Little Poland, Chicago

[piwo]

Well, I just returned last night from Chicago from a wedding on my wife's side of the family. On Friday night, we took the opportunity to go to "little Poland" in Chicago, Milwaukee street, and enjoyed ourselves immensely. We ate at Starapolska restaurant, where my wife finally got to eat a good Polish dinner. Then walked N. Milwaukee a bit, and bought $113 worth of Polish liquor! Couple cases of Okocim, couple bottles of Zubrowka, Old Krupnik, and a few bottles of Wisniak Cherry Wodka. Quite a successful evening. Living so close to Chicago my whole life (300 miles), I've never been down Milwaukee street. I thoroughly enjoyed it! ;D

[heymikey]

dear piwo this is mike the chef! you were right in my old neighborhood! i see you had a good time! what you did not buy any ryebread or sausage? im home sick out in san diego, what did you folks eat at the restaurant? did you have a chicago style hotdog or pizza?

[piwo]

Hi Mike! Geez, I hope you're doing better. I read a post that you had an additional surgery.. Not good. My wife's had two back surgeries, and messing with the spine ANYWHERE is bad, bad bad. I hope you're doing better.

We were not there long unfortunately. We drove up Friday afternoon, invested ALL day Saturday in the wedding, reception and preparations, and drove home Sunday early in the morning. We only ate two meals outside the wedding for the whole trip: Friday night in little Poland, and Saturday morning at the hotel with about 25 in laws: "niemieckiego pochodzenia".

At Staropolska, I had the bigos and pyzy z miesem (one of my real favorite meals), and my wife had the kielbasa platter with a chicken soup. We each had an Okocim, and I had a shot of Wisniak and spouse a shot of another cherry cordial, I don't remember what it was. Thought it started with an "L", and the second word was like, bubuni... Never heard of it, but it was good! Would like a bottle of it, but don't know what it is and can't find it on the net... Well, just have to go back to Staropolska!

Then we went to Avondales liquor store, and bought a case and a half of duzy Okocim, 3 bottles of zubrowka ($9.99 each on sale , couple bottles of Wisniak and a bottle of old Krupnik. A very successful venture!

[heymikey]

piwo check this out! a good friend of the family in chicago owns a really cool liquor company by the name of stawski imports! go on the net, type in stawski imports and when the site comes up, click on cordials or liquor. colored bottles appear, click on them and welcome to the wide world of polish goodness!!! the stawski family is the largest importer in the states for eastern european beers and hard to find booze! be sure to tell them that chef baruch says hi!!

[piwo]

Wow Mike, I've been on their web site.. I just couldn't figure out if I could order hooch from them...LOL If I can figure it out, perhaps I'll buy something and pop them a line.

They don't have the "mystery drink" I enjoyed, I guess I'll just have to go back to Staropolska and look at the bar.. It will be there. ;D

Hey, I forgot to say: I BOUGHT SOME MAYONNAISE!! Polish Mayo of course.. It's Winiary "Majonez Dekoracyjny".... I just know the Mayo in Poland was delicious on hard boiled eggs, and not like the Mayo here.

Any favorite Polish Mayo's out there??

[rdywenur]

stawskiimports.com/polishwines.html#Poland



Piwo scroll down and see if this is what you are looking for
Nalewka Babuni Cherry.

Someone I know is going to Chicago soon. maybe they can bring me back some samples What would you suggest if I can only ask for them to bring one item. (or 2....this is all new to me and they will be flying I believe)

[nancy]

piwo said:

Hey, I forgot to say: I BOUGHT SOME MAYONNAISE!! Polish Mayo of course.. It's Winiary "Majonez Dekoracyjny".... I just know the Mayo in Poland was delicious on hard boiled eggs, and not like the Mayo here.

Can someone explain the difference in Polish and American mayo? Different ingredients, or just less contaminated (with plastic or vegetable oil) in Poland?

[piwo]

rdywenur said:

stawskiimports.com/polishwines.html#Poland



Piwo scroll down and see if this is what you are looking for
Nalewka Babuni Cherry.

Someone I know is going to Chicago soon. maybe they can bring me back some samples What would you suggest if I can only ask for them to bring one item. (or 2....this is all new to me and they will be flying I believe)

Whoohoo... that's the one... THANKS... I looked at that site last night for 30 minutes and didn't see it... wow, wow, wow... I almost gave up hope!

Well, it depends of course what you like. My wife LOVES Old Krupnik, which is honey Wodka... it's a cordial, to be certain, a little sweet. VERY delicious.

Wisniak is SOOOO much smoother then Wisniowka, and I really enjoy it (also sweet). Wisniowka gives me bad heartburn, and none of the family enjoyed it on Thanksgiving. The Nalewka Babuni Cherry is "lighter" and not as sweet.. almost a cross between cordial and wine. They also give you a larger amount for the same money..

So, If you like cordials, it's a tie between Old Krupnik and Wisniak, depending upon whether you like honey or cherry better. If you like something a tad lighter, then try the Nalewka Babuni Cherry, but I couldn't find it(it was fresh in my head when I left the resturant but the liquor store was very busy, and not terribly helpful..LOL)!