#also love some pierogis potato’s onions and kielbasa

[thewingedwolf]

my cuisine is what i would call “lazy [region redacted]” in that it’s me trying to emulate the ethnic dishes i grew up with (mostly polish, german, puerto rican) but with the fewest steps possible and with whatever i have in my pantry.

[drewgoesabroad]

Food post!

So if you know me, you know I love food and you know I’ll try new food whenever possible.

The pictures, in the order they’re posted.

- Our first meal in the cellar of a restaurant. They served noodles and carrots in a bowl and had us add our own broth. - Pierogies. I got the Ruskie kind, (onion, potato, and cheese) fried, but the spinach and feta were also amazing. - Country bread with organic butter and kielbasa. - Churros with Nutella sauce, at the Christmas Market in the town square. - Strongbow cider, ordered at a place we went to with our film professor. Highly recommend. - Cream of broccoli soup with smoked salmon. The salmon tasted like straight up lox. Fresh black pepper garnish. - Mamma Mia pizza: pizza with goat cheese, pine nuts, and honey. Probably one of the best pies I’ve ever eaten.

Honestly, all of the food I’ve had here has been delicious so instead of putting that in every description I’ll sum it all up down here. We also got McDonald’s, which is different in a good way. The burgers look…for lack of a better word, real. I’ll obviously be eating more so there will probably be another food post.

Tomorrow I’ll upload some of the sightseeing photos and the day after I’ll tell you guys about my New Year’s Eve! In the morning we are going to the Jewish quarter of Kraków and our afternoon is TBD. So we’ll see. :) xoxo thanks for reading!

Deuces, Drew

[detroitpigout]

Shame on you City of Dearborn Heights for not cutting down your tree Totally Blocking the sign. You have to know it's there to find it..... little restaurant that has been around since 1970. Homemade polish food, looks like a diner out of the 50's with great stuff like pierogies, stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, homemade soup, kilbassa, meatloaf, good "stick to your ribs" food made the old fashioned way. If you are in the mood for your Polish Grandma's home made food check it out. We had Fried Chicken a Bowl of Famous Tomato Macaroni OMG and Delicious Cabbage. A 6 pack Pierogi topped with Grilled Onions WOWED, Potato Pancakes with both Applesauce n Sour Cream. A big Polish Breakfast Taters, Eggs, Toast n Double order Polish Sausage so delicious. For dessert got last slice Coconut Cream Pie oh my. So these sisters both grandma treat all customers like family, really cool photo of the at age 4 and 6 on the wall. Folks 50 years packing them in bet you never see it like me found online Facebook, Yelp n Google also TripAdvisor each with just a few reviews. Large parking lot in rear with restaurant entrance. Show these Sisters some Love you'll be Happy we going back really soon. #markovskisfamilyrestaurant #markovski #pierogi #kielbasa #potatopancakes #tomatomacaronisoup @thecityofdearbornheights #motorcitymunchers (at Markovski's Family Restaurant) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwngbXFAnI8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gg00w8qdvcpp

[indiepulserocks]

BOSTON CALLING MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2019 FOOD & DRINK LINEUP

The Festival’s 10th Edition Presents An All-Star Food & Drink Lineup

Featuring An Array Of Hometown Culinary Favorites, Local And International Brews, And Platinum Menus Curated By Some Of The City’s Most Prestigious Chefs

