In a social media post that has gone viral, traditional Polish pierogi dumplings have been given a massive endorsement by Taylor Swift’s backing dancer during the pop star’s global tour.
Kameron Saunders praised the humble pierogi in an Instagram post on Monday after the singer’s sellout concert at Warsaw’s PGE National Stadium. The post has now gained more than 250,000 likes.
It is almost impossible to visit Poland and avoid these popular dumplings. Many things divide Poles old and young, with politics being the main fault line, but a love for pierogi unites pretty much everyone.
From the menu of Bottiglieria 1881, Poland’s only two-star Michelin restaurant, to the chalkboard of any neighborhood eatery, pierogi loom large.
It is almost impossible to visit Poland and avoid these popular dumplings. Many things divide Poles old and young, with politics being the main fault line, but a love for pierogi unites pretty much everyone.
From the menu of Bottiglieria 1881, Poland’s only two-star Michelin restaurant, to the chalkboard of any neighborhood eatery, pierogi loom large.
‘Ultimate comfort food’
“Pierogi are the ultimate comfort food, and in Poland, they are universally liked,” said Robert Trzopek, chef and owner of Michelin Guide-listed Bez Gwiazdek restaurant in Warsaw, who previously worked at three-star-rated venues such as Noma, El Bulli, and Le Manoir.
Visitors to Poland may not realize that pierogi are not free of controversy. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many restaurants and producers were quick to rebrand their ‘pierogi ruskie’, a variant of the dumplings that are stuffed with cheese and potatoes.
‘Pierogi ruskie’ were deemed unpatriotic as the name of the dish could be translated as ‘Russian dumplings. Few people knew then the dumplings were labelled after the historical region of Eastern Galicia which is now a part of Ukraine.
The biggest producer of pierogi in Poland, JAWO, told TVP World that “after the invasion, there was a slump in pierogi ruskie sales, but now they are back as one of our most popular varieties.”
Pascal Brodnicki, a renowned Polish-French TV chef who’s a fan of the potato-and-cheese dumplings, still doesn't like to use the term ‘ruskie’.
Asked what type of pierogi he prefers, he told TVP World that he likes them dressed with truffle oil.
“I prefer the sweet, wild bilberry variety, but I have noticed in my travels around Poland that people are experimenting with pierogi fillings these days, including rabbit and even ostrich meat,” he said.
With an official endorsement from Taylor Swift’s backing dancer, the sky seems to be the limit for the humble Polish dumpling.
“Pierogi are the ultimate comfort food, and in Poland, they are universally liked,” said Robert Trzopek, chef and owner of Michelin Guide-listed Bez Gwiazdek restaurant in Warsaw, who previously worked at three-star-rated venues such as Noma, El Bulli, and Le Manoir.
Visitors to Poland may not realize that pierogi are not free of controversy. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many restaurants and producers were quick to rebrand their ‘pierogi ruskie’, a variant of the dumplings that are stuffed with cheese and potatoes.
‘Pierogi ruskie’ were deemed unpatriotic as the name of the dish could be translated as ‘Russian dumplings. Few people knew then the dumplings were labelled after the historical region of Eastern Galicia which is now a part of Ukraine.
The biggest producer of pierogi in Poland, JAWO, told TVP World that “after the invasion, there was a slump in pierogi ruskie sales, but now they are back as one of our most popular varieties.”
Pascal Brodnicki, a renowned Polish-French TV chef who’s a fan of the potato-and-cheese dumplings, still doesn't like to use the term ‘ruskie’.
Asked what type of pierogi he prefers, he told TVP World that he likes them dressed with truffle oil.
“I prefer the sweet, wild bilberry variety, but I have noticed in my travels around Poland that people are experimenting with pierogi fillings these days, including rabbit and even ostrich meat,” he said.
With an official endorsement from Taylor Swift’s backing dancer, the sky seems to be the limit for the humble Polish dumpling.
Source: TVP World
More In Culture MORE...
