Post by rdywenur on Jul 26, 2006 15:52:36 GMT -7
A Starch Diet
Tubers are intrinsic to the Polish soul
Published On Thursday, July 13, 2006 10:14 PM
By NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED
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STALOWA WOLA, POLAND-Polish cuisine is a constipating conglomeration of
cured meats, potatoes, cream sauces, fried potatoes, blueberries, and potato
chips.
I first encountered the Polish potato about two hours north of Warsaw, at
a school for children with special needs. I was stationed in a small town in
order to learn a little Polish. My potatoes were stationed next to my inevitably
fried pork product and mound of shredded cabbage-ostensibly, in order to ease
digestion.
I remember my first Polish potatoes: simply boiled and garnished with
dill. Little did I know how many possibilities lie hidden in those tubers: there
are many ways to kill a cat, but even more ways to cook a potato. Polish
elementary schools know their potatoes. So do Polish grandmothers, and the
country's many greasy spoons, or "milk bars." Incidentally, these aren't very
milky. Rather starchy, in fact.
Then again, these tubers are a national obsession, an indelible part of
the Polish psyche. A particularly potato-proud Pole might serve vegetable soup
with potatoes, potatoes slivered and sautéed, and a salad of creamed cauliflower
and potato. All at a single Sunday dinner.
The potato gained its place in the Polish pantry during "The Deluge," a
series of wars in the 17th century that left Poland in ruins. Sweden occupied
most of the country, and local agriculture foundered. Potatoes began to replace
cereals during a grain production crisis.
As far as I can tell, grain production in Poland is now doing fine. But
that doesn't hurt our friend, Polish Potato. If my experience reflects the
national trend, those taters are doing just fine. Bread and potatoes, beer and
potato vodka-why settle for just one starch when you can have two?
Sure, Poland has yet to meet Dr. Atkins, though I'm sure that day will
eventually come. But perhaps a bit of dietary recklessness isn't such a terrible
thing. While Americans count calories, Poles eat for pleasure, often five times
a day. As far as I know, only Poles would ever say "first breakfast" and "second
breakfast."
Of course we're supposed to eat a balanced diet, watch our saturated fat
intake, our sugar intake, and plenty of other intakes I don't know enough about
to name. Poles, on the other hand, see balance in terms of possibilities, not
limits. This a country where "no thanks" really means "I'll take two." Trying
the black forest cake but not the lemon torte-now where's the balance in that?
Over the past few weeks, I've learned that bread smeared with spiced lard (Leslie....are you paying attention here)
can be wholesome. And so can potatoes. Poles enjoy those simple carbs in hearty
servings and still live long, happy lives. Markets hum with the gossip of
great-grandparents out to buy the day's bread and potatoes. Surprisingly, the
average life expectancy is some 74 years. It must be the tubercles.
And if not the potatoes, then certainly the pro-potato attitude. You see,
Poles don't worry about silly things like carbohydrates, at least not in front
of Americans. The economy is sputtering, the architecture is abysmal-think
concrete shoeboxes-and most English classes are taught entirely in Polish.
In times like these, we all need our potatoes. Americans, on the other
hand, epitomize the anti-potato attitude. If not carbohydrates, we worry about
carcinogenic vegetables, radioactive cell phones, and toxic seafood.
Incidentally, small talk on Polish trains never gets near PCBs or farmed Alaskan
salmon. Americans wonder if what's on their plate will do them in. Poles wonder
if you'd like some more potatoes.
So, it seems I'm in for a potatoey summer, but should you decide to visit,
you won't find me complaining. Here, the tea may be Lipton and the coffee
instant, but the potatoes are nothing short of divine.
Thomas B. Dolinger '09, a Crimson editorial editor, is a history and
literature concentrator in Pforzheimer House. He is teaching English in Stalowa
Wola and, in his spare time, pondering potatoes.
