Podhalanka

Podhalanka (Website)

1549 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622

773-486-6655 (Map It)

Hours:

     Mon-Sat, 9a-8p

     Sun, 10a-7p
Podhalanka


Electrical Outlets:

None

WiFi:

None


A little food …

Two things every Hungry Physicist should remember when in the presence of a Pole – 1) Never stop them from singing nationalistic drinking songs, 2) Never put sour cream on a potato pancake.  Poles are serious when it comes to food and drink, and few places embody Polish cuisine better than Podhalanka.  In fact, they are so good I recommend ordering randomly from the menu!  Trust me.  On my visit, I ordered cucumber salad, braised beef in horseradish, and kompot.  Kompot is a fruit drink closely resembling prune juice, made with additional ingredients.  Consisting of sliced cucumber, sour cream dressing, and fresh dill the salad demonstrated that minimalist cooking is not weak cooking. As if to reinforce that point, the braised beef was a simple yet hearty entrée.  Hungry Physicists treading carefully around horseradish, don’t worry!  The lightness of the heat allows the flavor of the beef to accompany the dish.  Finally, the sauce made a delicious gravy for the side of mashed potatoes, dressed in nothing but dill. 

Polish-themed décor surround the room; flags, bright colors, and white eagles.  Many large tables would make group study an option, but studying isn’t the only activity one can engage in at a restaurant.  I know this may surprise some Hungry Physicists, but there’s a thing called “dating” that’s worth exploring.  Non-Polish speakers should exercise caution when visiting this restaurant – the two Polish grandmothers that run the place can be intimidating.  Like all grandmothers they know what’s best for you – and you might end up paying for the advice.  So, be strong and don’t let them push you around!

A little science …

Wait… you doubt how hardcore Polish grandmothers are?  Have you heard of Marie Curie?  Not only was she a Polish woman in a field dominated by men, and a pioneer in the study of radioactive decay, she discovered two radioactive elements.  That’s gutsy!  Radioactive decay occurs when some fundamental part of an atom changes – namely the number of protons or neutrons.  Changing these particles can cause an atom to become unstable.  How long the atom remains unstable is largely random, with some dependence on how “big” it is.  Eventually the atom seeks out a more stable state, usually requiring it to break apart.  This break, called fission, can produce extra sub-atomic particles that cause neighboring atoms to change.  Some samples can decay in a few seconds, others take thousands of years. Some samples produce safe byproducts, others produce harmful byproducts. Decay time and harmful byproducts make nuclear waste very dangerous.