Pulaski Day


Well, I was all set to make recommendations for a dinner party involving precariously tilting cakes and green-eggs-and-ham (Happy birthday, Mr Geisel) but then I realized today is also another, much more locally relevant holiday - Pulaski Day! For those of you not in the Second City and its environs, Casmir Pulaski is a Revolutionary War hero of Polish decent, and Chicago being a town with a significant Polish population, it's become a local holiday. Sort of like Patriot's Day in Massachusettes. Schools are closed, but the majority of people still have to work. It's one of those days. So, what can you do to recognize this relatively obscure day?

photo source
Mmmm....pierogi. I like mine slightly crispy and sauteed in butter. I recommend the Kasia brand, which is available in most local grocery stores. If you're stranded in a part of the country without such delicacies readily available, here's a fairly standard recipie. If you want to go crazy, invite some friends over for vodka shots, some barscht (you probably know it as "borscht" which is the Russian spelling), the aforementioned pierogi, and kotlet schabowy, (breaded pork). Finish the meal with makowiec (poppyseed cake...usually reserved for holidays but hey - this IS a holiday!).
Alternatively, head over to Podhalanka near Ash/Div/Mil for a homey Polish dining experience. They don't serve alcohol, so you'll need to do the vodka shots at home. Enough of those and you'll be tilting precariously, in effect celebrating both of today's occasions. Everybody wins!

