Far North
A hunk of Polish kielbasi with a sour pickle. Warm pierogis made to a babushka's recipe. Then an ice cream, a Gorky Park-favorite of Muscovites in winter walking alongside the seven foot-high snow drifts. Or perhaps you'd prefer a dollop of caviar on Bardavinski bread. Not from the Caspian - that caviar is running out, but American spoonbill caviar. American sturgeon were so prolific in 19th-century New York, their black eggs stood in for peanuts in every bar. It all makes a picnic fit for Czars and Bolsheviks, comrades and citizens.
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Stella's Bakery* - 19 Jul 2008
Stella's Bakery is a bakery of European pastries, cakes and breads that's one of the best in the area. read more...
Russian Gourmet - 1 Jun 2008
Three years ago, Russian Gourmet set up just off the Rockville Pike on Nicholson Lane, behind the Exxon station and in front of Barry's Magic. Perhaps Barry waved a wand in the little market's direction. Because now there are five of them. read more...
Far North food web sites - 29 Apr 2008
The Kielbasa Factory* - 27 Mar 2008
At last there's a replacement for the much missed Polonetz Gourmet - The Kielbasa Factory. And despite its name it sells good Polish doughnuts, a denser version of the ones we're familiar with. Krystyna Ahrens opened the deli just after Thanksgiving in 2007. Now the place is packed. read more...
European Delight* - 21 Mar 2008
There's been a name change, along with a change in management, at European Bazaar, the source for Russian produce on the Rockville Pike. It's now called European Delight. Nothing else has changed - if anything, there's more. The choice of charcuterie in the meat counter is remarkable, from head cheese to a huge range of salamis, keilbasa, moskovskaya and other sausages. And the selection of smoked and dried fish is also good, with different smoked salmons, sturgeon, smelts, selyodka and whitefish prominent. read more...
Mushrooms - fresh - 27 Nov 2007
If you are traveling to or through Pennsylvania, include Chester County in your tour. Kennett Square is the self-styled 'Mushroom Capital of the World'. read more...
Scandinavian specialties - 27 Nov 2007
Here are a few suggestions of where to find some Scandinavian treats aside from fish. read more...
Far North ingredients on line - 26 Nov 2007
Far North region ingredients to buy on-line. read more...
Polish Delis in NJ - 26 Nov 2007
The Kielbasa Factory in Rockville MD is the area's only market for Polish specialties.. But New Jersey has a huge Polish community. So if you're up for a drive, or want to try ordering something by phone, here are some other sources. read more...
Christmas - dreaming of a different one - 25 Nov 2007
"Christmas comes but once a year and when it comes it brings"...Uncle George (who'll take over the single malt whiskey if no-one stops him), Aunt Mavis (who's just decided to turn vegetarian), and all their dreadful children. It's enough to drive you crackers.
Give Christmas a new sparkle and celebrate someone else's - with Britain's Christmas crackers, Italy's Omino di Neve, Switzerland's Zimststerne, Jamaica's West Indian Black Cake and more... read more...
Russian markets - 23 Nov 2007
Russian and East European markets around Washington abound. read more...
New Year celebrations - something different - 23 Nov 2007
New Year traditions in other parts of the world. read more...
Fish - smoked, cured & pickled - 22 Nov 2007
Washington isn't short on sources for the cured, smoked and pickled fish popular in Europe's colder countries. read more...
Russian dumplings & more - 22 Nov 2007
The 'babushkas' (grandmothers) of Europe's far northern climes have long been famous for their home-cooking of sustaining dumplings and more. read more...
Russian dairy products - 22 Nov 2007
Tvorog is a Russian cream cheese that makes a sweet alternative to mascarpone, but thicker. And look for ryazhanka and prostokvasha. read more...
Swedish fil mjolk - 18 Nov 2007
Swedish fil mjolk is a healthy yogurt drink not unlike Russian kefir that's not difficult to make yourself. read more...
Pork meats & cured sausages - 15 Nov 2007
Cured and smoked pork meats are central to German and other Northern European cooking and wonderful in winter with mashed potatoes and red cabbage. read more...
Bialys - 15 Nov 2007
While you can hardly move for bagels, Polish bialys, named not after a character in The Producers but after Bialystok near Poland's north east border, are a rarity. They are baked without prior boiling, and their indent only goes half way through. read more...
Berries - ripe for picking - 15 Nov 2007
Berry picking is one of the highlights of summer, with different fruits following each other through the season, even the rare blackcurrants and gooseberries. read more...
Beer - 15 Nov 2007
Beer in America is no longer limited to that uniform golden liquid that froths out of cans. The number of microbreweries nationwide producing 'boutique' beers with their own highly distinctive flavors keeps growing. read more...
Ice creams & gelati - 14 Nov 2007
In Russia, even in the depths of winter, queues of people form around the ice-cream carts stationed on street corners and down the iced-over paths of Moscow's Gorki Park. The world over, it's a seductive cold comfort. read more...
Chilled Jumbo Asparagus and Shallot Remoulade made with Homemade Mayonnaise - 10 Nov 2007
Jamie Stachowski was the owner-chef of now closed Restaurant Kolumbia. His recipe offers a great technique for cooking asparagus as well as a sauce that would go well with grilled beef or dolloped on a roast beef sandwich. read more...
Jamie Stachowski - Owner-chef of Restaurant Kolumbia - 10 Nov 2007
Chef Jamie Stachowski learned about curing meat as a child, working in his Polish family’s restaurants. Sadly his Restaurant Kolumbia is now closed. But read this profile and you'll understand why so many people are keeping their fingers crossed he'll be cooking again soon somewhere else. read more...
Mushrooms - mycological mysteries - 2 Nov 2007
More and more unusual mushrooms are reaching Washington's supermarkets and farmers' markets. But what are they? And what to do with them? read more...
Caviar - heavenly pearls - 2 Nov 2007
Poaching at extreme levels along with the effects of pollution have forced a moratorium on the import of caviar from the Caspian Sea. But U.S. caviar makes a good alternative. read more...
Smoked salmon - 2 Nov 2007
There's more to smoked salmon than some of those coral-pink plastic packets provide. read more...
Breads - a good chew - 2 Nov 2007
Not so long ago, the only bread available in Washington came sliced in cellophane packages. Now you can't move for choice among breads studded with everything from olives to cheese. But where can you get a plain brown loaf? read more...
Peggy Thompson, chef at DISH, worked as a meeting planner before going to culinary school. Boredom inspired her to start a new career, and through it she found more than just good food.
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