Cafe Zalatki

In Warsaw our center of operations was the Cafe Zalatki, a small bar and restaurant around the corner from Old Town's central Square (Rynek Starego Miasta)—there's also a Rock, Jazz and Blues club in the basement. Though there was a full menu—served not only to in-house customers but to those at tables in the Square—we didn't dine here...but one menu item was difficult not to consider: Next to the “starters” menu was a single item described as Good With Beer. I was waiting for Ezra one afternoon and ordered it to go with my very good Polish beer. It was simply a clay crock filled with pork lard, chunks of fried bacon and pork rind, accompanied by fresh-sliced rye bread and dill pickles.

Well, it was delicious. It had the texture and tasted like lard, of course, but was crisp and rich with bacon flavor. And then there were the pickles—anything but crunchy, they were juicy and had the texture of a fresh avocado...incredible!

There's a reason this dish is not on the “starter” menu: It simply puts an end to long-term appetite...but does it ever go well with beer!?!

Perhaps the only thing an American would want on the table with it—and that beer—is a bottle of “hot sauce”.