At the Pierogi Fest, they don't hold back. (Photo by Dylan Silva)
by Mark Silva
You know, when the "local cultural icon'' of Whiting, Indiana, struts his stuff, that a Polka Parade cannot be far behind.
And "Mr. Pierogi'' performed his duties, as usual, at the annual Pierogi Festival, where one 92-pound medley of potato, flour, butter, eggs, onions and water took the prize this weekend for the "World's Largest Pierogi.''
The big favorites -- and our correspondent tells us big was the operative word in Whiting this weekend -- are the Pierogi Festival anthem, sung to the tune of "Matilda," the "Whiting, Indiana" song and the modified Broadway hit, "Guys and Pierogis.''
The attached photographs are Swamp exclusives, courtesy of a correspondent in Chicago who knows how to get out of town when the getting is good.
(Pierogigraphs by Dylan Silva)







Comments
yes!!!
Posted by: Love It | July 27, 2008 3:39 PM
Where's big liberal gov't telling us that this is not healthy for us?
Posted by: Terry | July 27, 2008 4:26 PM
Um, o.k! I suggest putting it in Zbignew Brezenski's mouth. I think he is New World Order and he talks too much anyway!
Posted by: FatNSassy | July 27, 2008 4:40 PM
Big deal about a dumpling, what about the Kucinich, impeach Bush & Cheney hearings?
Posted by: Bronellione | July 27, 2008 4:42 PM
I didn't realize a Pierogi was a partisan issue...but I guess it is....did the republicans ask if this was a Muslim pierpogi?
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | July 27, 2008 5:49 PM
What the world needs now is more potatoes, onions and butter!
Posted by: MJ | July 27, 2008 6:11 PM
They look much better than they taste ha!
Posted by: Bronellione | July 27, 2008 4:42 PM -Pelosi won't support it. It won't go anywhwere. It would look bad as he's about to leave office, to political, maybe earlier on, but you missed your window of opportunity..
Posted by: Teresa | July 27, 2008 8:44 PM
I don't beleive it is delicious food
Posted by: chisang | July 27, 2008 9:16 PM
I bet Ron Pie and the Akron crew can beat that!
Posted by: Dan A. | July 27, 2008 9:20 PM
What? No mushrooms? That can't be be right.
Posted by: John W. | July 27, 2008 9:50 PM
Were those genuine Idaho spuds?
Posted by: Bubba | July 27, 2008 11:48 PM
why do they let pizza places sell food at the annual pierogi fest especially capris pizza which was horrible...
Posted by: matt dupont | July 28, 2008 12:29 AM
i moved from whiting in 2001 and never attended perogi fest but wish i did. now i live in western kentucky where they have redneck fest every day of the year. even mention the word perogi and they'd string ya up from the tree. yankee dog u.
Posted by: larry | July 28, 2008 4:11 AM
because pierogi's taste worse ha. Tried the meat, nasty little things.
Posted by: Teresa | July 28, 2008 5:08 AM
Posted by: Teresa | July 28, 2008 5:08 AM
You must not have taste buds! perogi taste like something that fell from heaven.
Posted by: larry | July 28, 2008 4:11 AM
I wouldn't live in a place where you couldn't buy perogi.
Posted by: MJ | July 28, 2008 9:20 AM
MJ- a friend talked me into trying some from a chinese restaurant not long ago. Sure looked yummy. The meat had a weird taste. Maybe the potato etc...is better. What kind did you try?
Posted by: Teresa | July 28, 2008 10:42 AM
That looks like a pizza. My mom makes em better. Chinese restaurant making authentic Polish pireogi.....hmmm. That's like Rachael Ray calling gołąbki fun for the kids dumping egg rolls. I've tried savory-- cabbage stuffed, meat stuffed (in barszcz, a beet soup), potato/onion stuffed, and sweet --- different berry stuffing with słotka smietana (sweet cream).. In my opinion my all time favorite is the potato onion followed by tangy (but sweet with cream) berry ones. I only like the meat if it's really cold out and I'm in a nostalgic mood or something. Not so much a cabbage fan. No problem taste wise just scared by one relative who alway made them....bad.
Posted by: Elmo | July 28, 2008 11:16 AM
Posted by: Elmo | July 28, 2008 11:16 AM
Elmo, I concure with most of what you said, except that I like the cabbage ones more than you seem to. Potato/onion are the best.
Teresa, you had what are called "pot stickers" -- Chinese meat stuffed dumplings seasoned with garlic and sometimes a little ginger and soy sauce. Unlike pierogi (or pierohy) the dough does not contain egg, but the basic idea is the same... and they're also delicious. I can't imagine anybody not liking them!
Posted by: MJ | July 28, 2008 12:39 PM
Dylan,
Surprised you were even able to get a photo of the Giant Pierogi. Your dad (Mark) would inhale the pierogi when my mom served them up at Christmastime....
Posted by: Paul Chodkowski | July 28, 2008 2:15 PM