{"id":2507,"date":"2014-09-17T07:53:04","date_gmt":"2014-09-17T11:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/?p=2507"},"modified":"2026-02-12T08:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T13:04:11","slug":"trouble-with-a-language-how-food-can-transcend-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/2014\/09\/17\/trouble-with-a-language-how-food-can-transcend-words\/","title":{"rendered":"Trouble With a Language? How Food Can Transcend Words"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest Post By Bridget Piszczek, Founder Polska Foods<\/em><\/p>\n

We all know that uncomfortable moment when you are traveling abroad and trying desperately to buy that ticket, order that sandwich, or talk to a relative\u2014but no one can understand you.\u00a0 You sink into your shoes and hope to disappear.\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe you hope that your brain will suddenly remember the exact words that you need to say in that language and your mouth will spout them out perfectly.\u00a0 Unfortunately, once panic sets in, there is a one in a million chance of that happening!<\/p>\n

On my recent trip to Poland to visit my husband\u2019s family for the first time, this was a common occurrence.\u00a0 Everything from asking for a napkin to where to hang my coat or place my shoes became embarrassing and painfully uncomfortable.\u00a0 But there was one time that transcended all language barriers and we could suddenly sit at the table comfortable together with laughter and cheer:\u00a0 through food.\u00a0 <\/strong>More specifically,\u00a0 my mother-in-law’s Polish pierogi, the national dish of Poland. I remember well the first time I had them.<\/p>\n

It was on a snowy day (minus 4 degrees F outside), and we had been hiking through the thick woods outside of Jelena Gora in Poland.\u00a0 After building up a good appetite, we finally headed home to defrost our feet and noses.\u00a0 As I opened the large thick wooden front door,\u00a0a waft of rich potato, herbs, mushrooms, and various seasonings filled my senses.\u00a0\u00a0We dropped our backpacks and my feet followed my nose to the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\"pierogi_6\"<\/a>

Me on the cold, snowy hike before eating my mother-in-law’s pierogi.<\/p><\/div>\n

As my husband and I sat at the table, drooling, his mother began to serve us different varieties of pierogi that she had slaved over all day.\u00a0 First was the famous potato, farmer\u2019s cheese, and onion pierogi made with a delicate olive oil and onion sauce.\u00a0\u00a0As I took my first bite, my teeth sank into a soft, warm dough filled with immense flavor.\u00a0 Dumb-founded, I told my husband, \u201cThis redefines comfort food.\u201d\u00a0He laughed and tried to translate this to the perplexed faces in the room. He\u00a0explained to his mother that “comfort food” was food that provided comfort instead of just nutrition and brought up old childhood memories of playing with friends and enjoying mom\u2019s cooking. This was difficult to explain to them since they were used to eating is fresh, home-cooked food their entire lives. \u00a0In their mind, all food is “comfort food,” who would settle for anything less?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As my husband struggled to translate “comfort food” to his family, I realized this was not a good enough explanation for what we were experiencing.\u00a0\u00a0When I\u00a0bit into the next round of pierogi, filled with sauerkraut and mushroom, I realized that the food brought me more than just comfort.\u00a0 It allowed me to connect with my husband\u2019s family during a time when words had been such a barrier.\u00a0\u00a0Her Polish food reminded me of how you can show someone you care by offering them the most tasty, nourishing food you can make from mother earth.\u00a0\u00a0Her food expressed love.\u00a0\u00a0This moment transcended my need to directly communicate to my new family, and we just enjoyed our new form of sharing.<\/p>\n

When I looked up at my husband\u2019s mother, I saw her watching us devour her incredible pierogi.\u00a0\u00a0 She smiled from ear to ear and I even noticed a glimmer in her eye.\u00a0\u00a0My husband\u2019s mother and I had a new bond from that point on, and now I even feel more comfortable trying to speak a few broken Polish words to her!<\/p>\n

As I reflected on that moment of shared joy over the pierogi, I realized that food has a unique ability to bring people together and nourish more than just the body. The flavors of the dishes, passed down through generations, were more than just sustenance; they were an expression of love, care, and cultural heritage. While the immediate satisfaction of a delicious meal is undeniable, the long-term benefits of such food cannot be overlooked. A well-balanced, home-cooked meal is often full of wholesome ingredients that provide essential nutrients, and it\u2019s here that the guidance of a nutritionniste<\/a> can help individuals incorporate the same care and thoughtfulness into their everyday meals. With the right understanding of nutrition, every meal can nourish the body, mind, and soul, just as my mother-in-law\u2019s pierogi did.<\/p>\n

In everyday life, making thoughtful choices about what we eat can feel overwhelming without guidance, particularly when balancing work, family, and social commitments. Personalized nutritional counselling helps bridge that gap, offering insight into how individual needs, preferences, and lifestyles can shape a sustainable approach to healthy eating.<\/p>\n

By understanding the unique requirements of each body, a nutritionist can suggest practical strategies, meal plans, and adjustments that transform everyday meals into opportunities for wellness, rather than chores or restrictions. Through these tailored recommendations, individuals learn not only what to eat but how to incorporate variety, flavor, and nutrient balance in ways that feel natural and enjoyable, creating a foundation for long-term health.<\/p>\n

