We're Back

Wow! It's been a long time since our last blog entry of May 18, 2010, but in the past 7 months a lot
has happened.
      For Frank, a June cousins reunion in North Carolina.....and buying a rowhome in South Philly, rehabbing the house in July during the hottest summer in several decades....finally moving in early August....then, taking a quick vacation to visit friends on Cape Cod....and moving the business to our home in October. For Charlie, completing an addition to his home, not to mention numerous trips to NJ to visit the folks.
      And through this busy period, we always managed to enjoy some great food with our families and friends, some of which we prepared, including desserts like sour cherry pie, strawberry-rhubarb pie, whoopie pies not to mention great southern cooking like North Carolina-style pulled pork. Throw in some baked country ham, candied sweet potatoes and sweet tea. Yes, it’s been a busy 7 months and we're thinking the next 7 will be just as busy completing our second cookbook Philly's Best Sweets. We are always experimenting with a vintage recipe we have found or with the desire to find a new food venue or finding a new or existing food destination. Which brings us to:

Christmas in Port Richmond

Welcome to Czerw’s, home of ‘The Kielbasy Boys’

      For any food junkie, one of the great joys of this and any holiday season is the abundance of food and drink and the ability to share it with family and friends. Each nationality brings their unique twist to a holiday, Christmas being no exception. While Charlie’s root are Italian, my family heritage is a combination of the French, English and Polish cultures. While I enjoy French and English foods, my real love is for Polish Food.

Just wait until you get inside!

     When I moved to the city several years ago from the suburbs, we needed to find a place that sold genuine, homemade Polish food. It didnt take long before we discovered Port Richmond and Czerw’s, home of the Kielbasboys (John, Jeff and Dennis).

Jeff preparing a big order.                    John and Jeff ‘hamming it up’

      The week before Christmas, I ventured over to Port Richmond to check out this icon of authentic, home-cooked polish cuisine. As I got closer to their street, I saw a long line of people standing in single file, stretching around the block. I parked the car, walked to the end of the line and just like everyone else, spent the next 2 hours talking with fellow patrons about the weather, food, the Phillies, the Eagles, the mayor and whatever else to pass the time. When I finally approached the door, I realized the attraction to this place — the aroma of freshly smoked kielbasa.

It takes a lot of wood and a smokehouse to get that authentic flavor

      Obviously, Czerw’s isn't just an ordinary neighborhood store selling pre-packaged kielbasa and frozen pierogis. This is the real stuff, the authentic foods you were raised on, the food your parents ate and enjoyed. Forget about a classy store-front entrance, you come to this place for the smoked kielbasa, sauerkraut and fresh pierogis. Homemade with the flavors and aromas you remember. Delightful, just the way you remember it all tasting. Fresh, solid peasant food and nothing fancy.

Fresh pierogis, just like Grandma made!

      One of the boys, John, Jeff or Dennis will wait on you, smile and thank you for your patience and if you’re really lucky you’ll get some of the free samples of kielbasa or roast port. But take it from someone who knows and appreciate good Polish food, every minute you have waited in the cold is worth it. Under one roof no bigger than a single car garage, you’ll get fresh homemade pierogis wit cheese [sic], sauerkraut, potatoes, whatever ever your fancy, including a philly cheesesteak pierogi, golumpki, fresh sauerkraut in a wooden barrel, bogos and chrusciki.
  
      Even if you’re not Polish, a trip to this is establishment is a real treat, a food experience that you'll remember and want to share with everyone you know. In today's impersonal, fast-paced, multi-tasked, super-sized market environment, it's great to find a place like Czerw’s that knows first-hand how to bring back those memories of great ethnic food that we have shared with friends and family.

      Look for our new cookbook this Spring, Philly’s Best Sweets, which will contain a receipe for dessert pierogi's from the kitchen of John, Jeff and Dennis, the kielbasyboys (www.kielbasyboys.com 3370 Tilton Street, Philadelphia, PA 215-423-1707)

Charlie and I want to wish you all a great holiday season and a healthy 2011.

Best wishes,
Frank and Charlie

www.ourbestfood.com