Volume XXI, No. 3 31 March 2020 ISSN 1555-774X. Copyright © 2020, PolishRoots®, Inc. Editor: William F. “Fred” Hoffman, e-mail: [email protected]< > CONTENTS Welcome! Remembrance of a Gentleman Letters to the Editor Świętej Pamięci Just Recognition The Latest from PolishOrigins Geneteka Index Updates An Overview of Recent Periodicals Upcoming Events More Useful Web Addresses You May Reprint Articles... *************************************** *** WELCOME! *** to the latest issue of Gen Dobry!, the e-zine of PolishRoots®. If you missed previous issues, you can find them here: <http://polishroots.org/GenDobry/tabid/60/Default.aspx> *************************************** Gen Dobry!, Vol. XXI, No. 3 March 2020 — 1 *** REMEMBRANCE OF A GENTLEMAN *** by Paul S. Valasek <[email protected]> Polish cooking and recipes are always of interest, and with the latest of culinary shows, Flavor of Poland, they are again in the forefront of television viewing. This latest cooking, cuisine, and travel show airs in Chicago at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. Check out their website for listings in many other PBS markets: <https://www.flavorofpoland.com/> After viewing this past Saturday’s show, my thoughts went back to a gentleman whose very essence was cooking and keeping alive the culinary expertise of not only Polish food, but that of historic nobility food as well as peasant dishes: Grzegorz Russak. Sadly, I found out he had passed in 2018. I met Grzegorz Russak for the first time in 1998 as he was director of Dom Polonii, Polonia House, in Pułtusk. He was hard to miss – he stood over 6 foot 4 inches, and weighed in as a current NFL lineman. Those who have met me have often said the same, but when I met Dr. Russak, I noticed I had to look up slightly to see him eye to eye. As for the weight, let us say that when he and I got onto the elevator, all others had to wait their turn. But this was a refined and gentle giant of a man, whose life was food and cuisine.That of the Polish szlachta or nobility was first and foremost, and he bragged how he had at least 400 recipes just for soups alone. He spoke of how he could tell what part of Poland a family originated from just by seeing their Christmas table setting. And he re-introduced me to sękacz, the cake you cook on a rotating spit over a barbecue pit. I subsequently met with him four more times at Dom Polonii, and each time was an interesting moment with a man who was larger than life in spirit. I understood that his Doctorate was from veterinary skills, and I could think of no one else who could handle large animals better, such as cows, hogs, and horses. Yet he was many times soft spoken and gentle, always kissing the hand of ladies at first meetings. He did offer a variety of style and approaches to the role he played as director of Dom Polonii. And one of his favorites rolls was acting as King Jan Sobieski, complete in full costume and entourage. Here was a man over 6’4” in full regal dress, trimmed in furs and brocade, walking through an assembled party of guests at Dom Polonii, entertaining and sharing the historical venues of Poland. But hunting and cooking was his forte. Once, when a small group of us were in conversation with him, the topic of hunting came up, and he offered to show us some of his antique firearms and crossbows. Of course we took him up on this offer, and soon we were in his private apartments at Dom Polonii. With pride and appreciation, he demonstrated and handed over his various antique hunting weapons, one after the other. I am not a hunter by nature, but when he found out my wife, Andrea, had hunted before and was a great lover of fishing, he immediately took her under his guidance, now not only showing her in more detail a gun or antique crossbow, Gen Dobry!, Vol. XXI, No. 3 March 2020 — 2 Dr. Grzegorz Russak, expert on Polish cooking, author of culinary television programs. For more info, see <https:// naszswiat.it/historia/ kuchnia-polska-to- nie-tylko-schabowy- czy-pierogi/> (the title means “Polish cooking is not just pork and pierogies”) and <https://www. facebook.com/ Grzegorz.Russak/> but allowing her to handle the weapons and “try them on for size.” Not often does one get to handle a 17th century crossbow, but she did! His goal was to make a guest’s stay at Dom Polonii as comfortable and rewarding as possible. The hotel also handed out a list of “entertainment events” you could order during your stay. A guest could order a barbecue dinner feast in a riverside cottage, for either two or fifty attendees. And when it was two, they meant it: