Pierogifest, July 28-30, Whiting, IN

Mr. Pierogi and the Pieroguettes! Eastern bloc Jeopardy! Polkapolkapolka!

This is one of my favorite food fests, along with Koreanfest in Chicago. I've organized a group motorcycle/scooter ride to Pierogifest the last couple years, because there's nothing like be shaken violently on a 40-year old vintage Vespa after having spent the day snarfing pierogies, sour cream, sauerkraut, and beer. But it's great fun even if you don't go on 2 wheels, and if you get there around noon, the lines aren't too bad.

http://www.pierogifest.net/

grace

I'm heading there Sunday if anyone wants to join.

Hi,

ReneG and I attended Pierogi Fest at high noon today. While the heat may have discouraged some, the attendance level was substantially less than what is encountered at Chicago street festivals. The food was reasonably priced and varied: gyrogies, which were gyro stuffed pierogies, which we didn't try despite a big thumbs up from the FoodTV crew; pineapple whip ice cream, roast lamb and pork, cevapcici, Polish food, potato pancakes and lots more. Parking was a breeze.

Pictures and posts to follow once thoughts have been assembled, though for now we gave the event a big thumbs up!

Regards,

Pierogifest exceeded expectations. Even though we missed the big events and the weather was brutally hot, we had a great time. Pierogifest puts the Chicago food festivals to shame.

Mr Pierogi being interviewed by FoodTV: "What are your responsibilities as Mr Pierogi?" "You don't want to see a thin pierogi so basically my responsibility is to eat."


Two of the Piroguettes, Miss Apricot and Miss Plum.


There were an amazing number of stands serving pierogi but these looked among the best. And those potato pancakes didn’t look so bad either.


Isn't this what you dream about eating on a 100-plus-degree day? This probably would have been a really good plate of food if they hadn't slopped it all together like that.


Most pierogi had the usual fillings but Olympia chose to do it a little differently.


Here's one filled with cabbage and mushrooms from Dan's Pierogi.


It was pretty much pierogi, pierogi, pierogi (not that there's anything wrong with that) so some roast pork and lamb was a welcome change.


The Green Tomato Lady was there with an interesting menu. We tried a piece of green tomato-apple pie, excellent though the crust was a bit soggy.


I'd never heard of pineapple whip until a few weeks ago. I can now report it's not bad at all, sort of a cross between frozen custard and pineapple sherbet.


I’m already looking forward to next year.

We attended Pierogi Fest last weekend and loved the pierogies from the 2004 winner. Does anyone know the name of the vendor and how to get in touch with them? Thanks.

These photos only whetted my appetite (for photos, that is). More great ones at this flickr user's site.

HI,

For information on the Pierogi Fest, then I suggest contacting Gayle Faulkner Kosalko. A few vendors mentioned her name as a key organizer, she will likely know your answer ... which you can share with us!

Regards,

CCNolan wrote:We attended Pierogi Fest last weekend and loved the pierogies from the 2004 winner. Does anyone know the name of the vendor and how to get in touch with them? Thanks.

You mean the place on the south side of the street, slightly east of the festival's center? The one almost across the street from the pineapple whip stand? The one with the red checked tablecloth, proudly displaying Stanley's Cup?



Sorry, I can't help you! Unfortunately that's all the information I can come up with and there's nothing more in any of my photographs that's of any help. I regret we didn’t try their pierogi.

CCNolan wrote:We attended Pierogi Fest last weekend and loved the pierogies from the 2004 winner. Does anyone know the name of the vendor and how to get in touch with them? Thanks.

I like a google challenge as much as the next guy!

The picture here shows a booth that appears to have a banner announcing the Best Pierogi 2004. It looks like the pictured stand may be the same one described on this official Pierogifest page:

Polish Foods: The surprise winners of the last Pierogi Perfection Pursuit Cook-Off are back again. Peter Bozko and his sons only use ingredients imported from their native Poland for their pierogi. Location: 1434 - 119th St. Food Court.

That's all I got. Maybe there's a map online that could be correlated to Rene's description of the location and the "address" above.