Long live the "Potato".....Amen. ;D
Tubers are intrinsic to the Polish soul
Published On Thursday, July 13, 2006 10:14 PM
By NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED
ARTICLE TOOLS:
E-mail this Article
Printer Friendly Version
Write a Letter to the Editor
View/Post Comments
STALOWA WOLA, POLAND-Polish cuisine is a constipating conglomeration of
cured meats, potatoes, cream sauces, fried potatoes, blueberries, and potato
chips.
I first encountered the Polish potato about two hours north of Warsaw, at
a school for children with special needs. I was stationed in a small town in
order to learn a little Polish. My potatoes were stationed next to my inevitably
fried pork product and mound of shredded cabbage-ostensibly, in order to ease
digestion.
I remember my first Polish potatoes: simply boiled and garnished with
dill. Little did I know how many possibilities lie hidden in those tubers: there
are many ways to kill a cat, but even more ways to cook a potato. Polish
elementary schools know their potatoes. So do Polish grandmothers, and the
country's many greasy spoons, or "milk bars." Incidentally, these aren't very
milky. Rather starchy, in fact.
Then again, these tubers are a national obsession, an indelible part of
the Polish psyche. A particularly potato-proud Pole might serve vegetable soup
with potatoes, potatoes slivered and sautéed, and a salad of creamed cauliflower
and potato. All at a single Sunday dinner.
The potato gained its place in the Polish pantry during "The Deluge," a
series of wars in the 17th century that left Poland in ruins. Sweden occupied
most of the country, and local agriculture foundered. Potatoes began to replace
cereals during a grain production crisis.
As far as I can tell, grain production in Poland is now doing fine. But
that doesn't hurt our friend, Polish Potato. If my experience reflects the
national trend, those taters are doing just fine. Bread and potatoes, beer and
potato vodka-why settle for just one starch when you can have two?
Sure, Poland has yet to meet Dr. Atkins, though I'm sure that day will
eventually come. But perhaps a bit of dietary recklessness isn't such a terrible
thing. While Americans count calories, Poles eat for pleasure, often five times
a day. As far as I know, only Poles would ever say "first breakfast" and "second
breakfast."
Of course we're supposed to eat a balanced diet, watch our saturated fat
intake, our sugar intake, and plenty of other intakes I don't know enough about
to name. Poles, on the other hand, see balance in terms of possibilities, not
limits. This a country where "no thanks" really means "I'll take two." Trying
the black forest cake but not the lemon torte-now where's the balance in that?
Over the past few weeks, I've learned that bread smeared with spiced lard (Leslie....are you paying attention here)
can be wholesome. And so can potatoes. Poles enjoy those simple carbs in hearty
servings and still live long, happy lives. Markets hum with the gossip of
great-grandparents out to buy the day's bread and potatoes. Surprisingly, the
average life expectancy is some 74 years. It must be the tubercles.
And if not the potatoes, then certainly the pro-potato attitude. You see,
Poles don't worry about silly things like carbohydrates, at least not in front
of Americans. The economy is sputtering, the architecture is abysmal-think
concrete shoeboxes-and most English classes are taught entirely in Polish.
In times like these, we all need our potatoes. Americans, on the other
hand, epitomize the anti-potato attitude. If not carbohydrates, we worry about
carcinogenic vegetables, radioactive cell phones, and toxic seafood.
Incidentally, small talk on Polish trains never gets near PCBs or farmed Alaskan
salmon. Americans wonder if what's on their plate will do them in. Poles wonder
if you'd like some more potatoes.
So, it seems I'm in for a potatoey summer, but should you decide to visit,
you won't find me complaining. Here, the tea may be Lipton and the coffee
instant, but the potatoes are nothing short of divine.
Thomas B. Dolinger '09, a Crimson editorial editor, is a history and
literature concentrator in Pforzheimer House. He is teaching English in Stalowa
Wola and, in his spare time, pondering potatoes.
Long live the "Potato".....Amen. ;D