Boston Calling, headlined by Twenty-One Pilots (Friday), Tame Impala (Saturday), and Travis Scott (Sunday), delivers a food & drink lineup that is sure to please even the foodiest of festival goers. With a variety of fare ranging from award-winning barbecue to a raw bar sourced directly from the Atlantic, the festival rolls out a stellar collection of new culinary treats from legendary chefs, and brings back fan favorites. This year’s menu has something for everyone, including a wide assortment of craft beers and wines on hand to toast to Boston Calling’s 10th edition. Boston Calling takes place Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-26, 2019, at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston (65 North Harvard Street, Boston). Tickets are available at www.bostoncalling.com.     New to Boston Calling’s General Admission food offerings are Sweet Cheeks Q, two-time James Beard Best Chef nominee Tiffani Faison’s barbecue mecca, which will be serving up Smoked Hot Chicken Philly Cheese Steaks, Oooey Gooey Cheesy Nachos, and a mind-blowing Fluffernutter Garbage Sundae; and Café Beatrice, an exciting new pop-up restaurant from Will Gilson, the celebrated chef and owner of Cambridge’s Puritan & Co., which will feature, among other options,Roasted Pork, Provolone and Broccoli Rabe, and Prosciutto, Pepper, Fig and Burrata Sandwiches.Stuffed by Papi is a new addition to the bill, offering its signature Sopapillas like Chipotle and Pineapple Marinated Smoked Pork with Pineapple Pico and Homemade Hatch Green Chile Aioli Slaw served with a Handmade to Order Sopapilla, while the locally acclaimed food truck, Boston Trolley Dogs, rolls in with the Duke, their popular beef hot dog topped with relish, onion and deli mustard.     Also in General Admission, Boston Calling welcomes back Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, with its delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, including the Green Monster stuffed with three cheeses, crispy bacon and fresh guacamole; Arancini Bros and their variety of mouthwatering arancini flavors, such as the Classic Ragu which is Saffron Risotto with Tomato Meat Sauce, Peas & Mozzarella;The Smoke Shop, chef and owner Andy Husbands’ award-winning barbecue joint; and local burger authority Tasty Burger, which returns with its Tasty Burger Tots and introduces its newTasty Burger Chicken Nuggets. Other returnees include Zinneken’s with authentic Belgian Wafflesand the Shuck Truck with an incredible raw bar selection and Cape Cod lobster roll sliders. Between Whole Heart Provisions and The Chubby Chickpea, there will be ample vegetarian and vegan options, and when paired with decadent vegan ice creams from Fomu, a meal is complete. As in past years at Boston Calling, Platinum ticketholders will be treated to specialty evening menus created and prepared by some of the city’s most rousing culinary talent. Friday night features legendary two-time James Beard Award winning chef Jody Adams of Trade, Porto, and Saloniki. Adams will welcome guests with a Greek, Saloniki menu including a brilliant Meze Boardcomprised of crispy pita chips and house made dips, olives, sheeps milk feta and veggies before hosting a Souvlaki Sandwich Bar, complete with an assortment of grilled skewered meats includingchicken, pork, and lamb. Yet another James Beard Award winner, Jamie Bissonnette, chef and partner of Toro, Coppa and Little Donkey, will host Saturday’s Platinum menu. He will offer aFoie Bratwurst with Japanese flavors, a Lamb, Bacon, and Lettuce wrap station, Fried Chicken Sandos and the sensational Impossible Burger. Sunday nights menu closes the festival with a classic northeastern seafood spread from an icon within New England cooking: Jeremy Sewall, chef and partner of of Island Creek Oyster Bar and Row 34. Sewall’s seafood expertise will be represented with a selection of Maine Lobster Tacos, Crispy Oyster Sliders, a Smoked Salmon Plate complete with pickles and grilled bread, and a Roasted Chicken with Rigatoni and Basil Pesto. Just as Boston Calling has curated a vast assortment of culinary choices for its 10th edition, it has also sourced an equally standout selection of beers and wines in both General Admission and Platinum. Hometown brewing favorites Samuel Adams will be returning again this year with an assortment of flavors, including three staple summer brews, Summer Ale, Sam ‘76 and Boston Lager. Returning to Boston Calling from across the Atlantic is Copenhagen’s acclaimed Mikkeller Brewing with a wide array of signature craft brews on tap including Staff Magician NE Pale Aleand Mikkeller Chill Pils Yuzu Pilsner. Barefoot Wines will also be featured with an assortment of wines such as the Barefoot Summer Red Spritzer and the classic Barefoot Pinot Grigio. Platinum guests will have access to, during limited serving hours, exclusive curated bars, signature cocktails and an assortment of superlative spirits including Kettle One and Bulleit Bourbon. Sodas and bottled water will be available for purchase throughout the entire festival. In addition, several free water stations will be onsite at Boston Calling for attendees who bring a factory sealed water bottle or empty beverage container. The full food and drink lineup is below. All vendors and menu items are subject to change. A * denotes the 2019 newcomers. A folder containing images of dishes for this year as well as Platinum chef headshots can be accessed here.

