Restaurant Relax Blog
Polish Food, Culture & Stories
Since 1997, we’ve been serving Polish food on Newel Street and collecting a few stories along the way. Stories about Polish food, culture, and traditions that traveled across the Atlantic, the dishes generations grew up with, and the holidays that still bring people together around the table.
Here, we share a little of the history, humor, and everyday life behind Polish food. You’ll find celebrations worth remembering, local Greenpoint stories, forgotten characters, familiar flavors, and the occasional confession about pierogi.
Some stories begin in Poland. Others begin right here in Brooklyn. All of them are connected by food, memory, and the people who have walked through the doors of Restaurant Relax.
Pull up a chair.
There is always another story to tell.
A Poetry Salon Celebrating Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska
Highly Recommended A Poetry Salon Celebrating Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska We highly recommend attending a special Poetry Salon celebrating the timeless and exquisite lyricism of Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska (1891–1945), one of the 20th century's most beloved...
November 11th – Polish Independence Day
🇵🇱 On November 11th we honor Poland’s rebirth as a free nation. After over a century of partitions and foreign rule, Poland regained its independence in 1918, proving that the spirit of the Polish nation can never be erased. Despite 123 years of captivity, Poles never...
Pan Fry Polish Style
Get ready to unwind the Polish way! 🇵🇱 No fuss, just the heartwarming comfort of sizzling kielbasa and golden onions. Turn up the volume and let the simple joys of life fill your soul. Sizzle your way to Relax!
Wishing you a deliciously spooky Halloween!
From our pierogi ghosts and kielbasa spiders, stay cozy, stay hungry, and stay spooky! Have a frightfully good night! 🕷️🥟🌕👻
Just take a break… and eat some goulash!
Straight from the kitchen to the stage! Here’s a little musical stew, a swingin’ ode to goulash, Cooked slow and sung loud. Because life’s better… when it bubbles!
Meet the Kopytka Family!
The heroes of one of Poland’s most delicious traditions. Kopytka, meaning “little hooves” in Polish, got their name from their small hoof-like shape. They are traditional potato dumplings that have been loved for centuries. Pillowy, tender and endlessly...
A thousand years of the Crown and the heart of Poland still beats strong
1000 Years of the Polish Kingdom In 1025, Bolesław the Brave was crowned the first King of Poland, marking the birth of the Polish Kingdom.Long before that moment, the Piast rulers had united the early tribes into one realm.In 966, the Baptism of Poland opened the way...
The Soul of Bigos
We at Relax know that making bigos isn't just a recipe. This is a cauldron of transformation. With every turn, we are weaving memories and stirring up history. We are conjuring the soul of bigos from the earth and the forest. This isn't just a dish. It's a spell, a...
International Pierogi Day
🎉 We hereby declare October 8th the official Birthday of the Pierogi! 🥟🎂 From the ancient Chinese Han dynasty to Saint Hyacinth, from medieval monasteries to Mrs. T’s first box sale, the pierogi has traveled through centuries, hearts and frying pans. No one knows the...
Polish Food, Culture & Stories
Polish food is only part of the story. Through our blog, we want to help our Greenpoint neighbors discover Polish traditions, history and the people whose memories have shaped our community. If you have an interesting family story, a memory of old Greenpoint, a Polish tradition worth preserving or a food story that deserves to be shared, we would love to hear from you. Think of it as food for thought — with real food as our way of saying thank you. If we select your original story for publication on the Restaurant Relax blog, a meal at Relax is on us.
Story Submission Guidelines
We welcome original stories connected to Polish food, traditions, family memories, Greenpoint or the history of the Polish community.
- Please begin by sending us a short description of your story idea. You do not need to write the complete article first.
- Stories must be original and should not have been copied from another publication.
- Please make sure you have permission to share any photographs, personal memories or information about other people.
- Restaurant Relax may edit submissions for clarity, length and style while preserving the meaning of the story.
- Submission does not guarantee publication. We will contact you if we would like to develop your idea for the blog.
- Authors whose original stories are selected and published will receive a complimentary meal at Restaurant Relax as our thank-you.
- By submitting your story, you give Restaurant Relax permission to publish it on our website and promote it through our digital channels.
Have a story worth sharing? Send us your idea.
Can’t make it in?
Order online. We’ll handle the rest.
Polish homemade food, made fresh and delivered to your door
