Last autumn, I was invited to a wedding in Poland. It didn’t take me long to book the plane tickets and plan a new adventure. I flew to Warsaw and spent a couple of days there. The capital of Poland struck me as one of the liveliest cities in Europe and I enjoyed every corner of it. The architecture was a mix of modern skyscrapers and old buildings.
As a traveller, I always try my best to experience something new. One way to get acquainted with different cultures is to try the local delicacies. The food in Poland was tasty and diverse. There were so many restaurants with international cuisine that I couldn’t miss visiting some of them, too. Here are five international and traditional dishes I tried and where to find them.
1. Bánh Xèo (Crispy Vietnamese crepe)
Surprisingly, the first place my friends and I went to in Warsaw was a Vietnamese restaurant called Vietnamka. Fun fact: “Vietnamka” means “a Vietnamese woman” in Bulgarian, my mother tongue.
I’d never tried Vietnamese food before, so I literally ordered the first thing on the menu, Bánh Xèo. It turned out to be a rice flour and turmeric pancake, filled with shrimp, bacon, green onion, and sprouts. It came with fresh herbs and fish dipping sauce. It was crispy as it was served right from the frying pan.
2. Befsztyk tatarski (Beef tartare)
After a long day of sightseeing, we decided to go out for a drink. We started with some cocktails at Veles Bar, a great place if you want to feel like you’re starring in The Great Gatsby movie.
After that, we visited the Meta bar. I was impressed by the interior there. Everything was vintage, from the chairs to the wall art. We were advised to try their specialty, Polish steak tartare or Befsztyk Tatarski with vodka shots. This was raw minced beef with raw egg yolk on top, garnished with chopped onions, pickles, peppers, and other seasonings. We had to mix all the ingredients and eat it on toast. I liked the raw taste even though I prefer well-done steak.
3. Chlodnik (Cold beetroot soup)
A few days later, we headed to Olsztyn where the wedding was held. We had a lot of fun!
The next day, we went to Przystań Restaurant. I tried the most refreshing cold beetroot soup there, called chlodnik. I was impressed by its vivid pink color. The soup was made with beetroot, cucumber, radishes, green onion, and yogurt, and served with quartered boiled egg and chopped dill on top. Very delicious!
4. Pierogi (Polish dumplings)
In Olsztyn, we also found the Casablanca restaurant, which had a perfect view of Podzamcze Park. The atmosphere was classy and modern.
There I tried pierogi for the first time. These Polish dumplings were filled with duck and sauteed. They came with wine and cranberry sauce. It was a very satisfying meal, simple yet flavorful.
5. Mediterranean “Skinny Jeans” salad
We returned to Warsaw and, before we set off to the airport, we decided to grab a quick bite. We chose to go to AïOLI restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious!
One salad amazed me with its name, “Skinny Jeans,” so I ordered it. It was a combination of mixed greens with black quinoa, avocado, carrots, marinated red cabbage, green beans, and pumpkin seeds. It was served with wheat flour bread, poached egg, and a bowl of vinaigrette on the side. It was the perfect way to end my trip.
Have you ever tried any Polish dishes? Share with us in the comments below.
