Pierogi

06/09/2012 18:58

I can't believe that we've come this far and not had a discussion on pierogi! 

The word pierogi is actually the plural of pieróg. In this case, the “i” on the end indicates that there is more than one, though “i” is only one of several ways to indicate plural nouns. In addition to being food, the pieróg is a type of three-cornered traditional hat worn in olden days. When we refer to either the hat or the food, we say one pieróg, and two or more pierogi. That’s why, as incorrect as it sounds, you often hear people in the Coal Region say something like, “Hey bud, gimme tree more a doze freakin’ pierogi” or “Ju want a nutter pierog?"

As I think that I’ve mentioned before, pierogi(es) in Poland come in many varieties, but they’re usually not a one-to-one match with what we eat here. The taste can be somewhat different, especially when it comes to the potato ones. So, keep an open mind; they’re still awesome! The differences are only natural, when you think about it. The types of cheese that we mix in with our pierogi was never even available to peasants in Poland. Their cheese in the pierogi is usually a young, white cheese. Also, there might even be a slight difference in the type of flour that was available as well (just a hunch). In any case, I have come to appreciate both Polish and American pierogi equally, though there’s more of a variety in Poland. Among my favorites are the spinach pierogi. I hope that you will come to like them all of them!