Pierogi Street [was Polak Eatery - How's that for a Name?]

1043 N. California Ave.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140916 ... rogi-wagon

Kinda reminds me of the old Ghetto Fries at Max's Beef a few years ago, but this is bigger.

Name doesn't bug me but I had to shine some light on it.

I think it's the legal name too reading the city inspection data:

http://chicago.everyblock.com/food-insp ... n-6385113/

Darryl the DNA reporter just updated his article, I linked to, with why the owner named it this.

I thought "polak" was just the Polish word for a Polish man and that the anglicized spelling "polack" with a "c" was the slur. Maybe it's simple as the owner being Polish? Wikipedia says that in addition to its meaning as a Polish word, "Polak" is a common surname in Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and (hmmm) the United States.

Ok let me do a quick sketch. We're at the end of the meeting on Lasalle St with the head of HR and six others. My turn to buy. I lean back from the conference table and say "My treat, I'm taking you all to the new Polak Eatery at noon."

Oh, I understand your point. It's not a word I'd ever use in conversation. I just don't know if Polish people, especially ones who have it for a surname, feel the same way about it (spelled as it is in the thread title).

I'd wonder more, if they are in Chicago, how they'd pronounce their last name.

HI,

My best friend growing up and her family were Polish. Her Dad was an old time salesman with tremendous personality and a mental Roladex of jokes for all occasions. Quite a few jokes were about Pollocks (however it is spelled). People who were not Polish seemed to have a repertoire of Polish jokes, too.

When Lech Wałęsa and Solidarity came to be, Polish jokes largely came to a screaching halt. I have not heard one in years.

What is in a name today? There is a liquor store named Lush, which is no compliment to anyone walking in the door. Somebody thought it was funny, nobody seems to object and it is a prosperous business.

Apparently good taste is not something everyone strives for. You have the choice to patronize or not.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Quite a few jokes were about Pollocks

The fish?

Katie wrote:I thought "polak" was just the Polish word for a Polish man and that the anglicized spelling "polack" with a "c" was the slur. Maybe it's simple as the owner being Polish? Wikipedia says that in addition to its meaning as a Polish word, "Polak" is a common surname in Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and (hmmm) the United States.

Yep, "Polak" just means Polish man. "Polka" means Polish woman. "Polack" with the "c" is the English version that is usually regarded as a slur, but not always. It is best to avoid using "Polack" in conversation, though, unless you really know your audience. I was actually just recently shooting engagement portraits for an Indian couple from Toronto, and the groom kept referring to Polish people as "Polacks," quite obviously not realizing that it could be construed as offensive in some circles in American English. It just kind of made me chuckle to hear someone using that word completely innocently and sincerely who was not Polish or of Polish descent. I suppose I could have said something, but I didn't want to make the session awkward. (I personally don't care.)

My best friend and neighbor is Polish. I'll ask her what she thinks.

Cathy2 wrote:Apparently good taste is not something everyone strives for. You have the choice to patronize or not.

Aren't you assuming that someone who's not Polish picked that name intending to use it in poor taste? What about the alternate hypothesis that a Polish person, possibly named Polak, thought it was a perfectly respectable name for his restaurant?

Katie,

I offered an opinion, though this was from the original posters linked to article:

...
The name was intentionally chosen by Warzecha in recognition of a derogatory term about Polish people, traditionally spelled "Polack."

"Any time I mention the name to anyone I meet, especially among the American market, the reaction I get is quite fascinating. They know it’s a bit of a play," he said. "Part of my goal is to play with it in a special way."

"We call ourselves Polaks in the Polish language all the time ... I'm Polish and its not a slur to me," he said.
...

Regards,

When I first got the press release I was a bit concerned that maybe the owner didn't know that it was sometimes used as a slur.

Cathy2, I see what you mean, and I appreciate the clarification that it is not the business owner's own name and that he is, in fact, messing with people a little by picking that name.

From a language perspective, I find his last comment especially interesting: "'We call ourselves Polaks in the Polish language all the time ... I'm Polish and its not a slur to me,' he said." Curious how the actual word for a nationality in that nationality's own language came to be considered a slur.

Katie wrote:From a language perspective, I find his last comment especially interesting: "'We call ourselves Polaks in the Polish language all the time ... I'm Polish and its not a slur to me,' he said." Curious how the actual word for a nationality in that nationality's own language came to be considered a slur.