Engaging with the services of a nutritionist<\/a> allows for an informed, holistic perspective on diet, addressing not just immediate goals like weight management or energy levels, but also supporting broader wellness outcomes such as digestive health, immune function, and mental clarity. Each session can provide guidance that aligns with personal preferences, cultural traditions, and lifestyle constraints, making healthy eating both accessible and sustainable.<\/p>\n

Over time, this personalized approach cultivates habits that empower individuals to make choices confidently, enjoy meals mindfully, and appreciate the profound connection between food, well-being, and quality of life, turning everyday nourishment into a deeply intentional and fulfilling practice.<\/p>\n

\"pierogi_7\"

Me learning how to make pierogi for the first time, using sign language, as my mother-in-law spoke no English and I spoke no Polish at the time.<\/p><\/div>\n

Reliving The Experience at Home Launches A New Venture
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Food is the perfect way to keep the joy going from any trip, and maybe even your motivation to keep learning that language The challenge is finding that same kind of food you enjoyed in that country and bringing it home to relive the experience.<\/p>\n

When we came home from Poland, all I could think about was how I could get more pierogi at home in California.\u00a0Try as we might, not only was it hard to find, but some of it didn\u2019t taste even close to the homemade versions my husband\u2019s mother made in Poland.\u00a0Luckily, my husband had been making his family’s pierogi his whole life so he started to make them for me.\u00a0Duplicating the pierogi experience we had in Poland became a daunting task since the exact ingredients are not easy to find in the States. For good taste, we decided to use only the freshest, organic ingredients available, preferably local to maintain the flavor and nutrition of each vegetable. We found raw local sauerkraut and even a local mill that made flour using organic Old World grain. We also were adamant about adding no artificial flavorings, no MSG, no additives, no preservatives, no GMO ingredients, no dairy with growth hormones, no meat with antibiotics or hormones, and all the other things that go along with many packaged foods today, especially in the US. \u00a0If we were going to truly make pierogi the authentic Polish way, every ingredient had to be carefully selected to keep the recipe clean.<\/p>\n

We were not alone in enjoying our Polish re-creation. We received a surprising reaction from family and friends when they tried my husband\u2019s pierogi using his family recipe. \u201cThis is delicious!\u201d \u201cWhere can I get more?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0It was then that we decided to start a business making pierogi for family and friends, and eventually to neighbors and more.\u00a0 We decided to call the company \u201cPolska Foods\u201d and started selling organic pierogi at farmer\u2019s markets. Eventually, we started to sell to local retailers and even select Whole Foods and Safeway stores!\u00a0 Our pierogi even won Gourmet Retailer\u2019s \u201cEditor\u2019s Pick\u201d Award in 2014.\u00a0 As the word spread about our organic pierogi, we really had a delivery problem.\u00a0 So, starting this summer, we opened up an online retail store with a partner company who can ship our fresh, flash frozen pierogi nationwide so now anyone can enjoy our Polish pierogi across the nation!<\/p>\n

It is truly amazing how one experience abroad in a foreign town with new family connections can suddenly change your life forever. Because of my husband\u2019s heritage and my Polish culinary moment with his family, our focus has been clear.\u00a0Our goal is not about just offering food for sale to the public, it is about offering an experience.\u00a0<\/strong>Food should nourish your body and warm the heart.\u00a0\u00a0Each ingredient should be carefully selected and artfully combined, providing an array of flavor that dances on each taste bud.<\/p>\n

Simple, good food is why we like to travel, and how we connect with loved ones when words are not available. Today, when I sit down to start studying and practicing my Polish, I do so with pierogi.<\/strong> And, if you ever want to enjoy a “bite” of what we experienced in Poland, or need some comfort food while you attempt to learn Polish, you too can now do so through our Polish pierogi.<\/p>\n

Do you associate culinary traditions with your heritage? Is there a particular dish that you associate with the language you\u2019re learning?<\/strong><\/p>\n

About Polska Foods\u00ae<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded in 2011, Polska Foods offers award-winning, organic pierogi from their grandma’s kitchen in Lubiechowa, Poland. They offer five pierogi flavors with ancient grains, fresh vegetables, and hand-crafted farmer’s cheese (rBST free and Kosher). Their pierogi contains no preservatives, no MSG, no GMO ingredients, no Soy, and absolutely nothing artificial. Flavors include: Potato Cheese, Whole Wheat Potato Cheese, Mushroom Cabbage (vegan), Spinach Feta, and Savory Beef & Pork Pierogi. They also use only organic or expeller-pressed oils–no trans fats in any products. Polska Foods\u2019 pierogi is made fresh and then frozen to maintain quality and freshness, not precooked. Their pierogi is certified organic by Oregon Tilth.\u00a0 Customers can buy pierogi from Polska Foods\u2019 in the frozen section of Whole Foods, Central Market, Lunardi\u2019s, Mollie Stones, Wild By Nature, select Safeway stores and many independent retailers across California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Nevada, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington D.C.\u00a0 For a list of stores or to buy pierogi online, visit http:\/\/www.polskafoods.com\/buy-polish-pierogi<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Guest Post By Bridget Piszczek, Founder Polska Foods We all know that uncomfortable moment when you are traveling abroad and trying desperately to buy that ticket, order that sandwich, or talk to a relative\u2014but no one can understand you.\u00a0 You sink into your shoes and hope to disappear.\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe you hope that your brain will…<\/p>\n

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