Yummy cheese
From Polish Radio via the Polish American Forum: Slovakia backs down on sheep’s cheese war
Slovakia will withdraw its veto on the registration of the Polish `oscypek‘ highlander cheese. An agreement on the matter has been signed by Poland’s deputy premier and agriculture minister Andrzej Lepper and his Slovak opposite number Miroslav Jurenia.
Slovakia officially filed the veto with the European Commission on February 19th claiming it has for centuries been the producer of a similar type of cheese under the name of `osztiepok’.
If Poland would receive the Recognized Certificate of Origin, its `osztiepok’ could encounter serious barriers in export to other EU markets, Slovakia argued.
However, the Polish side had been successful in explaining to its southern neighbors that a bilateral agreement of December 2005 effectively guarantees the two products and their brand names absolute independence of each other, having entirely different cow milk content and place of origin.
This allows for independent registration of the Slovak and Polish cheese product. The contentious cheese has been produced from times immemorial on both sides of the border in the Tatra mountain region with the initial differences becoming more visible, or rather palatable.
The Polish `oscypek’ continues to be hand made by highlander shepherds and has a cow milk content of only 40%, while in the Slovak `osztiepok’ variety it goes up to 80% and the cheese is produced in seven selected dairy plants with Dutch and French capital participation.
Now if some of my Górale friends or family would just send some over… Oh, and a case of Harnaś as well.
An old college buddy of mine, actually a native of Warsaw, had a knack for finding great delicatessens. I’ll never forget all the great cheeses he introduced me to. I would have never dreamed that I’d develop a taste for pickled herring and crispbread either…and, I’m sure my buddy would agree with you on the beer. However, I fear that it wouldn’t be the tree falling if I had a case of that beer.
These foods definitely trend toward being guy things. Rich flavor and a good buzz – it enhances male bonding, which is never a bad thing.
Personally, I prefer herring in sour cream with loads of onions. That’s more of a Christmas/winter staple. Chilled pickled herring is a great summertime treat.
Did your friend ever introduce you to kompote. It’s a homemade fruit beverage, often served at room temperature or warmer in the summer. Poles tend to shy away from drinking anything cold to cool down…
Check out the food featured at The Porkchop Express blog… I’d give the photos alone 4 yummies.