Nothing unique to this particular term. It's the context that matters, not the literal word.

Being 50 something and of Polish origin, having endured endless insults as a child using that word (or some variation) I find that name offensive. That the owner is Polish does not make it any more acceptable to me, just leads me to believe he lacks a certain taste or consideration of others.

Katie wrote: Curious how the actual word for a nationality in that nationality's own language came to be considered a slur.

Good question. It's an old word in English (dates back to the 1600s), but in North American usage in particular, it somehow became considered offensive. It doesn't really matter how--it's just that it has. (See a word like, say, "Jap," which is just a shortening of Japanese, but considered highly offensive in the US, but not much so in the UK. "Paki" probably works similarly in reverse. Extremely inflammatory in the UK, and rarely used in the US, but I have heard people use it in a completely innocent manner here not knowing just how volatile the word is.) Like I said, I personally don't take offense to it, unless preceded by the word "dumb" or obviously meant in an insulting manner, but it's not a word I would advise anyone to use casually, unless (as I said above), they really know their audience. That said, in my neighborhood, "Polack" is thrown around somewhat causally, although less so than in years back, and moreso by a generation older than me (I'm almost 40.)

If they just change the name to DP Eatery, it could then be equally offensive to a litany of European immigrants.

2 cents.

Can't wait for the food. This topic can be re-started in Other Culinary Chat if there is more remaining energy in a general discussion of names.

Matt / Santander
for the moderators

Laser focus on!

Hi,

My feeling with their hours of 7 am to 3 pm, I doubt I will ever get there.

Whenever someone takes one for the team, please report back. I'm ambivalent about the name, though I willl go with Mom2 who is willing if I can assure the food is good.

Regards,

Santander wrote:Can't wait for the food. This topic can be re-started in Other Culinary Chat if there is more remaining energy in a general discussion of names.

Matt / Santander
for the moderators

Indeed, we already have a thread waiting: Perception: Restaurant Names

OK...I visited and spoke with the co-owner Damian and I've got some details on this place:

He's aware the name is controversial and actually chose it because of that reason. He wants to spark some conversation and doesn't want to blend in with the rest of the restaurants in Chi. Damian, who grew up in Poland, said the name is not derogatory.

They are only open for breakfast and lunch now, though they intend to be open for dinner at some point. A liquor licence may be in the works once that happens, but it will be BYO in the interim.

The menu is limited for now, but will expand. They are taking it slowly to ensure quality

I tried their pierogi, egg and kielbasa breakfast. The pierogi are boiled, though they are finished in a pan I would guess with some butter to give it a crunchier bite than what you'd get at Smak-Tak. I enjoyed the kielbasa, which had a nice snap and was sourced from Bobak Sausage Co.

The buildout was quite obviously done on a budget.

Mind divulging the price of the plate in the photo? Just wondering.

Oh, and what was that pierogi stuffed with? Just potato?

kenji wrote:Mind divulging the price of the plate in the photo? Just wondering.

Oh, and what was that pierogi stuffed with? Just potato?

$6 and cheese.

Can't go wrong with that!

Hi. I am here to talk about the food. I had the same breakfast pictured above this morning. It was delicious. You should try it. Bye.

You can't really fault people for talking about the name instead of the food when the thread was titled "Polak Eatery - How's that for a Name?" by the original poster and the name was the subject of the original post. Talking about the food is actually going off-topic.

Katie wrote:You can't really fault people for talking about the name instead of the food when the thread was titled "Polak Eatery - How's that for a Name?" by the original poster and the name was the subject of the original post. Talking about the food is actually going off-topic.

That's true! People who want to talk about the food should be required to start a new topic.

riddlemay wrote:

Katie wrote:You can't really fault people for talking about the name instead of the food when the thread was titled "Polak Eatery - How's that for a Name?" by the original poster and the name was the subject of the original post. Talking about the food is actually going off-topic.

That's true! People who want to talk about the food should be required to start a new topic.

How about merging the topic? I think that any business with a somewhat controversial name should make their product be of high quality. Seeing as the name was used to attract attention (whether negative or positive), if the food is good then there's hope that this business will turn it's controversial name around. But still you can't please everybody. And I'm not polish, I had no clue what the name suggested until this thread so the main target for this name are the ones that do know its meaning. It's a risky name for a business that's what I think.