5th International Soup Festival!
Will Polish cuisine be the next hot thing after the invigorating vogues for Basque, Fusion and Tasmanian cuisine? OK, we made up the last one, but we're going to be completely honest here and declare our great veneration for Polish cookery. Yes, you've got to forget about those vague stereotypes about red cabbage and beetroot, because Polish cuisine is magnificent with a big M. And the good news is, you can try scores of varieties here in Cracow tomorrow - the Fifth Soup Festival is back, and some of Poland's top chefs will be putting on their hats.
As any local will concur, if there is one branch of the culinary tree in which Poland really excels, then it is soups. Poland has scores of delicious soupy creations, and you should be able to track them all down at the festival tomorrow. Zurek, Ogorkowa, Grzybowa, Chlodnik...... difficult to pronounce, but music to the ears of the gourmet and the gourmand! And besides the native broths, there will also be plenty of spicy numbers from overseas.
As usual, the culinary action will be taking place down in mellow Kazimerz on Plac Nowy. Things kick off at 4pm, and if you want to be sure of catching all the best brews, get there early. Poland's favourite chef, Robert Maklowicz, will be leading the panel this year, and there will be gold, silver and bronze medals for the outstanding concoctions. And to round it off, top band The Klezzmates will be joined by the KTO theatre and other groups in providing some groovy accompaniment.
Finally, we can reveal that CL is hard at work rustling up our own soupy surprise. We've just carted up the last few magic ingredients to our cyber tower, and we're umming and ahhing about a name to christen the burbling broth. It's a tricky choice, but either way, we'll see you on Plac Nowy!