Dosa, butter chicken and mango lassi might be an unexpected combination for some, but it tops the list of favourite dishes for Polish diners, who say these dishes remind them of visits to the country.
According to the list of the Indian Embassy in Poland, there are more than 45 Indian restaurants in Poland serving a variety of traditional Indian food, of which at least a dozen are in the capital city of Warsaw.
And not just for eating out, Indian food is also popular as a takeaway option in Poland.
India and Indian food are once again the talk of the town as Warsaw gears up to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrives here on Wednesday on a two-day visit. This will be the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 45 years.
In Warsaw, a Gujarati businessman Chetan Nandani has recently opened a restaurant called ‘Chaiwala’, possibly a nod to the nickname that has been associated with Prime Minister Modi since 2014.
Nandani, who already ran a restaurant called ‘Curry House’, opened ‘Chaiwala’ in response to the growing demand for Indian food. He claims to have introduced Indian street food to Warsaw.
Nandani said Polish people who visit metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata find many other things here but not Indian street food. “I named it after our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she said. “Our ‘Curry House’ chain is already very big in Poland. We own nine of them. People were suggesting that since we are from India, we should introduce some Indian street food that Polish people can enjoy. That was the purpose behind opening ‘Chaiwala’,” she told PTI video.
According to Indian restaurant owners, Polish people have developed a fascination not only for Indian cuisine but also for its rich culture.
“I love dosa. The best dosa in Warsaw is at India Gate (restaurant) and it really tastes like South India. I have been to Chennai and Kerala many times and the food here really tastes the same,” Anna Maria Rozek, a Polish citizen, told PTI Videos here.
Chandu, owner of the India Gate food chain, said, “The food here is really delicious… Indian food with lots of spices. Every item has a different taste. They (Polish people) love butter chicken, mango lassi. They love Indian food and Indian people too.” Chandu said that Polish people also love Indian culture and Indian films are doing well in Poland these days.
On the other hand, Nandini is also confident that the demand for Indian street food will increase further in Poland in the times to come.
Not only in the capital Warsaw, but Indian restaurants are also popular in cities like Krakow and Wroclaw, offering a variety of options to satisfy the curiosity and cravings of food lovers in this Eastern European country.
For example, The Castle, a homestay in Krakow, advertises on its website, “Krakow may have deep roots in Polish tradition, but its culinary scene offers a wide range of international flavors, with Indian cuisine taking center stage. If you’re craving the spicy and aromatic cuisine of India, Krakow has a wide range of restaurants to bring authentic flavors to your meal.” It then lists about half a dozen places in the city.
Krakow Buzz, a city-talking site that covers everything in the Polish City of Kings, says: “When the endless plates of Polish dumplings and sour Slavic soups get a bit much, Krakow has a whole line of Indian restaurants to help you out.” “They’ll let you taste the delicious cuisine of the East instead of the potatoes and carbohydrates of Central Europe. They sell spicy curries and dumplings, and can be found in some of the most beautiful corners of the city,” it describes the mouth-watering Indian cuisine and details at least half a dozen Indian restaurants in the city.
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