Since travel to Poland is on hold during this unfortunate pandemic and we miss all the delicious Polish foods we’ve come to love, make and enjoy during small-group Poland Culinary Vacations, we’d like to recommend a few NEW and OLD Polish and Eastern European cookbooks available for purchase, so we can at least cook up our favorite Polish dishes at home, for now! We also would like to update you on our travel plans to Poland later this year and into 2021 season. 

Zurek, golabki, bigos and more…

It wasn’t that long ago, late January 2020 that we’ve attended the New York Times Travel Show at the Javits Center and shared the Polish booth with the Polish National Tourism Office and other tour operators and travel agencies specializing in travel to Poland. Back then, we all thought that business will be as usual in 2020, excited to promote our 2020 Poland tours to thousands of travelers from all over the world gathered in New York. How times have changed! Since then, we had to cancel and/or postpone our spring and summer tours and when you visit our website you’ll find the following coronavirus statement: 

COVID-19 UPDATE: The constantly changing situation regarding coronavirus has been challenging for Poland Culinary Vacations. The safety and well-being of all of our guests is our top priority. We have been monitoring CDC and the US State Department international travel advisories and have been posting detailed information and updates regarding travel to Poland on our Facebook Page. Please follow us on Facebook for latest news and announcements as Poland slowly opens its borders and welcomes all travelers!

Poland Culinary Vacations at the 2020 NY Times Travel Show

We’re planning to travel to Poland in early September 2020 to hopefully run a few private wine tours this fall – Five Days with Polish Wine, our small-group October Krakow/Zakopane and December Christmas Markets of Poland tours. We’re keeping in touch with our guests and will notify them if any of the planned 2020 trips must be postponed due to events cancellations and/or new coronavirus related travel advisories until 2021. 

2020 Wine Tours in Poland with Poland Culinary Vacations

Here’s a list of great Polish and Eastern European cookbooks you can buy to create your own delicious Polish dishes at home until leisure travel to Poland resumes: 

Polish Your Kitchen: A Book of Memories – Christmas Edition

• Fresh from Poland: New Vegetarian Cooking from the Old Country by Michal Korkosz.

Michal Korkosz also won the 2017 American Saveur Blog Award for best food photography (both Editors’ and Readers’ Choice). 

• Wild Honey and Rye: Modern Polish Recipes by Ren Behan
• Pierogi Love: New Takes on an Old-World Comfort Food by Casey Barber

Poland Culinary Vacations guests making pierogi in Poland

• Housewife Cookbook: Traditional recipes you wish your babcia (Polish grandmother) had written down by Lois Britton
• Polish Your Kitchen: A Book of Memories: Christmas Edition by Anna Hurning

Anna Hurning is also doing some Live cooking demonstrations on Instagram

• Beyond Borscht: Old-World Recipes from Eastern Europe: Ukraine, Russia, Poland & More by Tatyana Nesteruk
• Polska: New Polish Cooking by Zuza Zak
• Rose Petal Jam: Recipes and Stories from a Summer in Poland by Beata Zatorska

Poland Culinary Vacations guests cooking in Krakow, Poland

• The Food and Cooking of Poland: Traditions, Ingredients, Tastes, Techniques: Over 60 Classic Recipes by Ewa Michlik

If you’re not into hands-on cooking, you can watch on PBS Flavor of Poland  a new culinary travel show and series by Edyta Slusarczyk and Robert N. Wachowiak. “The 13-episode series documents and highlights the beauty, traditions, monuments, history as well as the current modernity of Poland along with a full range of its unique flavors, both the old and the new through a journey across 13 distinct regions of Poland.”

Those of you who would like to get an early start on your Christmas shopping this year, it’s almost “Christmas in July”:-) please visit our newly launched online Boutique where you can buy hand-made in Poland Pierogi Christmas ornaments which make great Christmas GIFTS. We have a limited supply available of these unique ornaments Made in Poland! 

Pierogi Christmas Ornaments Made in Poland

As always, we invited you to join us in Poland starting in May 2021 on our guided, small-group food, wine, spa and cultural vacations in various regions of Poland. We hope that by May 2021 international leisure touring will be back on! Please visit our Poland Culinary Vacations website as most 2021 tour dates have been posted. 

Do zobaczenia w Polsce & Smacznego! – See in you Poland & Enjoy!

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.