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minnie · Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 17 Location: U.K

A question about food...

I don't eat meat (I eat fish) and from what Ive seen on different websites Polish food seems to include a lot of meat (someone told me today that I would be looked upon as having some kind of disease if I said I didn't eat meat Shocked

)

I don't want to survive on cabbage, what else is there?

(If someone else has asked this already i apologise)

Chris · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 5:43 pm Post subject:

Every year, there's a new teacher in my area who's a vegetarian. Don't worry. There are plenty of soy products, veggies and fruit, not to mention fish since you eat it, to keep you satisfied.

Many of my Polish friends are also vegetarians. You won't be looked at as being from another planet, trust me. In my first year (back in 97), things were a little different, but now, it's becoming more and more popular.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to eat most of the traditional Polish cuisine, which is a shame. The only thing I can think of off hand that you'll be able to eat is pierogi ruskie--similar to ravioli stuffed with white cheese, potatoes and ?? mushrooms I think...

Where will you be?

minnie · Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 17 Location: U.K

Hopefully Koszain but havent actually been offered anything yet. Will definitely be somewhere (wishful thoughts)

Consider myself a 'planner' and like to know what I'm letting myself in for before completely committing!

pierogi ruskie sounds nice think i'll be living on those (will miss fish fingers though, don't suppose the supermakets will stock them!)

... and cadburys chocolate!!! Smile

Chris · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2003 9:04 pm Post subject:

Fish fingers and cadburys chocolate.. Smile

You can get both readily here, but if you're in Koszalin, it may be a little bit more difficult.. Really though, you can get almost anything you want here, at least in the larger cities...

Things have gotten much easier in the past few years with finding what you want in the shops..

Have fun!

Chris

curveegrrl · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 39 Location: Utsunomiya, Japan

You can get fish fingers in Koszalin! I'm not sure of the brand. . .but there are definately fish finger-y looking things in the grocery stores.

Cadbury's I can't recall. I think so though. But who can tell if it tastes the same as the stuff from home?

minnie · Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 17 Location: U.K

thanks for the really important piece of information (about whether you can buy chocolate and fish fingers in Koszalin) Wink

... seem to have changed my mind and now decided to go to Bielsko Biala (Down South. Thought it would be nice to try a bit of skiing while I'm there!!!) but does that mean I have forfeited the cadburys for the skiing??? I hope not Shocked

Curveegrrl, not the same if their not 'Captain Birdseye' and I can certainly tell the difference between Cadbury's and an imposter

Chris · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2003 8:18 am Post subject:

Oh, in Bielsko-Biala, you will have no problems at all. It's a fairly large city compared to Koszalin.

BTW, Cadburys has a large stake in E Wedel chocolate company here. Honestly, I don't eat chocolate anymore, but I know a few years ago, you could buy Cadburys no problem, at least here in Sosnowiec/Katowice.

Don't worry, you'll survive pretty easily enough. BUT, watch out!! Smile

We (all the Americans) just had a 4th of July party. No one is a vegetarian--anymore. About 3 of them came here saying they were vegetarians, and now they eat kielbasa with everyone else.. Smile

minnie · Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 17 Location: U.K

Chris,

well, Ive been a 'non meat eater' (can't say 'veggie' cos i eat fish) for 15 yrs now (half my life) so probably wont change now. Smile

You're probably just a bad influence on your veggie friends, I'll have to steer clear of you!

btw, Happy (late) 4th of July!

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

Poland has milk bars, and they serve vegetarian food.
I know a good one in Krakow. It is not far from the Rynek.

Brooks

Chris · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2003 11:46 am Post subject:

Ahh.. The milk bars (bar mleczny)... Too bad they have more or less disappeared. When I first came here in 97, there were a few around the area, but most are gone. However, real restaurants have popped up with incredible green salads and other vegetarian things...

BTW, don't worry. I won't try to convert you. My friend Jen, a self-professed vegetarian before she came here, will now occasionally put a kielbasa, hamburger, etc in her mouth. Maybe it's because she has fallen in love with a Polish guy and is marrying him in the middle of next month? Smile

Hmmm.. I don't know..

minnie · Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 17 Location: U.K

keep hearing about these 'milk bars' what are they exactly?

...and whilst we are on the subject what are polish men like??? Wink

Chris · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2003 5:12 pm Post subject: Milk bars and men...

Milk bars were cheap restaurants that traditionally served only vegetarian foods during the "extreme socialism" that ended in the late 80s. This is because it was rather difficult to get meat during that time. This is what my Polish friends have told me at least. Now, they will serve relatively cheap food, but will also have meat on the menu.

Hmm.. Polish men.. Smile

Well, they are a strange lot to say the least. I was just with some of my Polish girlfriends today for lunch and we discussed them at detail. Depending where you are, many are married and/or in a long term relationships. I could write a book on them! And they aren't as good looking as I was hoping when I first came here. BUT, there is hope!

The native speaker men who come here seem to have a good time with the Polish women, but it's a very different thing for us women who come here!

Chris (as in Christine.. Smile

)

mike10 · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 28

Setanta · Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Posts: 21 Location: Tarnow, Poland

Minnie,
If you're coming this year, you'll have no probs with diet. There's always plenty of fish. I personally enjoy mintaja but have no idea what it is in English. I'm in Wroclawthis w/e and have just had some for lunch. Most supermarkets have a veggie section with soy products but expensive for here (typically the same price as I pay in the UK) and if you've no problem with dairy you'll love pierogi ruskie. I also recommend Barszcz - a beetroot soup which you can also have with uszkami; a type of mushroom ravioli. If you're here at Xmas, dinner is a 12 course affair, with carp as the centrepiece instead of turkey.

You can get all you need in the supermarket but learn the vocab and go to the street markets and small shops. Spuds are cheap and delicious - the best I've tasted outside Ireland - as are carrots, and parsnips, but items like bell peppers, broccoli and zuccini tend to be more expensive.

Bon appetit! Very Happy

Michael Gaylord · Joined: 09 Oct 2004 Posts: 32 Location: Kalisz, Poland

To other vegetarian-teachers out there:

I'm new to Poland, and read with some interest the comments about veggie options. My experience so far has not been too bad (found soy milk with no problems, and, of course, lots of fresh veggies and fruits); however, have had difficulty finding tofu (in chunks) in supermarkets. (Of course, I am in Kalisz, a smallish city); also, have not had any luck finding Romaine lettuce: do they not sell it here, or is it just called something completely different? Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Mike