Kinga--Where are your favorite polish stores? I'd love to check them out.

Thank you Mariposita and Ola!

::runs off to find the Polish stores::

Mariposita,

Sorry for the delay (I've been playing a tour guide on and off for the last month) - the Polish store I frequent is at c/Valderribas 7. Its about 15 minute walk from my house so I haven't visited any others in over a year.

However recently I found out about a Polish bar and a Polish restaurant that I have to visit pronto as I have serious craving for "lazy pierogis"...

quote:

lazy pierogis

never heard of "lazy" ones but have had pierogis plenty in my days back in u.s.a.

had some when we were back this winter and yuuuummmyyyy

what is a "lazy" one though?

do they sell frozen pierogis at the russian or polish stores you know? would pay good cashola for them!

saludos,
jer...

"Lazy pierogis" look more like gnocchi but are made with fresh cheese (farmers cheese). They should be served with some sweetener like sugar, possibly butter, toasted bread crumbs, sour cream, cinnamon, etc. They are different shape than typical pierogis and are not stuffed.
I know that Polish store sells frozen pierogis but I don't like the ready-made ones so I never get them. Once I bought frozen knedle (plum balls) and I thought they were awful.
I will let you know once I visit either the Polish bar or restaurant and try the food there.

ok, finally made it to the russian grocery store mentioned by mariposita furhter back on this thread.

they not only have russian goods but also bulgarian, rumanian and polish foods.

i picked up a big jar of pickles (same as the ones in the plastic baggies in the cooler nut bigger size) and just had one, yum!

just for kicks i asked if they had pierogis and they DO! grabbed a few bags of em of course, will report back after dinner tonight

aside from the traditional potato pierogis, they also have ones filled with cabbage and portobello mushrooms (will report back on those after dinner tomorrow night )

when i went to pay, i saw a box of chocolate covered thingies next to the cash register. they are the closest things to mallomars ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallomars ) i have seen in spain so i asked. the woman let me taste one and that was it, i bought a bunch. they are chocolate coated marshmallow puffs. like mallomars but without the bottom cookie component.

as far as i am concerned, this place is a goldmine.

CCCP & USSR
open: mon.-thurs. 11am to 10pm & fri.-sun- 10am to 10pm.
calle costanilla de los angeles, nº 12
tel.: 606 614 758 / 667 861 241
metro: opera.

saludos,
jer...

quote:

as far as i am concerned, this place is a goldmine.

Totally agree... Leave it to you to find something mallomaresque at a Russian grocery! I forgot to mention the pierogis. I think they also had stuffed cabbage. I bought some little strawberry frozen dumplings that were interesting. Did I mention real sour cream? And pomegranate juice. I love this place.

Ola--Please do report back on the Polish restaurant. A Romanian girl told me that there are some good eastern european bakeries out in the "afueras"... I'll try to find out more. I'm really jonesing for poppyseed pastries.

Here´s one for the Challenge Round: something I have only found in the Lebanese groceries of Dearborn, Mich. and in Tel Aviv:

Zatar. A mix of spices that includes sumac, mint, and oregano, I think. It gives middle-eastern things that really authentic flavor, and it´s hard to find! Anyone seen any?

Megan

quote:

I'm really jonesing for poppyseed pastries.

. I baked my famous delicious poppyseed cake for Purim for the people at my office, we even had "Haman's ears".
Normally you know I'd bring you, but since Oscar is allergic to eggs, I thought it won't be fair. I promised my daughter to baked one for them, since it's "kosher LePesach" it has no flour. Do you want me to keep you some slices??
*I brought the ground poppyseed from Israel.

rebrites
[quote]something I have only found in the Lebanese groceries of Dearborn, Mich. and in Tel Aviv: [quote]
Zaatar as you wrote you can get everywhere in Israel. I like it the best spread on a warm pita with olive oil.
I'm allmost sure you can find it at the shops of Lavapies.
Do you want my girls to bring you one?

Cheers
Nava

I´d be most grateful. When do you expect your girls?
Otherwise I will wait until I make a trek to Madrid and look around Lavapies.

You win the prize!

Reb.

Hi Rebecca
The other day I went to Lavapies to buy a good crude Lebanese Tehina (sesame paste) and all the shops carried Zaatar.
My daughters are coming 15-23/4, you're invited to join us for the "multimadrid get together" on Friday the 18th.
Cheers
Nava

i also love zatar. first had it in dearborn, michigan. and yes, it is readily available in lavapies.

hope you can make the mm dinner rebrites!

Hey...

Just wanted to add that there's a Russian food store in Barcelona on Passeig Sant Joan with Còrsega (more or less), on the left as you go up. Haven't been inside but after reading all your posts, I definitely will be doing!

Also the Mercat Municipi de Gràcia is amazing - full of hard-to-find ingredients and some really great foreign foods and health foods. In fact, Gràcia in general is awesome for international foods...