What’s the worst thing about vacations? Especially when you live alone. In the middle of the forest. The contents of the fridge when you get back. It’s a good idea to get rid of everything in the fridge before you leave, so you don’t get greeted by a newly evolved civilization when you return. And when you come … Read more
The subject of pâté is fascinating — surely worthy of a treatise… That’s how it might begin. Imagine a cookbook penned by Czesław Miłosz. If “The Year of the Hunter” had a culinary appendix. What cuisine would he have described? Most likely Lithuanian, naturally — perhaps specifically the dishes from the manor in Šeteniai, where he grew up. A … Read more
The beginning of December marks the season of Weinachtsmarkt across Germany, which starts at the end of November. In Hamburg, there are dozens of them. The largest one is in front of the town hall. Many, like the one in the picture, are simpler setups. Along a street or in a square, you’ll … Read more
For the past few weeks, when the guests leave and I finish a thorough cleaning — together with, or rather first of all washing the extractor hood, something no one likes to do — I’ve been working on a collection of recipes, my interpretation of Christmas Eve cuisine, mainly Polish. Pro Tip: This is precisely the problem — since no one … Read more
Gryfny Shalad for Advent. That’s about the extent of my Silesian, which is barely better than my German. These languages are very much relevant here because *Hekele* is a Silesian Advent salad, sometimes also served on Christmas Eve. And Silesia is one of the most fascinating corners of Europe. Situated between Poland, the Czech Republic, … Read more
Have you ever cooked a classic dish you had no idea how it was supposed to taste? Recently, I was tasked with exactly that. We were expecting a visit, postponed since the pandemic, from a high-ranking teacher. You’re not required to know what kind of teacher, so let me explain. I cook at a Tibetan … Read more
Stuffed vegetables are my comfort food and a traditional folk Polish dish.Poland and Germany are countries with allotment gardens. Small plots of land, originally on the outskirts of cities and usually belonging to working-class families, were an important supplement to the diets of many households in Poland until the 1990s. INGREDIENTS:– 500 g cooked white … Read more
Wild garlic, which is the best thing about living in Lower Saxony (besides being close to Hamburg). Here, it’s a local seasonal delicacy. Not as ubiquitous as asparagus, but available in every grocery store. INGREDIENTS:1 onion (about 100 g net)3 tablespoons of oil (30 ml)2 bell peppers (about 250 g net)150 g peanuts (see notes)150 … Read more
Easter, somewhat in opposition to the Polish Christmas Eve tradition, is a difficult topic to tackle in a plant-based kitchen, with meats, cold cuts, and eggs dominating the table.Creating a plant-based menu for Easter is much more challenging and requires more creativity than for Christmas Eve, where in many dishes there is no need for … Read more
Often, after a several-day party when guests leave, I experience nervous breakdowns and a terrible aversion to cooking and eating. I go hungry all day because I don’t feel like cooking anything. Or I spend the whole day looking into cabinets and the fridge, wondering what I’d like to eat. And nothing appeals to me. … Read more
