Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Season 19 Episode 4 Napoleon's March Through Poland
- TVPG
- February 20, 2018
In the season 19, episode 4 of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, titled "Napoleon's March Through Poland," Andrew travels to Poland to explore the country's traditional and unconventional cuisine. The episode begins with Andrew's visit to a farm that breeds rare and exotic sheep, where he interacts with these unique animals and learns about the history of sheep farming in Poland.
Next, Andrew visits a restaurant in Warsaw that specializes in traditional Polish cuisine. Here, he tries dishes like pierogi, a popular pastry filled with potato, cheese, and meat, and bigos, a hearty stew made with sauerkraut, meat, and a variety of vegetables. Andrew also samples some of Poland's national drink, vodka, and learns about the country's vodka-drinking culture.
The episode also takes Andrew to the town of Poznan, where he discovers some of the more unconventional and lesser-known dishes of Poland. He visits a local butcher who makes a unique sausage called Kielbasa Poznanska, made from pork, beef, and lamb, and flavored with garlic and marjoram.
Andrew also samples a famous Polish street food known as zapiekanka, which is essentially a grilled baguette with a variety of toppings like ham, cheese, mushrooms, and vegetables. This popular snack is a staple of Polish street food culture and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
The highlight of the episode is Andrew's visit to a small village in eastern Poland, where he is invited to a traditional Polish feast. This feast includes dishes like golonka, a roasted pork knuckle served with sauerkraut, and flaczki, a hearty tripe soup made with beef, spices, and vegetables.
Andrew also learns about the history of Polish food and the influence of different cultures on Polish cuisine over the years. He discovers that during Napoleon's march through Poland in the early 19th century, French chefs introduced new cooking techniques and ingredients to Polish cuisine, which led to the creation of dishes like beef stroganoff and Tournedos Rossini, which are still enjoyed today.
Overall, the episode is a fascinating exploration of Poland's rich and diverse food culture, from its traditional dishes to its more unusual and unconventional fare. Andrew's engaging and informative commentary adds depth and context to each dish, making for an entertaining and informative viewing experience.