BOSTON CALLING 2019 GENERAL ADMISSION FOOD MENU Arancini Bros Classic Ragu - Saffron Risotto w/ Tomato Meat Sauce, Peas & Mozzarella Bianco Verde - Basil Pesto w/ Mozzarella Buffalo Ball - Roasted Chicken w/ Gorgonzola Cheese Pizza Ball - Margherita Style Basil, Tomato & Mozzarella Bucatini Fritti - Italian Style Mac & Cheese Our Famous Nutella - Hazelnut Chocolate w/ Cinnamon Sugar Bon Me The Namesake - Sandwich with BBQ Pork         The K-Town - Sandwich with Korean Style Spicy Chicken The JP - Sandwich with Roasted Paprika Tofu *Trolley Dogs Original (plain or mustard/ketchup) Duke (relish, onion & deli mustard) Dutchess (caramelized onions) California (chili & nacho cheese) New Yorker (sauerkraut & deli mustard) *Café Beatrice Tacos Chicken, Pork or Vegetable Tomato and Avocado BLT Prosciutto, Pepper, Fig and Burrata Sandwich Grass Fed Beef Meatball Sandwich Roasted Pork, Provolone and Broccoli Rabe Sandwich Chicken & Rice Guys Halal Chicken Plate Lamb Gyro Combination Plate (chicken & gyro) The Chubby Chickpea Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl Falafel Bowl (Rice/Tabbouleh) Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves Chickpea Fries Hummus with Pita Copperdome Pizza Cheese Slice Pepperoni Slice Spinach & Feta Slice Whole Pizza (8 Slices - any combination) Dean’s Concessions Chicken Fingers & Fries Fries Fried Oreos El Pelon Taqueria Cheese Quesadilla V Salsa Fresca Side V/GF Guacamole Side V/GF Chips Boston Calling Combo (Cheese Quesadilla/Chips/Salsa/Guacamole) The Flatbread Company Cheese Pizza Fomu Ice Cream Scoops of Ice Cream Waffle Cone Sprinkles Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Joe’s American Bar & Grill Mac & Cheese Gluten Free Mac & Cheese Clam Chowder Jaju Pierogi Mix & Match Pierogi Potato & Cheese V Kielbasa & Red Pepper Jalapeno Cheddar V Sweet Potato & Caramelized Onion V Love Art Sushi Love Art Special Hawaiian Poke Onigiri (Rice Ball) Inari Seaweed Salad Moyzilla Hand Folded Pork and Cabbage Dumplings Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce Katsu Meal Box add Spring Roll - Twice Fried Pork Cutlet, Rice, Shredded Cabbage, Homemade Japanese BBQ Sauce Katsu Sandwich - Twice Fried Pork Cutlet, Bulky Roll, Shredded Cabbage, Homemade Japanese BBQ Sauce, Aioli Crispy Spring Rolls with Thai Sweet Chili Sauce V Riceburg Crispy Chicken Rice Burger/Rice Bowl (Sweet & Sour) Bulgogi Shaved Steak Rice Burger/Rice Bowl GF upon request Shitake Mushroom Rice Burger/Rice Bowl V/GF upon request Matcha Green Tea Lemonade Roxy’s Grilled Cheese Three Cheese Melt Rookie Melt (three cheese melt with tomato) Hot Honey Bacon (three cheese melt with bacon and Mike's Hot Honey) Green Monster (three cheese melt with bacon & guacamole) Deep River Chips Ruth’s Chris Steak House Steak Sandwich Lobster Roll Chicken Salad Wrap Cape Cod Chips The Sausage Guy Sausage Guy Sausage Sweet Sausage Guy Sausage Hot Sausage Guy IPA Brat Sausage Guy All Beef Hot Steak Cheese Peppers-Onions Sate Grill (Momogoose) Banh Mi Sandwich Build Your Own Bowl + Side Rice Noodles or Salad Chicken or Curry Tofu CrispyRoll or Dumpling Vietnamese Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookie Shuck Truck Oysters on the Half Shell Lobster Roll Hot & Butter'd or Cape Cod Cold Lobster Roll Slider Hot & Butter'd or Cape Cod Cold Lobster Fries! Old Bae Fries With Brown Butter Bisque, Smoked Gouda Cheese, Fresh Shucked Lobster and Bacon Aioli V/GF Old Bae Fries V/GF/Vegan The Smoke Shop The BBQ Bomb The Pit Boss The BBQ Sandwiches (Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Burnt Ends) The Sides (Cornbread, Mac & Cheese, Pit Beans, Coleslaw) The BRL (Bacon-Wrapped Smoked Pork Loin) Stone & Skillet Cheese Pizza Pepperoni Pizza *Stuffed by Papi Seared Steak and Cheese Fresh grilled steak with caramelized onions and peppers, artisan romaine, fontina or chef's choice cheese of the day and homemade Papi sauce/served with a handmade to order sopapilla Pork Al Pastor Chipotle and pineapple marinated smoked pork with pineapple pico and homemade hatch green chile aioli slaw/served with a handmade to order sopapilla Sopapilla Doughnut Fried and glazed to order with cinnamon toast crunch or Oreo The OG Sopapilla drizzled with honey and dusted with powdered sugar *Sweet Cheeks Q Smoked Hot Chicken Philly Cheese Steak add avocado or bacon Oooey Gooey Cheesy Nachos add guacamole, chicken, or bacon Fluffernutter Garbage Sundae Tasty Burger Hamburger Cheeseburger Bacon Cheeseburger Veggie Burger Veggie Burger with Cheese Tasty Burger Chicken Nuggets Chicken Nuggets Bag of Chips Tasty Burger Tots Tater Tots GF Cheese Tots Chili Tots Chili Cheese Tots Whole Heart Provisions MISO BOWL vegan & gluten free TAZON BOWL vegan & gluten free VIET BOWL vegan & gluten free SEARED AVOCADO vegan & gluten free Zinneken’s Liege Waffle The Gourmand (Caramel, Bananas, Whip Cream) Fruit Delight (Melted Chocolate, Bananas, Strawberries) Ice Cream Zandwich (Vanilla Ice Cream)                

