Our refrigerator is currently packed the way my mom loved it — no way to stick a hand in. Not even a finger. Two gigantic camping coolers packed to the brim are stacked one on top of the other by the side door. And there is nothing to eat in the house.
In the morning, I saw my child, on her way to work, opening the refrigerator, glazing over the layout top to bottom, and closing the door back. I am bleeding with guilt.
As the said child — hungry — boarded the bus on her way to the city, delinquent parents got into the car for a trip to a Polish neighborhood. Preparations for the Polish vegetarian wedding at the WFMU radio station called for another round of grocery shopping.
On the ramp off the Parkway, a convenient wisdom visited us: Never go food shopping hungry.
A quick search on the phone and look what we found!
An ordinary building in a residential neighborhood, inside, Tatra Haus was warm and cozy with its spacious clean wood and brick decor. It was like walking into a magic tent at the wizarding tournament if you know Harry Potter.
Enthusiastic welcoming efficient people at the door — we forgot it was raining outside and wiped our guilt declaring this visit an educational experience — as in studying Polish cuisine, Highlander one in this case, from the highest mountain range in the Carpathian mountains.
That day the restaurant was getting ready for a major banquet. The reservation card said 53 adults and 7 children.
Our education started with Tatra trio — fried pierogi, stuffed cabbage rolls, and grilled Polish kielbasa. The picture says it all.
Polish beer in beautiful frosted mugs.
Mountain dumplings with mushroom sauce, goulash, and celery-carrot salad — available on weekends only.
More kielbasa — and how could you not? — now, with sauerkraut hunter’s stew, rye bread, and fantastic mustard
Another trio — now salads — beets, fried cabbage, and cucumbers to round up the experience.
We’re definitely coming back to Tatra. Lamb chops and pierogis, schnitzel and fish that floated by us to other tables need more study.
Lots more to learn.