Isn’t travel an excuse to eat? Well, we do lots of it while on Poland Culinary Vacations, however, attending the annual, mid-August Pierogi Festival on Maly Rynek in Krakow is always the highlight of our foodie summer adventures. Pierogi are delicious, stuffed dumplings – the ultimate comfort food – and in Poland, both home cooks and professional chefs are getting more and more creative with what to “stuff” these moon-shaped favorites.

Delicious pierogi at the Pierogi Festival in Krakow, Poland

Variety of pierogi served at the Pierogi Festival in Krakow, Poland

At the Pierogi Festival, we look forward to sampling all the delicious pierogi, freshly brewed Zywiec beer and listening to live, folk music. Every year, we schedule one of our “Cooking Your Way From Krakow to Zakopane” culinary and cultural vacations in Lesser Poland – Malopolska – region around this popular festival!

Women serving pierogi at the Pierogi Festival in Krakow, Poland

One of the many booths serving pierogi at the Pierogi Festival in Krakow, Poland

This year’s XV Pierogi Festival winners included pierogi with duck and morels offered by restaurant “Sekret Smaku” in Krakow. They received the statue of St. Jack holding a bowl of pierogi, awarded by the jury. Why St. Jack? He was a Dominican monk who introduced pierogi to Poland to feed the poor.

St. Jack holding a bowl of pierogi at the Pierogi Festival in Krakow, Poland

Restaurant “Polskie Smaki” received the statue of Casimir the Great – a beloved Polish King – awarded by the public for their favorite pierogi – filled with cherry wood smoked meat and herbs, which they named “St. Martha’s Pierogi”. To view additional photos from 2017 Pierogi Festival please following this link Poland Culinary Vacations at the 2017 XV Pierogi Festival in Krakow.

Pierogi, pierogi, pierogi… everywhere!

We invite you to join us on our August 12 – 18, 2018 “Cooking Your Way From Krakow to Zakopane” culinary vacation and XVI Pierogi Festival. Register early because we expect this tour week to fill fast!  We also offer a discount for early reservations. Visit our Home Page for more details.

See You and Yours at the 2018 Pierogi Festival in Poland! Smacznego! – Enjoy!

Poland Culinary Vacations:

Malgorzata (Sarna) Rose, is a native of Poland. Poland Culinary Vacations grew out of her love and passion for travel and everything Polish, including fine Polish cuisine, eventually blossoming into a first-class culinary travel company. While growing up in Poland, she experienced the great joy of cooking with family and friends. Using her grandmothers' recipes and fresh ingredients from their gardens, they prepared food for weddings, parties, and traditional holidays. Now, through Poland Culinary Vacations, she wants to share that experience with you, and show you the best of everyday Polish living: the special people and their hospitality, and the heritage and traditions unique to each region. Only a native can help you discover and fully experience the authentic Poland! Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.