they posted a guard outside of the “private” dinner, and anyone who tried to enter was told, “Sorry, this dinner is private.” One could order an array of entertainments from musical groups playing Polish folk music, to classical ensembles. When I asked, “Gypsy music??” the answer was, “With or without dancers?” He often said there was nothing impossible for the guest in his house. He also offered a full day of hunting and eating, starting with a boar hunt on nearby hunting grounds. You would start the day hunting a boar, and after success, you would be shown how to field dress the animal and bring it back to the kitchens at Dom Polonii to be prepared for cooking. At that time, he would show you how to prepare the animal for a full banquet which you helped to prepare and later to consume in the castle/palace-like setting of Polonia House. I did not partake of that event, but just the thought of what was available was inspiring and beyond comprehension. Since the Dom Polonii was on the Narew River, fishing excursions were also available. They said that you would be taken out in a small boat, with a guide and full equipment, and you would catch fish, guaranteed! I asked what if they weren’t biting, a scenario I often would experience. He looked at me, his eyes twinkled, and he said again in a strong voice, “You WILL catch fish!” and walked away. I turned to his staff member who was with us and saw him smiling. I asked the Gen Dobry!, Vol. XXI, No. 3 March 2020 — 3 question again, “What if the fish are not biting? Are you going to have a swimmer attach a fish to your line out of sight?” The staff member’s eyes twinkled, a grin came over his face, and he again stated, “You WILL catch fish!” I searched YouTube for any mention of Dr. Russak, and I was pleasantly pleased to see several shows on his cooking instructions. He did not speak English well enough to do these shows in English. But if you are cooking, the visuals will be more than enough. I watched one recently where he is cooking Traditional Historic Menus of Poland – in this case, kiełbasa. He had three variations on the show, a White Sausage, a Hunter’s Sausage, and a Venison Sausage. How to select the meat, prepare it, stuff the casings, boil or cook in water, or prepare for the smokehouse. I would encourage anyone who watches YouTube to check out his work. You can tell he knows his material as in a two-hour show, he is non-stop directing, preparing, and explaining what is going on, without any moment of hesitation or notes. I suggest you start with this one: “Tradycyjna produkcja kiełbasy dr Russak” (Dr. Russak, Traditional Sausage Production): <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzAs31ojU5Y> This was the opening of the menu for the White Sausage: Get yourself 25 pounds of raw meat, three varieties, and start preparing. The Hunter’s Sausage took 25 pounds of six meats, including, venison, adult and young, boar, pork stew and knuckles, bocek (bacon with ample fat), and surprisingly, a smaller number of spices. How can any recipe fall short by starting out with six metal bowls totaling 25 pounds of meat? A man I admired and respected and will miss – a privilege to have known! Editor – Paul and Andrea offered a few links where you can read more. They are in Polish, but Google Translate will give you a basic understanding of the contents. This page has a brief article on his death and life: <http://papaja.pl/?m=a&id=8212> This site has numerous books (the shop is closed now due to COVID-19, so save the link for future reference): <https://jednosclowiecka.pl/pl/p/Wielka-kuchnia-mysliwska-Grzegorz-Russak/1158> This article includes quotes from Dr. Russak’s sister: <https://www.polskieradio24.pl/5/3/Artykul/2197211> Gen Dobry!, Vol. XXI, No. 3 March 2020 — 4 ************************************** *** LETTERS TO THE EDITOR *** From: Debbie Greenlee <[email protected]> Subject: Polish headstones Seeing the article written by Jean-Francois Kusina pushed me to mention that a Pole living in France has photographed Polish headstones in French graves. Patryk Chlond found me online and for several years has been sending me those photographs. I found volunteers to index the headstones and after I proofread them, placed the indexes on my website, <http://www. polishfamily.com/>. Click on the painting. On the next page, click on RECORDS. Scroll down to “Polish Cemetery Headstones in France.” There are eleven cemeteries listed. Editor – Thanks for the info, Debbie! Your site has pages and pages of good stuff, and I never tire of looking through it, but I had missed this page.