Food Feedback: More halusky variations and fish to fry
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Re: "Get potatoes in that halusky" in Kitchen Mailbox by Arlene Burnett, Food & Flavor, March 24: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been trying to explain to people about the fake halushki (as we spell it) they are eating, and not too many people (outside of my friends who have had my REAL halushki), believe me.
My grandmother and aunt always browned onions along with the butter before adding to the halushki, and would brown butter and cabbage (only) to use on the side. Our family also enjoys a spot of cottage cheese on the side.
KIRSTEN A. PASTRICK
Loved the article, if it is really about eastern Slovakia. But there are other ethnic groups who live there besides Slovaks. In the Pittsburgh or tri-state area, there are Carpatho-Rusyns, Hungarians and Germans just to name a few of the ethnic groups who also were part of the waves of emigration from Slovakia mentioned in the article. Each has its own way of making halushky. There are noodle, cornmeal, just flour and water, and even variations using walnuts or chestnuts.
So saying that real halushky is only made with potatoes is, well, just a handful of cold potatoes.
LARRY BOSONJAK GRANBERG
Used to be a Pittsburgher, now residing in a small village named Bungeref/Bigonville in Luxembourg. Here halushky are known as gromperekniddelen made with potatoes or not and sometimes served with cabbage.
Great article about fish fries ["If you try, you can fly from fry to fry" by Gretchen McKay, Food & Flavor, March 24 and with a "Cooking with Gretchen" video].
I wanted to let you know that my organization, GTECH, is collecting waste cooking oil from fish fries as feedstock for locally produced biofuel. About 1 million gallons of waste oil is produced in the region every year, most of which goes down the drain or is sold for animal feed.
We are collecting fish fry oil from about 15 churches this season. You can see more about the program, based at Construction Junction in Point Breeze, and learn how to donate your oil here: refuelpgh.org.
ANDREW BUTCHER, CEO
Growth Through Energy + Community Health (GTECH)
Point Breeze
Gretchen, Protestant churches have excellent fish also!
Check us out at Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park. We are one block off Route 19 (Washington Road), near Village Square Mall. Our hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m.
LYNNE JOHNSON
South Fayette
I currently live in California and North Carolina, but I will take a trip to the Pittsburgh area where I grew up (McDonald) with the purpose of visiting the Italian Club in Monaca on Good Friday for its fish fry. I might visit Carnegie and Presto and try the places you were. Believe me, the fish in Pittsburgh is, by far, the best I have eaten.
ROBERT JOHNSTON
Palm Desert, Calif.
First Published March 31, 2011 12:00 am
