HI,
Thank you, Jane Franklin for posting on this.
If you are travelling on 355 on a Saturday between 8 am and 2 pm, this is an easy-on and -off location. Located just one-half mile west of 355 on the south side of the street, this church is an easily seen landmark. The food sales are across the driveway in a multi-purpose building. All sales are cash only, which benefit their church.
These are indeed the best handmade pierogi, especially for six dollars a dozen. We were impressed by the tenderness of the outer shell, because sometimes it can be rubbery. These come in three varieties: a lightly sweetened cheese (could be used for dessert with a fruit sauce), potato and sauerkraut. I overheard last week, they have offered meat. If you call a week in advance, they might have meat available.
Church volunteers make the fillings on Friday. On Saturday, they assemble and cook the pierogi. You pick them up hot to take home. Just before Easter, they were also offering frozen.
Two-12-ounce smoked Polish sausages for $9. They are fully cooked, thus you may eat them out of hand or use for cooking later.
They have meat and rice filled stuffed cabbage for $2. each. My Dad loved these, I was not as smitten. Rice and tomato dominate the filling, I had to ask if there was really meat. I suggest buying at least one to see if you like it.
Tender and lightly sweet kolaches are offered for 75 cents each, though they do run out as the day progresses.
They offer Ukrainian rye bread for $4, which you may want to try. It was a bit light on the rye flavor for my family.
I visited the day before Easter, when they had their Easter Bazaar. They had a broader range of baked goods: fruit and poppy seed filled cakes and cookies, meat or cabbage filled pieroshki and three sizes of babkas: jumbo, family and individual. All were priced reasonably with the option to buy whole or slices.
They also had smoke ham and bacon made for them by a Carol Stream butcher.
While they encourage ordering in advance, I have come twice to buy on the spot. On my first visit, people were ordering for Easter. I learned they might not take phone orders, because they were already heavily committed. Phoning an order the week of important religious holiday may be too late.
I certainly hope this weekly benefit is as successful as the church benefit donuts sold at the Oak Park farmer's market.
Regards,