Oscepek & Mead

I probably need Ania to correct my spelling... but "Ohs-tse-peck" is the variety of sheep's, goat and cow's milk cheese that is very common and traditional in the Tatras. It's made in these neat little shapes depending on the size of the peice of cheese, and is typically available in several verieties - plain, smoked, and a sweetish variety that bears some resemblance to Scandanivian jegtost (jeeze, I can't spell that either). Actually, it also comes in even more interesting form-factors, like strings that look almost like spaghetti (this kind Ania likes because it is not as salty as the others), and even in odd little knots and braids. These types are a bit more on the rubbery side than the others - a lot like "string cheese" in the States.

You can buy it on the street and eat it cold, but it's also served grilled, and in a restaurant would typically be served with a berry sauce almost like cranberry sauce - again, with the cheese itself grilled. The more typical verieties are a lot like farmer's cheese or cheese curd, and if it's good and fresh, it squeaks when you eat it. YUMMY !!! I love the smoked goats variety myself. I have some cool pictures, but on Ania's poor little laptop, it's too much of a chore to download and process my RAW images from my camera, so I'll have to wait until I am home to share those.

Another speciality that pleases me to no end is the Polish predilection toward Mead. I've mentioned it before, but especially this time of year it seems even more common. It's most often served warm, and though on the sweet side, it's not the wine-with-honey-added crap that you find so many places that's pawned off as "Mead" - it's the real thing baby, and they have no interest in keeping it from finishing its fermentation - meaning it is strong and tasty. We had some in Krakow, and in Zakopane. Ania's Dad, unfortunately, is no longer in possession of his own Mead ("Miod"), but we were talking about it (well, we were discussing it with Ania) last night over the roast duck supper he prepared for us.

We're taking the day today to relax (we slept until nearly noon!) and do laundry and some other chores, and will have an early supper with Ania's Dad and then go out with a friend of Ania's to a local Pub/Cafe/Pizza joint later. Tomorrow we'll spend in Lublin, seeing some things like the castle interior and the "Church of Art" which I've never seen before. Being the 5th of May, there should be a lot going on tomorrow night and it should be a good time.