Foodie Warsaw

I'm finding my way here with what I think is noteworthy about a place I love- Warsaw is complicated.  It's old and new, it's fashion and food and traditions. 

There are so many big cities that all feel a bit the same.  Warsaw is always changing and becoming something new so it never bores me to be here.

Here are some of my favorite places to eat and drink in Warsaw:

Winestone in the Hotel Mercure Warszawa Grand.  A great little wine bar and café.  My first visit to Poland the only wine I could find was Hungarian or Georgian.  Now there is French, Australian and California wine available.  This café even has a Sommelier.  Pretty impressive change in 12 years!  If you are hungry try the Angus Filet with Fries and Blue Cheese dipping sauce.  They also have a very impressive selection of Vodka- of course!  would you expect anything else?

Blikle Café and Bakery on Nowy Swiat; since 1869 this chocolatier has been in business.  They were forced to close during WWII but have been continuous ever since.  Try the Hot Chocolate, Hot Wine, Potato Pancakes or a slice of cake.  Everything is excellent.

LaVanille Cupcakes, incredible Black Currant Cupcakes, a modern twist on a traditional favorite.  And they have good old Red Velvet Cake!

 

Last recommendation is for Trattoria Rucola.  A modern/traditional Italian restaurant.  Many varieties of pizza and pasta.  The key point here is fresh.  Made to order pasta and pizza with very fresh local ingredients.  Most of the herbs and greens are grown right on the front patio as you enter the restaurant.

Now of course, the obligatory paragraph about Wodka. There are the well known brands like Chopin and Belvedere and both are very good.  If you want a “real” Polish vodka experience you have to try Zubrowka and Zoladkowa Gorska. 

Zubrowka is the Bison Grass vodka that is made in the north.  The vodka is distilled with a blade of Bison Grass in the bottle.  It is a very light shade of green and tastes of vanilla and cream.  It is best served by the shot ice cold or in a traditional Polish Apple Punch of Zubrowka, apple juice and lime slices over ice.  Zoladkowa Gorska is a bitter herb and orange instilled vodka from the same region of Bialystok as Zubrowka.  The difference is that Gorska is spicy in nature and is just as good warm as it is ice cold and it is a nice sipping vodka. Both of these vodkas are available on line from Wines4Today.com if you want to try them without going to Poland!

From Minionki Cheetos to traditional Polish Potato Pancakes, you can find anything to suit your appetite in Warsaw.  In the past the restaurants were either Traditional fare; lentil or tomato soup, Chicken or Pork cutlets (usually deep fried) and lots of different ways to eat cabbage and boiled potatoes.  The other option most of the time was Pizza or Italian food which is still very popular here.

Sushi anyone? 

 

 

Warsaw Day 2

 Warsaw Street art has been around since the end of Perestroika in the 1980's.  It was a popular outlet for color and art given so much of the architecture was concrete and glass block. 

 

The beginning of the Italian Adventure

 
In September, my husband Robb and I found out he had been accepted for a research sabbatical in Italy for 7 months. What a huge change this is making in our lives.  I quit my job (early retirement!) at the end of October and the time since then has been spent preparing for the adventure.  This blog will cover a lot of different topics from our trip starting with the preparation trip we made in November.  I finished working on the 30th of October and flew to Warsaw to join Robb on a three week trip ending in our city in Italy- Verona.




I just arrived in Warsaw last night and already it feels like home again.  I love this city-!

My first visit I remember thinking it should be in black and white like the old 40's movies with everyone in long wooly coats and furry hats.  I could not have been more wrong.  Fashion is the ticket in Warsaw.  There is an astonishing number of ways to wear scarves and there are hats- many different types from real fur to fedoras.  Walking in Warsaw is much like being in Paris- everyone dresses to be seen.

Today I walked from Hotel Mercure Grand around my neighborhood.  I love this area, it combines local with global.  There is everything from Polish linens and antique jewelry shops to designer brands like Zegna, Tods, etc.  Not to mention every possible place to eat. 
Within one block of the hotel is a killer cupcake place, an Udon shop, Italian and Chinese.  All very different from the Poland I first loved 12 years ago.  Back then all you could get was Nescafe instant coffee- now there is a coffee chain on every corner including Starbucks! 
The EU has made it's mark on the country with globalization, and progress after the fall of socialism has been incredible.  It is now the healthiest economy in Europe next to Germany.
Later today I will post some photos of local street art.  Graffiti was the original way to decorate the soviet style buildings of old and it is still a thriving art form.

The city is slowly redecorating itself with new architecture and remodeling of what's left of the old buildings.  It is the one of the best walking cities in Europe- I feel so safe here.