BOSTON CALLING 2019 PLATINUM FOOD MENU

Friday, May 24 Chef Jody Adams Trade, Porto, Saloniki

Appetizer: Meze Board w/ Pita Chips & House Made Dips, Herb Marinated Olives, Sheeps Milk Feta, Veggies Main: Souvlaki Sandwich Bar w/ Grilled Skewered Meats (Chicken, Pork, Lamb, and Veggie) On the Buffet Line: Rolls, Toppings, House Made Sauces Salads: Village Salad Seasonal Salad Dessert: Baklava Triangles Mini Chocolate Cookies Halva Chocolate Chip Cookies Saturday, May 25 Chef Jamie Bissonnette Toro, Coppa, Little Donkey Celery Caesar COPPA V Foie Bratwurst (with Japanese Flavors) LD Corn (Off the Cob) TORO GF/V Lamb Bacon Lettuce Wrap Station (build your own) LD GF Impossible Burgers LD Fried Chicken Sandos LD Vegan Paella TORO V/GF Sunday, May 26 Chef Jeremy Sewall Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34 Romaine Salad, Roasted Tomatoes, Balsamic Vinaigrette Grilled Asparagus, Sauce Gribiche Maine Lobster Tacos, Mango, Avocado Chilled Shrimp Salad, Sesame, Roasted Peppers, Cucumber Crispy Oyster Sliders, Pickled Onion, Chili Aioli Roasted Chicken with Rigatoni And Basil Pesto Smoked Salmon Plate, Pickles, Grilled Bread Cookies and Brownies BOSTON CALLING 2019 BEER & WINE MENU BEER: Miller Lite Miller High Life Sol Cerveza Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pilsner Urquell (Draft Only) Sam Adams Summer Ale Sam Adams NEIPA Sam Adams ’76 (Draft Only) Sam Adams Boston Lager (Draft Only) Truly Wild Berry Spiked Seltzer Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Angry Orchard Rose (Draft Only) Mikkeller Table Talker Belgian Table Brew Mikkeller Chill Pils Yuzu Pilsner Mikkeller Staff Magician NE Pale Ale Mikkeller Passion Pool Gose Mikkeller Raspberry Blush Berliner Weisse Mikkeller Windy Hill NE IPA Mikkeller Beer Geek Brekkie Loq ABV Stout Mikkeller Ripple Effect West Coast IPA WINE: Barefoot Pinot Grigio Barefoot Pinot Noir Barefoot Moscato Spritzer Barefoot Rose Spritzer Barefoot Sangria Spritzer Barefoot Summer Red Spritzer Featured Liquor Sponsors: Bulleit Bourbon Ketel One Vodka

The day-by-day music lineup for Boston Calling 2019 is as follows. Performance times are forthcoming. *Artists are subject to change.

Friday May 24, 2019 Twenty One Pilots Greta Van Fleet Chvrches Lord Huron Christine and The Queens Tank and The Bangas Mura Masa Yaeji Gang of Youths Turnstile Pale Waves Bear Hands Naeem Adia Victoria Arena: Fred Armisen Sam Jay Lamont Price Saturday May 25, 2019 Tame Impala ODESZA Anderson. Paak & The Free Nationals Hozier Big Red Machine King Princess Mitski Clairo Denzel Curry Princess Nokia Young Fathers Superorganism Shame Pile White Reaper Sasha Sloan Dessa Sidney Gish Arena: Jenny Slate Imogen Heap Boston Ballet Marina Franklin Lamont Price Sunday May 26, 2019 Travis Scott Logic Brandi Carlile Sheck Wes Rainbow Kitten Surprise Marina Guster Chromeo (DJ Set) Snakehips Snail Mail SOB x RBE Ravyn Lenae Cautious Clay Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Kilo Kish SKEGSS Easy Life Arena: Michael Che Imogen Heap Boston Ballet Melissa Villaseñor Lamont Price

