Krakus Market

[rlibkind]

With the cold, rainy, windy weather today, what better way to wait out the day then a hearty Eastern European lunch. So after filling ourselves with soup, pierogy and potato pancakes at Syrenka Luncheonette, we ran between the drops on Richmonad Avenue to Krakus Market, whereupon we arrived at Krakus Market home to many different kielbasi. (Please correct my Polish for the plural!)

Among the many varieties I spied: Warszawska, Warsaw style; Weselena, Wedding kielbasa; Kabanosy, Polish "slim jim"; Mysliwska, Hunter's kielbasa (smoked longer); Zwyczajna, regular smoked kielbasa; Krakowska Swieza, Cracow kielbasa (cooked); Jalowcowa, Juniper kielbasa; Kielbasa Ostra, hot and spicy; Polska Surowa Wedzona, double smoked kielbasa; Szynkowa, ham kielbasa; Poznanska, smoked rope kielbasa;Wiejska, country style (whatever that means); Serdelki, wieners; and Kaszansa, kishke (blood sausage).

Lots of other goodies in the meat case, too. I walked away with Boczer Zawijany, rolled bacon with herbs. But also available were: Pieczek Rzymska, Meat Loaf; Pasztetowa, liverwurst; Pasztet, pork liver pate; Salceson Wloski, Italian headcheese; Salceson Czarny, blood and tongue; Salceson Bialy, headcheese; Metka, metwurst; Boczer Pieczony, roast rib belly; and Galareta Wieprzowa, jellied pigs feet.

But the biggest find, to me, were the herrings, particulary the salt herring fillets, loose bulk in a tub of brine. I've been considering mail ordering a few pounds so I could create my own pickled herrings, now I've got a source just a trolley ride away (Route 23, and for only $2.99/pound (vs. up to $8 a pound plus shipping if ordered off the web)! Krakus Market also had a tub of milkers (headless but innard-intact male schmaltz herrings, so you can enjoy the milt). Plus there was a very decent variety of packaged herrings: in cream and various other sauces, matjes, rollmops, etc.

[KatieLoeb]

In addition, there's an excellent selection of Eastern European packaged goods like teas, jams/jellies/preserves, honey and really good homemade pierogies back in the frozen case. Closer than Bell's Market and more specifically Polish in most of its inventory.

[Jeff L]

Bob, next time you go be sure to have them prepare some house made stuffed cabbage. They are like $1.50 a piece and they taste amazingly good. The cabbage is so tender and the meat filling is superb.

I also love the giant Polish rye breads on sale just next to the meat counter. Big oversized slices at prices less than the usual garbage I get at the supermarkets around here.

[rlibkind]

I also love the giant Polish rye breads on sale just next to the meat counter. Big oversized slices at prices less than the usual garbage I get at the supermarkets around here.

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Funny thing about that Rye bread: I almost bought it 'cause it was baked in my home down, Elizabeth NJ (no surprise, it has a very large Polish population).

Katie, I definitely noticed the case of frozen perogies, but we had just stuffed ourselves silly with them for lunch, and I'm out of freezer room. But next time . . . . .

As for the preserves and other grocery items, it's a lot closer than Bell's, though the latter has a much wider selection.