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Deli brings Polish tasty treats to the Strip
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Dorota and Slawomir Pyszkowski have opened S&D Polish Deli at 2204 Penn Ave. in the Strip District. -
Hunters stew, potato and cheese pierogies, and crepes with mushrooms and ham. They're among the prepared foods offered at S&D Deli in the Strip District. -
Besides food, you can buy other items at the deli to proclaim your heritage at the S&D Deli in the Strip District.
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A couple emigrates from Poland to Western Pennsylvania and after getting established opens a storefront to sell to fellow immigrants and others many of the Polish foods they dearly miss from home.
It sounds like a story from the turn of the last century, but it's actually one for the turn of the New Year: Just before Christmas, Slawomir and Dorota Pyszkowski opened the S&D Polish Deli in the Strip District.
It's a treasure trove of tasty treats, whether you're Polish or just interested in unusual foods.
As Ms. Pyszkowski puts it, "It's a lot of heart put into the place."
The couple, who wed in their native Wloclawek, moved seven years ago to Scottdale, Westmoreland County, to be near family there. They started a residential construction company. But several years ago, they began to think about also opening a store, if only so they didn't have to go to New Jersey and Cleveland and Detroit and Chicago for certain specialties.
Because of how strongly Pittsburgh identifies, and is identified, with Eastern European heritage, the couple were surprised at the relative lack of Polish foodstuffs.
They hurried to remodel the rental space (next door to Penn Avenue Fish Co.) and open in time for the holidays when peopleï¿ 1/2wanted this stuff on their Christmas tables -- everything from plum butter to kielbasa and much more.
There are other places that sell Polish food -- Alfred's Deli Plus just reopened on neighboring Polish Hill, and don't forget Forgotten Taste in Moon and Pine -- but not this much Polish food.
There's a case full of Polish sausages (including rarities such as krakowska, or ham sausage), hams and cold cuts, much of it from Joe & Frank's Sausage Co. in Chicago, which provides a poster key to what's what, and a little case of imported cheeses and butters and fish.
There's a whole row of candy, which has a special place in the Polish heart, including ptasie mleczko, or bird's milk -- soft marshmallow coated in chocolate -- and delicje cookies.
It's a delight to visually scan both sides of the other aisle and take in the jewel-like preserved fruits and syrups, jarred sauerkrauts and salads, unusual vegetables such as sorrel, and of course Polish dill pickles, plus everything from borscht and other soup mixes to dried mushrooms to baby foods, even periodicals and pharmaceuticals, not to mention red and white "Polish Pittsburgh Fan" mugs.
Last week, they fired up a hot food bar, from which they serve, for eat-in or takeout, pierogies (savory and sweet), halushki, sausages, stews (such as hunters stew), soups and dumplings.
"This store is heaven," said Jim Sidick of Robinson last week. His Polish wife, Aleksandra, was out of the country, so he stopped in to get himself three huge pierogies, a pack of Polish coffee and a Quattro candy bar.
The Pyszkowskis -- he's 34, she's 36, and they have four children, including twin boys, 9; a daughter, 10; and another son, 12 -- are active in the region's Polish community.
But even they have been surprised at all the Polish people who???ve already found the store, especially younger immigrants like them and first-generation ones.
A lot of students at the universities, workers," says Ms. Pyszkowski, whose English is better than her husband's but prettily accented. "I didn't realize we had Polish babies here!"
But she's had requests for certain Polish baby foods from young mothers.
Other customers have not been shy about asking for favorite items, and so the inventory continues to expand, as will the seating area. She would like to decorate with Polish pictures and other artifacts, "So on top of eating, they will have some cultural experience here."
They considered other neighborhoods, but focused on the foodie Strip after attending services at nearby St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, where they still sing hymns in Polish.
They are keeping their construction business going in Scottdale, which is, she says, why they close the food store on Sundays. "That's family time."
S&D Polish Deli, at 2204 Penn Ave., is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Phone: 412-281-2906.
-- Bob Batz Jr.
Have a fresh food find? E-mail food@post-gazette. com.
Forgotten Taste in Moon and Pine -- but not this much Polish stuff.
A case full of Polish sausages (including rarities such as krakowska, or ham sausage), hams and cold cuts, much of it from Joe & Frank's Sausage Co. in Chicago, which provides a poster key to what's what, and a little case of imported cheeses and butters and fish.
There's a whole row of candy, which has a special place in the Polish heart, including ptasie mleczko, or bird's milk -- soft marshmallow coated in chocolate -- and delicje cookies.
It's a delight to visually scan both sides of the other aisle and take in the jewel-like preserved fruits and syrups, jarred sauerkrauts and salads, unusual vegetables such as sorrel, and of course Polish dill pickles, plus everything from borscht and other soup mixes to dried mushrooms to baby foods, even periodicals and pharmaceuticals, not to mention red and white "Polish Pittsburgh Fan" mugs.
Last week, they fired up a hot food bar, from which they serve, for eat in or takeout, pierogies (savory and sweet), halushki, sausages, stews (such as hunters stew), soups and dumplings.
"This store is heaven," said Jim Sidick of Robinson last week. His Polish wife, Aleksandra, was out of the country, so he stopped in to get himself three huge pierogies, a pack of Polish coffee and a Quattro candy bar.
The Pyszkowskis -- he's 34, she's 36, and they have four children, including twin boys, 9; a daughter, 10; and another son, 12 -- are active in the region's Polish community. But even they have been surprised at all the Polish people who've already found the store, especially younger, first-generation ones like them.
"A lot of students at the universities, workers," says Ms. Pyszkowski, whose English is better but prettily accented. "I didn't realize we had Polish babies here!" But she's had requests for certain Polish baby foods from young mothers.
Other customers have not been shy about asking for favorite items, and so the inventory continues to expand, as will the seating area. She would like to decorate with Polish pictures and other artifacts, "So on top of eating, they will have some cultural experience here."
They considered other neighborhoods, but focused on the foodie Strip after attending services at nearby St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, where they still sing hymns in Polish.
They are keeping their construction business going in Scottdale, which is, she says, why they close the food store on Sundays. "That's family time."
S&D Polish Deli, at 2204 Penn Ave., is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
First Published January 15, 2009 12:00 am