Images of 2019 Boston Calling artists and highlight images from the previous nine festivals can be found here. Boston Calling is proud to have Delta Air Lines, Samuel Adams, Miller Lite, Chase, JBL, Vans, Barefoot Wine, Subaru of New England, and 47 Brand as sponsors for this year’s festival. Tickets:  A limited number of Single Day and Three-Day General Admission, VIP and Platinum Passes are on sale now at www.bostoncalling.com. Getting There: Boston Calling is best accessed by the T on the Red Line’s Harvard Square stop; from there, it is a short walk to the festival’s main entrance.  Boston Calling will also be coordinating with taxi and rideshare programs for safe and easy pickup and drop off points. There will also be bike racks available onsite.  Onsite parking is available only to Platinum package purchasers. Boston Calling is produced by Boston Calling Events LLC (BCE) which is owned by Crash Line Productions and The Madison Square Garden Company. Crash Line Productions is a Boston-based entertainment production company that owns and produces dozens of events each year.  Formed in 2012 by Brian Appel and Mike Snow, Boston Calling Events continues to build its event platform around Boston Calling Music Festival. Boston Calling Events is part of The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG), a world leader in live sports and entertainment experiences. The company presents or hosts a broad array of premier events in its diverse collection of iconic venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, CA; and The Chicago Theatre.  Other MSG properties include legendary sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA) and the New York Rangers (NHL); two development league teams –  the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL); and esports teams through Counter Logic Gaming, a leading North American esports organization, and Knicks Gaming, MSG’s NBA 2K League franchise.  In addition, the Company features the popular original production – the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes – and through Boston Calling Events, produces New England’s preeminent Boston Calling Music Festival.  Also under the MSG umbrella is TAO Group, a world-class hospitality group with globally-recognized entertainment dining and nightlife brands: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, Beauty & Essex and Vandal.  More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com

[hookedonapirate]

I'm from right outside NYC, so I lived there for quite a while, but always in the suburbs and not the city proper, which was nice. Pierogies are little Polish dumplings filled with potatoes and cheese! They're delish, and you fry them up with onions and eat them with sour cream or apple sauce and kielbasa (sausage). Different slavic people have different fillings for their pierogies too, traditionally, although nowadays its pretty much a free for all and you just put what you like in. 1/?

I have to say, you gave me what I think is going to be a really great idea for your gift! I have it all mapped out now, and hopefully I’ll start writing it soon. There are a few details that need to be fleshed out some more, but I think I have it pretty much outlined. It one be long - one or two pieces at most - but there’s also a little side project that I hope I can put together to go with it. It’ll be testing my creative abilities a bit, but hopefully it’s turns out okay. 2/3

But - a few get to know you questions so I can maybe sneak in some easter eggs for you! Who are some of your favourite OUAT characters (other than CS)? What are some of your interests outside of OUAT? And what’s the best or most thoughtful/sentimental gift you’ve ever gotten? Anyway, that’s all for today! Happy Friday lovely! - 3/3 ❓🎅🏼

Pierogies sound delicious, I don’t know how I had never even heard of them, but I will definitely have to try those.

I’m glad I was able to give you an idea and I’m so excited about what you have planned and I know it will be great☺

My favorite ouat characters are David and MM, I love Daddy Charming and Captain Charming. Thinking about it, there aren’t really a lot of other characters I liked on the show. I did like Rumple as the dark one but I didn’t like Gold. I also never really cared for Belle, it just seemed like a lot of the characters didn’t really have storylines that I got excited about. I mostly watched for Captain Swan. I liked the younger version of Henry back when he was so cute, and I liked Will and Elsa even though they weren't on the show for very long.

