Krakow Salt Mines

iaps

Plenty of 'REAL POLISH CUISINE' places, but very little in the way of authenticity.

Have you tried this menu ?http://www.wierzynek.com.pl/en/wierzynek/traditionalmenu.html or this one ? http://www.chlopskiejadlo.pl/menu.php

Have you experienced

a smelly old man putting his hands in your soup.

So, what is your advice for foreign tourists in Poland? What is your point?

PolishBigSpender

iaps wrote: »

Have you tried this menu ?http://www.wierzynek.com.pl/en/wierzynek/traditionalmenu.html

Oh dear. These menus are about as untraditional as it gets - but let's go through them, shall we?

Wild boar cutlet served on sauteed boleus mushrooms, with fried onions and potatoes parisienne

Wild boar isn't sold in the shops. Potatoes parisienne? You must be joking!

Polish beetroot soup with Lithuanian "kołduny" (small meat dumplings)

Yes, because Lithuanian food is made in every Polish person's kitchen. For your information, we hate the Lithuanians and certainly wouldn't eat anything from their culture.

Apple pie with vanilla ice cream and cinnamon sauce

This is traditional for pretty much every country in Europe and beyond - it's hardly Polish!

Wierzynek is very well known among Poles, namely because no-one eats there except tourists and people with more money than sense. The 'traditional' menus are anything but.

or this one ? http://www.chlopskiejadlo.pl/menu.php

I can't be bothered to go through it piece by piece - but they sell lamb. Lamb is quite rare in Poland and certainly isn't 'traditional'.

So, what is your advice for foreign tourists in Poland? What is your point

My advice is to avoid the main squares and main tourist areas and explore. Poland is still stupidly cheap for UK visitors, and a bit of exploring (the In Your Pocket guide is invaluable for this!) can find you restaurants that will leave you feeling satisfied and with a heavy stomach and wallet!

As for old men putting their hands in your soup - I wouldn't be saying it if I hadn't seen it, would I?

"Polska Kuchnia" in tourist areas is often anything but that. Explore a little however, and you may find the most incredible restaurants, even in Krakow! Again though, with Krakow in particular, the Jewish area is what I'd recommend for good food at a good price.

iaps

we hate the Lithuanians and certainly wouldn't eat anything from their culture.

Who is we, and who do WE hate ?

As a Big Spender get yourself for free a memento from the Polish great romantic poet Mickiewicz:

O Lithuania, my country, thou
Art like good health; I never knew till now
How precious, till I lost thee.

(translation by Kenneth R. Mackenzie)

Lithuania, my country! You are as good health:
How much one should prize you, he only can tell
Who has lost you.
(translation by Marcel Weyland)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Tadeusz

On a more trivial matter - if you wanted to shop for Polish wild boar, it will also be available in the UK soon:

NEW! Wild Boar:
We are pleased to announce that we have found a reputable source of truly wild European boar. Much of the wild boar offered on sale in the UK is imported feral pig (wild pigs) from Australia, New Zealand and South America. Our Wild Boar are sourced from Poland and have been shot in the wild (not farmed). We will be offering best cuts of Wild Boar on our product list shortly.

http://www.wildmeat.co.uk/

Enjoy and let others enjoy!

PolishBigSpender

iaps wrote: »

Who is we, and who do WE hate ?

As a Big Spender get yourself for free a memento from the Polish great romantic poet Mickiewicz:'

Mickiewicz certainly wasn't Lithuanian, despite their claims! Then again, Ukraine tries to claim him as theirs, too...

Dreadful translation too.

On a more trivial matter - if you wanted to shop for Polish wild boar, it will also be available in the UK soon:

http://www.wildmeat.co.uk/

Enjoy and let others enjoy!

I'm disgusted that people are killing our wild animals just to satisfy British 'foodies'.