Buffalo Rising Online

Jan 1st 2007, 2:16pm By Christa Glennie Seychew

If you're looking for food from Central Europe the Slavic Bazzar is the place to go. The shelves are lined with cookies, crackers, jams, sauces, spices and other treats from places like Poland, the Ukraine, Croatia, and Bosnia. The bank of freezers holds salmon, desserts and the Slavic Bazzar's fabulous pierogi. The deli counter is loaded with European meat products shipped in fresh from Chicago. Visitors can also partake in a quick, delicious and inexpensive meal. Located on the corner of William and Bailey, this lovely little shop has been open for just over a year. On my recent visit, I met with Walter, the proprietor. His successful pierogi business brought him here to Buffalo. His pierogi are sold all over the United States. He manufacturers most of the flavors in his former home town of Toronto, but strict laws regarding the import and export of meat products meant that he needed a factory on this side of the border to produce the meat-filled pierogi. Walter is an engaging and funny guy. He told me that he has to drive only an hour and twenty minutes from his home in Clarence to get back to Toronto, but his friends that live just north of Toronto have to drive and hour and a half to get into the city- he's figuring that he got the better end of the deal.

Walter explained to me that Polish pierogi is about 50% dough and 50% filling. The pierogi sold by the Slavic Bazzar is closer to 80% or 90% filling. And that's a good thing, because the filling is delicious. His recipes have been developed from a variety of family recipes representing traditional pierogi ingredients and techniques from all over Central Europe. There is the classic potato and cheese, as well as varieties that feature chicken, pork and beef. But there is also one stuffed with sweet farmer's cheese, another with mushrooms, some feature cherries and other fruits. I saw at least a dozen different flavors during my visit. The deli counter is spectacular, offering a broad assortment of kielbasa, cold smoked fish and deli meats. Everything is extremely fresh and contains minimal preservatives- a far cry from what Americans generally find at meat counters. If you're hungry, they offer a fine lunch here. Pull up a chair and tuck into a dozen steaming pierogi for only $2.99, a giant cabbage roll for $1.99 or pork chops for only $2.20. Potato pancakes, borscht, and sausage with peppers and onions are only a few of the many other offerings on the menu. The Slavic Bazzar is full of great producs and yummy food. It is spotless and well-kept. The staff (and Walter especially) are cordial and friendly. You would be wise to stop in for lunch, or just pop by and pick up a bag of scrumptious pierogi.

Slavic Bazzar, 1550 William Street, 895.1404 Monday-Friday 8AM ,Aei 7PM Saturday 9AM ,Aei 6PM Sunday 11AM ,Aei 3PM