Food and culinary stories reveal much about the tastes, customs, beliefs and everyday lives of our ancestors. From Christmas Eve dishes, Slavic vampires and Saint Hyacinth’s dumplings to Nicolaus Copernicus spreading butter on bread, such stories can be found everywhere. This book shows that the Polish table is not only a place for feasting but also a witness to a tradition rich in symbolic meaning and cultural memory.

Magdalena Tomaszewska-Bolałek is an award-winning author of books on culinary culture and winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Prix de la Littérature Gastronomique, the Diamond Cuisine Award and Magellan Awards. Her readers accompany her as she recounts fascinating stories, legends and customs about both simple and elaborate dishes.