A characteristic, traditional Polish dish similar to ravioli and dumplings. Made of folded pasta bread with a filling, frequently cottage
cheese and mashed potatoes (this form is called "pierogi ruskie", lit. "Russian pierogi", which is a non-indicative name as the dish is not from
Russia). They can also be made with
meat, spinach, wild strawberries and other fillings. Pierogi are served cooked, sometimes cooked and fried, with a topping. The topping can be fried
onion, skwarki (Polish form of pork rind, cut up into small dice and deep-fried) or sometimes smetana (sour heavy cream).
Important note: "Pierogies" is a glaring and bad grammatical error, it's a double plural. "Pierogi" is the correct plural and "pieróg" 'pjεrug ("pyeh-roog") is the real singular. Polish
people are
happy to remind every foreigner who makes this mistake. Also, it's "pierogi", not "pierogie".
A: We'll go to that traditional Polish restaurant for dinner. What do you want from there?
B: I don't know,
maybe some pierogi with
meat.
A: OK, nice. I'll get some sour rye soup.
alt.
A: Waiter, I'd like the kotlet schabowy with mashed potatoes and
lettuce.
B: I'd like some pierogies with
meat.
A: Excuse me. *turns to B* Hey, "pierogies" is not a word. Singular "pieróg", plural "pierogi".
B: I don't believe you. What's the matter? Isn't the singular spelled "p-i-e-
r-o-g-i-e" anyway?
*pimpslap.gif*
A: Didn't you take a single look at the menu? The plural is "P-I-E-
R-O-G-I", without an E at the end! The singular is "pieróg"! P-I-E-
R-O acute-G! "Pyeh-roog"! Say it!
B: *shaking* ...pyeh-roog?
A: Good!
B: I... get it. But...
A: But what?
B: Don't you Poles already double-pluralize English loan words? "Chips - chipsy" (chips in the
American meaning), "dżins - dżinsy" (jeans)?
A: Oh, I guess you're right. *ashamed.jpg*