In my freetime I like to write, and I’ve dabbled in graphic design but I don’t have much time for it anymore. The most sentimental gift… hmmm there a few that come to mind. So the first one is a poem my husband wrote me when we were dating, he’s not really the sappy, sentimental type so getting a romantic poem from him was so unexpected and touching I framed it and keep on my dresser in our bedroom. Another gift was a couple of years ago before Christmas time, I had a cat named Optimus Prime who died suddenly, and I was completely devastated, it was like losing my best friend, and I was unable to get into the Christmas spirit or buy any gifts (thank goodness for gift cards). One of my brothers asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him I wanted my cat back, and though he couldn’t make that happen he did give me a framed photo of Optimus and I thought it was so sweet and thoughtful, especially coming for my brother who I never got along with growing up. The last gift was a trip to California, but it wasn’t just the trip that was special. My husband found out that I had wanted to go to California since I was a kid (I was born and raised in Michigan) I had written some future goals when I was in elementary school that we put in a time capsule. My husband saw it one day and he just booked a trip to California and we went a week later. He is normally a planner and definitely does not like to do things on a whim so it was so unexpected.

How about you? What kind of things do you like to do? What are some are your favorite OUAT characters and how low long have you been in the fandom?

[nichetraveldesign]

Wigilia table. The feast.

WIGILIA | THE VIGIL

Wigilia (pronounced: vee gee lee a) or “The Vigil” is the traditional Polish Catholic Christmas Eve celebration feast held on December 24th. The ceremony represents, and honors, waiting for the arrival of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.

PREPARING THE FEAST | 12 DISHES

The celebration commences only after the first star has been sighted by the youngest person in attendance.  This can be a bit of a problem if the youngest person is an infant or, if the weather is not cooperating, but somehow, it all gets worked out each year.  The sighting of the first star is a reference to the Star of Bethlehem.

The meal takes all day preparation.  While the adults prepare the feast . . .

Preparing the feast.

Preparing the feast.

Preparing the pierogi filling

The finished product.

the children occupy their time by decorating the Christmas tree.

Decorating the Christmas tree.

The finished product.

WIGILIA TRADITIONS | SETTING THE TABLE

Hay for the table.

The children also place a bit of hay under the tablecloth to symbolize the hay present in the manger where Jesus was born.

After placing the hay under the tablecloth,  the table is set. An empty plate is set on the table in case a traveler should need sustenance. The extra place setting symbolizes hospitality in honor of Joseph, Mary and Jesus who were in need of help from strangers.

An extra place setting in case a stranger needs hospitality.

 THE OPŁATEK | THE BREAD OF LOVE

Once it is time for the fest to begin, family members begin the celebration with a prayer and breaking of the Christmas wafer called the opłatek. 

The opłatek

The opłatek is similar to the Catholic communion wafer.  The opłatek is known as the bread of love because it is often sent to the family members wherever they may be. We receive some every year from relatives in Poland.  After the prayer, the oplatek is broken and pieces are given to everyone attending. Each person breaks off a piece of their oplatek, and shares it with everyone else, wishing luck and joy in the upcoming year.

Sharing the opłatek.

Sharing the opłatek.

This wish is usually finalized by a kiss on the cheek and saying and Wesołych świąt or Merry Christmas in Polish. I admit I mumble through that one each year.  It is also customary to feed one’s livestock a bit of the opłatek too. Livestock are to be respected that day since they were present at the birth of Jesus. Domestic animals do not get to share in the celebration. 

THE FEAST | 12 MEATLESS DISHES 

After sharing the oplatek the feast begins. People are expected to fast from meat to symbolize the suffering of Jesus and thus, the meal is meatless. There are 12 dishes representing the 12 apostles of Jesus. Traditional dishes include: barszcz (beet soup); carp filets; pierogi (dumplings) filled with potatoes, cheese, mushrooms and kapusta (cabbage); dried fruit compote; fried fish fillets; herring in oil; mushrooms; meatless gołąbki, (cabbage rolls): cucumber salad; potatoes with milk and herbs; pickles; noodles with a sweet poppy seed dressing; and Polish vodka.

Barscz

Herring and onions

The feast

The feast

And vodka!

After supper families attend Pasterka or midnight mass. After mass, it is not uncommon for people to dine on a second meal which includes meat, particularly kielbasa (Polish sausage).

Kielbasa.

In addition to being a celebration of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, It is also believed that Wigilia will foretell your future. Polish families believe that whatever happens on Wigilia day will affect one’s upcoming year. For example, if you quarrel with your sibling, you may well have a year filled with arguments and trouble. Thus, it is important to be on one’s best behavior on Wigilia.

Wesołych świąt dla wszystkich! Merry Christmas to all!

Wigilia – The Polish Christmas Celebration WIGILIA | THE VIGIL Wigilia (pronounced: vee gee lee a) or “The Vigil” is the traditional Polish Catholic Christmas Eve celebration feast held on December 24th.