REGIONAL CUISINE
What would discovering new places, stories, and history of a given region be without exploring its culinary tradition? After all, local cuisine, alongside many interesting monuments, attractions, and museums, is often one of the key categories when choosing a travel destination. Opole Province is the perfect place for lovers of traditional flavors and people who simply want to
“eat well”. The regional cuisine of the Opole region is a real highlight of travel in the region, and its diversity attracts many explorers of new culinary experiences.
Contemporary Opole cuisine has developed over the centuries. Thanks to the cultural melting pot in Silesia, it has been influenced by Polish, German, Czech and borderland cuisines. The cuisine of Opole Silesia is diverse, not only because of the intermingling of cultures, but also because of certain differences that manifested themselves in the old culinary tradition. It should be remembered that today's Opole cuisine reflects both dishes originating from manors and palaces, where products usually unavailable to ordinary mortals were eaten and those originating from rural cottages, where the basis was food before and after hard physical work. This mixture means that today, everyone can find something for themselves here, from a touch of luxury to simple and hearty dishes.
Opole meat roll ("rolada"), Antek Restaurant in Źlinice
Undoubtedly, the queen of Opole tables is the Opole beef "rolada" with Silesian dumplings and red cabbage ("modra kapusta"). It tastes best when made with ingredients from local producers. You will find this dish in most good Opole restaurants
serving traditional dishes. Of course, the basis of a Sunday Silesian dinner, apart from "rolada", is delicious broth. However, you should also try traditional Silesian sour rye soup made with buttermilk. Connoisseurs and explorers of historical flavors should take an interest in “Silesian heaven,” and we're not talking about daydreaming here, but about a cult dish of Silesian cuisine. It is an extremely interesting smoked bacon with dried fruit, served with, of course, the Silesian dumplings. Another extremely simple dish or an interesting, common addition to meat dishes is "pańczkraut", a mixture of sauerkraut and potatoes, often served with ribs. You can also try stuffed cabbage rolls with certified Silesian "krupniok" sausage filling. The Opole region, rich in flavors, is also a land of carp. Numerous breeding ponds in the Niemodlin Forest and the Stobrawa Forest are favourable for fishing. Did you know that a large part of the carp that ends up on Polish Christmas Eve tables comes from Opole? Carp, although clearly associated with Christmas Eve, is the main ingredient of delicious fish dishes in the restaurants of the “Opolski Bifyj” Culinary Trail in Opole. You must try carp prepared in the Niemodlin style, i.e., marinated fish stewed and baked on vegetables. On the other hand, for those looking for culinary variety, the carp "faworki" (cenci) will be an interesting proposition.
Silesian sour soup ("żur") with buttermilk, Bajka Restaurant in Grodziec
After such a feast, it's probably time for dessert. Perfect with coffee or tea, the delicious Silesian "kołocz", a yeast cake filled with cheese, poppy seeds or apples, seems ideal. The tradition of baking it dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was served on special occasions, especially at weddings. Today, it is widely available, and in Opole Silesia, it is sold by every self-respecting local bakery. The best one is protected by a unique geographical indication and is made according to a traditional, proprietary recipe by members of the Silesian Kołocz Consortium.
Lemon sponge cake ("szpajza"), DeSilva Restaurant, Opole
Another noteworthy dessert from Opole is lemon "szpajza", which has the consistency of a sweet and sour mousse that melts in your mouth. This seemingly simple dessert, made from eggs, sugar, lemon and gelatin, is not so easy to make due to its form. Good housewives and, of course, chefs from Opolskie Bifyja can handle it. For
lovers of fusion cuisine, we recommend Opole halva parfait with raspberry mousse.
Most of the products and flavors characteristic of Opole Silesia can be found on a special list of traditional products of the Opole Province, created for each region of Poland by the Ministry of Agriculture. The richness and diversity of Opole cuisine is confirmed by the frequent appearance of new, certified local products and dishes on the list. Recently, the list has included "kraple" or the Opole oven-dried apples. The full list of products can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
If you want to preserve a piece of local traditions and flavors of Opole for yourself or bring something from Opole as a gift, I have a few suggestions for you. A fairly popular product from the Opole region is the iconic Oleska "śmietankówka", a kind of liqueur made from sweet cream (30%) and spirit. This drink, ideal for drinking or as an addition to ice cream and desserts, is distinguished by its delicate flavor. For true beer lovers, we recommend regional beers in various varieties from the brewery in Nysa, also endorsed by the “Opolski Bifyj” Culinary Trail. And if, while traveling around the Opole Province, you became interested in traditional dishes and would like to try making them yourself, you will undoubtedly need the highest quality products. That is why you can always take a piece of Opole cuisine home with you and buy local products here, including cottage cheese and butter from Olesno, oil from Głubczyce, honey from Opole apiaries, “Śląski Bifej” pasta or sweets from local producers from Brzeg and Nysa.
In the background of the photo “bifyj” - Silesian Chamber in Otmice, photo by Błażej Duk
You can easily discover all the flavors of the Opole region by setting off on the specially created "Opolski Bifyj" Culinary Trail. And what is this interesting-sounding
„bifyj”? "Bifyj" or "bifej" in Silesian dialect means a sideboard, which has always occupied a prominent place in local traditional cuisine. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, it experienced a renaissance in Silesia and was often the dream wedding gift for a young housewife. The more expensive ones were decorated with beautiful floral and colorful patterns. Undoubtedly, “bifyj” brings to mind and reminds us how important it was in those days to celebrate a meal together. Housewives kept their treasures in the “bifyj”: tableware, tablecloths, products, spices and secret recipes for homemade specialties. You can see a traditional "bifyja" and
the interior of a historic Silesian kitchen at the Opole Open-Air Museum of Opole Rural Museum in Opole. You can discover the treasures of regional cuisine in 23 restaurants scattered throughout the region. Each of them has its own character and way of preparing Opole cuisine. Chefs compete in presenting various dishes, in some restaurants they are served in a traditional way and in others they are a contemporary variation using old recipes and local products. Members of the trail must stand out for their high quality, not only in terms of the food they serve, but also in terms of customer service, guided by Opole hospitality. Special verification and certification ensure that the restaurants of Opolski Bifyj meet the highest standards and delight with the richness of flavors and quality of the dishes served. Undoubtedly, a great advantage of the restaurants on the trail is their location, often close to tourist attractions and interesting places on the map of the Opole region. Each of them has been marked with a plaque with the logo of the “Opolski Bifyj” Culinary Trail.
Text by: Adam Krzyżanowski