Attending Polish Fest 2007 in Milwaukee was an eye-opening experience for me, being an outsider from Polish culture. However, I soon realized what I was missing when I ventured to the food stand, taking my first taste of traditional Polish cuisine.

Being American, I have of course have eaten Polish sausage. Or at least I believed I had. After eating an authentic Polish sausage with sauerkraut at Polish Fest, I was shocked to find how different this was than the food usually advertised as Polish sausage. Needless to say, the authentic version is far superior.            

While I enjoyed the Polish sausage, I was more pleased with the Polish food I had never been introduced to at any point in my life. My favorite Polish food was bigos, otherwise known as hunter’s stew. Bigos is considered Poland’s national dish and can be found throughout the country. This dish is a combination of cabbage with pieces of pork and kielbasa, along with honey, mushrooms and tomatoes. However, the recipe varies depending on the region of Poland and sometimes even can change depending on which village you are in.

            The final Polish food I tried during my visit to Polish Fest was pierogi. I noticed how a pierog looked much like ravioli, but soon discovered this was only in appearance. Pierogi have numerous variations, as different recipes call for different fillings. The most popular version of pierogi contain a potato and cheese filling.

To finish off my immersion in Polish food and drink, I tried a cup of Krupnik, a popular sweet vodka in Poland. The drink is known for the strong taste of honey and spices in it. It is the perfect complement to a traditional Polish meal.

            While I certainly experienced some culture shock with my first real foray into traditional Polish cuisine, it was an experience I would quickly recommend.