For Polish holidays in the Poconos, you can shop at Krakus Deli in Mount Pocono. For Christmas, think cold cuts, bread and products from Poland; for Easter, ham, kielbasa, bread and babka for the święconka basket blessed on Holy Saturday. Call ahead to confirm specific items.
Celebrating far from Poland has its charm, and its challenges. The family wants the table to look “just like home,” yet the Polish neighborhoods of New York City and New Jersey are a long drive away.
The good news is that most traditional foods are available locally, in Mount Pocono. Below are answers to the questions that come up every year before Christmas and Easter.
What should I buy at a Polish store for Wigilia?
Wigilia, the Polish Christmas Eve supper, is traditionally meatless, and every family plans its own menu. At the store you can pick up the basics: fresh bread from Polish bakeries in New Jersey and New York and products from Poland.
Call ahead to check the availability of specific products before the holidays. Selection depends on deliveries, and a quick call helps you plan the menu without surprises.
Tradition calls for twelve dishes on the Wigilia table, so the shopping list can get long. Write it down a few days ahead and split it into what you can buy early and what needs to be fresh.
What about the Christmas Day table?
After Wigilia comes the time for meat. The store has szynka (ham), kielbasa (Polish sausage), boczek (smoked pork belly), kabanosy (thin dry-smoked pork sausages) and fresh cold cuts for breakfast, a cold platter or sandwiches for guests. Buy holiday cold cuts a day or two ahead so they are still fresh on Christmas Day.
If you are expecting a big family, ask about cold cuts ahead of time. For tips on keeping them fresh through December 26, see our guide to Polish cold cuts and kielbasa in the Poconos.
What goes into the święconka Easter basket?
Święconka is the basket of food Polish families take to church to be blessed on Holy Saturday. It traditionally holds bread, kielbasa or ham, eggs, salt and a piece of cake. From the store you will mainly need bread, kielbasa, ham and babka from a Polish bakery.
Most families already have eggs, salt and pepper at home. Here is the catch: on Holy Saturday everyone wants to make it before the blessing, so it is safest to shop a day or two earlier.
The basket is usually lined with a white napkin and decorated with a sprig of boxwood. It does not have to be large; what matters is the symbol, not the amount of food.
What should I serve for Easter breakfast?
Ham, kielbasa and boczek are Easter table classics. Add bread, rolls and babka, a sweet yeast cake; the store carries baked goods from bakeries in New Jersey and New York, including Syrena Bakery.
Demand for baked goods is usually higher before the holidays, so ask about babka early. Read more about them in our guide to Polish bread and paczki in Mount Pocono.
When is the best time to do holiday shopping?
Polish stores are usually busier than normal right before the holidays. It is wise to shop a few days ahead and pick up perishable items closer to the holiday.
The store is open seven days a week. Holiday hours may differ, so confirm them by phone before you go. Ask about holiday products and hours: 570-839-3605.
Can I send a package to family in Poland at the same time?
Yes. The store ships packages to Poland through Polamer, by sea or by air. If gifts need to arrive before the holidays, send them well in advance.
Phone cards also come in handy before the holidays, for calls with loved ones in Poland. Our guide to shipping a package to Poland from Pennsylvania explains how to prepare and pack a parcel.
Do your holiday shopping at Krakus Deli Polish Specialties, 22 Sterling Road, Mount Pocono, PA 18344. Staff speak Polish and English. Call to check holiday availability: 570-839-3605.
Store details and contact information are listed in the Krakus Deli profile in the Polish Pages directory.
This guide is for informational purposes only. The store’s selection depends on deliveries; please confirm the availability of specific items by phone before the holidays.
Syrena Bakery and Polamer are trademarks of their respective owners. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Polish Pages and Poland.us are not affiliated with or endorsed by these companies.
