My morning at the Polish Heritage Club's Christmas Bazaar began with a prune pączek to go along with my coffee. They gave me the boost I'd need to spend a few hours cooking and serving food which gave me flashbacks to the days when I cooked for a living.
My fellow kitchen staff and I traded banter for a while but before long it was time to get work and start cooking. I started heating the kraut.
Pots of water were put to the flame for boiling pierogi while hotel pans were laid out for kielbasa. Once things were humming, one of my fellow cooks busted out her homemade nalewka which is basically flavored grain spirits. I'd only encountered the fruit variety previously but can now boast to have had a spiced one.
We were presented a couple varieties of currant.
The nalewka I've had in the past was fairly sweet and such was the case here. I preferred the black currant as it had a more sprightly, berry-like taste. No doubt aging will alter the flavor. The drink's creator touted the medicinal properties of her creations - vitamins, anti-oxidants, and so on, and thusly I felt as if I was engaging in a healthy ritual as opposed to having a little pick-me-up at 9 A.M.
Things got busy - very busy but we found time for a pierogi tasting.
Both brands were potato and cheese. On the left we have Alexandra's and on the right are Tata's. I found them both to be highly tasty with Tata's having a thinner and lighter dough. I found their filling saltier as well more heavily seasoned. Not too salty nor too heavily seasoned; just done with a slightly heavier hand.
Since we were so busy, I didn't have much time to wander and chat with folks. However, I did take the opportunity to check things out before we started cooking and spied some nice Polish pottery. I could use some plates. However, I resisted temptation.
When we were done serving and had shifted into cleaning mode, another of my fellow kitchen staff busted out her nalewka. This was spiced with cinnamon. I liked this stuff as well. A fine way to cap off another Christmas Bazaar.
Catching up with folks, I told the nalewka makers of my divorce and, since both had gone through it, they offered advice and lent their ears. One's husband had gone through a particularly nasty divorce and she shared their experiences of getting through it, challenging his wife's claims, and navigating the legal system. Lots of good advice, though I hope I won't have the same challenges.
Having written this, I am reconsidering my decision to not buy those plates.
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