Food Finds: Eastern European treats at the Buford Highway Farmers Market

blissfulglutton — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:44:48 +0000

No trip to the renovated Buford Highway Farmers Market is complete without a basket full of stuff from the Eastern European deli counter. Stacks of chewy, dry Russian salamis, hunks of Polish butter, a most impressive selection of farmers’ cheese, large containers of bright green half-sour pickles, round shortbread sandwich cookies filled with caramel-colored condensed milk and a bounty of other goodies await.

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Gimza Polish Restaurant: Norcross

blissfulglutton — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 01:07:00 +0000

RESTAURANT REVIEW:

Both of my parents were born and raised in Mexico City, but my father’s parents were actually Polish Jews that immigrated to Mexico City from a small town outside of Warsaw. Growing up, my grandmother never really talked about Poland and seemed to embrace Mexican culture more–I have never heard her speak Polish to this day. I was always curious about where we came from and the only image I had in my mind was from my history books in school.

When I graduated from college, I started to do a lot of solo-travel. I was spending some time with one of my best friends at her home in Hamburg and decided to take a train ride to Warsaw for a few days to see where my father’s family was from. Coming into Warsaw on the train was a bit surreal–you can only imagine the images of trains and Poland that were running through my mind. The first thing that struck me about the city was how gray it was. There was a distinct absence of color and vibrance that I’d grown accustomed to in other European cities–it all felt very cold to me.

The food, however, was another story. I found Polish food–which is heavy on the meat, cheese, and potatoes–to be incredibly comforting and satisfying. Finding Polish food in Atlanta has been a bit tough and I have relied on making things–like pork cutlets and pierogi–at home. Until the other day, when a friend of mine called the other day with the best birthday present of all: a restaurant tip. Even though it was blazing hot outside, we decided to go have some Polish food for lunch.

When I walked into the restaurant, I was surprised how spruced up the decor was–I wasn’t expecting something so swank. I was also amazed to see how full they were for lunch time in a month-old strip mall joint. The word must have quickly gotten out to the local Polish community. The space still seemed like it was unfinished. The bar area in particular. They don’t have a liquor license yet, but will be offering selection of Polish beers and other beverages soon.

My friend and I ordered a bunch of dishes to try to get a feel for the place. He can always hang with me ordering a load of food.

Pickle soup: I had never had this before, but it was awesome. It was not as heavy as it looked. The acid from the pickles added a nice tanginess against the creaminess of the sour cream. There were also nice chunks of carrots and potatoes. It was so soothing and I just loved it.

Meat pieorgis topped with sausage and onions: The meat was a bit under-seasoned, but the sausage gave it the salt it needed. I would like to have them again, because they had potential. Nice dough and a good crust from a pan-fry in butter. I think the cheese may be the way to go.

Croquettes with ground meat filling: This was the only dish I wasn’t interested in a third bite of. It was all a bit mushy to me, but my friend liked the flavor despite the texture.

Cauliflower salad: This was my friend side dish to his croquettes. It was pretty tasty with crunchy bites of bell pepper and a nice pop of fresh dill. the only weird thing was the yellow cheese shreds, but it did not take away from the dish at all.

Pork cutlet with mashed potatoes: I am a sucker for a fried piece of pork. My Dad used to make these for me growing up. This version was a bit thicker so it was tough in places, but still quite good. Like everything else, it needed salt, but a quick sprinkle from the shaker on the table. The potatoes were a bit dry, but my friend liked the lack of fat. I could have used a bit more. I would still order this again–maybe with a different side.

Mizeria (sliced cucumbers, red onion, and sour cream): The ingredients were fresh, but the lack salt prevented the dish from coming together in my mind. Maybe salt is not a traditional ingredient in the preparation, but it needed it. It was still a nice contrast against the heaviness of the pork chop.

Verdict: All in all, I found the food to be straightforward and comforting–not to mention very filling! My friend described it as “honest” and I would have to say that is the best description. The soup was our favorite and I would go there for that and some pierogi again. All of the ingredients they used were very fresh and they just seemed like nice people. The waitress said that the menu changes daily, but there are standards that will stay on. Is this the best Polish food you will ever have? No. But, it is a nice place that deserves your business the next time you want some Polish fare.

RESTAURANT INFORMATION:

Address: 3425 Medlock Bridge Rd.

Phone: (770) 441-2268

Payment: Cash and Credit

Atlanta food and restaurant blog | The Blissful Glutton » Polish

Food Finds: Eastern European treats at the Buford Highway Farmers Market

Gimza Polish Restaurant: Norcross