since 2014 in Natoiln, near Warsaw. I appreciate Bazyliszek for the unusual ingredients that they use to brew the beers (potatoes, acorns, herbs, flower petals, pine shoots, and even milk). I don’t usually choose stouts, but for their cocoa-vanilla rye stout, I make an exception.

                                                      Browar Bazyliszek - Sen O Warszawie

5) Ursa Maior- Ursa is the brewery located in Bieszczadzkie mountains. It is also the most ecological brewery in Poland. Ursa’s beers you may try in its pub in Krakow in Plac Wolnica.

I have tested all of the offered beers and I have never been disappointed, However, Ursa’s Golden Ale is still my number one. 

                                                      Ursa Maior- Golden Ale

On our Craft Beer Tour, I always care that at least half of the tested beers come from my favorite breweries. I think the five places I mentioned are the best representative of polish craft sector.

Useful links:

Here you can find the a great article about Krakow written by Waytostay : Visit Krakow in 48 hours