Bar mleczny

The bar mleczny ( German: milk bar, also known as Polish milk bar ) is a gastronomic self-service restaurant and the Polish variant of a milk bar. There, non-alcoholic drinks and food all day ( and produced ) were sold, which originate from the traditional Polish cuisine. The name " milk bar " comes from the time when food from milk, dairy products and vegetarian dishes were offered there mainly. Over the years, however, prevailed and meat dishes. The idea for an inexpensive eatery was created in 1896 and spread rapidly between the two world wars. During the period of socialist People's Republic of Poland, milk bars of mass catering wider strata of the population served. Since 1989, in Poland the free market economy was introduced, had to give up a lot of bars.

History

1896-1944

The bar mleczny is a Polish idea, although it is contrary to the widespread opinion older than the former People's Republic of Poland. The tradition of inexpensive vegetarian restaurants dates back to the end of the 19th century. Stanisław Dłużewski opened early in 1896, the first milk bar, the dairy Mleczarnia Nadświdrzańska. She was profitable in a central location in Warsaw, in the street Nowy Swiat 11 (" New World " 11), one of the most popular promenade and shopping streets of the city. The landowner and farmer offered vegetarian dishes based on milk, eggs and flour. Quick gained great popularity with the idea to offer meatless food at a reasonable price, and other companies opened similar facilities. After Poland regained independence in 1918 during the Second Republic, the popularity of milk bars grew. Powered by the food crisis in the postwar period, the cheap eateries spread across the country. Ministerial decrees regulated the size, composition, prices and even the number of meals. The regulation of not more than two meals per head and the prohibition to issue finished dishes in the window, should prevent wastage. The bar mleczny allowed so many needy citizens with access to affordable meals.

People's Republic of Poland (1944-1989)

Their greatest heyday bar mleczny in the time of the socialist People's Republic of Poland, which existed from 1944 until the end of the Eastern Bloc in 1989. After World War II, the communist authorities attacked the idea on to feed the population inexpensive and vegetarian, because meat was regarded almost as a luxury commodity. Most restaurants, including the Polish milk bars were nationalized. In the time Gomulka "little stabilization" in the sixties was organized the milk bars in the food cooperative Społem (Polish: Spółdzielni Spożywców Społem ). The prevailing idea at that time was to make all the people cheap meals near their workplaces. The price of the meals was kept low through subsidies, and food was available to everyone immediately. Thus, the milk bars was a great opportunity to provide workers of companies without cafeteria food. If you wanted to eat something in the milk bar, you had often first at the box office and then still at the switch queue. In 1978 it was calculated that 35.5 places accounted for in restaurants in Poland to 1000 people. Led by Społem was decided that too little. It was the plan to expand the public catering. They wanted with tiny milk bars, so-called gosposie ( German: the housekeepers ), creating a vast network and build great restaurants, who possessed 100 seats. But the ambitions of the gigantic project could not meet because there was a lack of space and determination to enforce the plan. But above all there was a lack of food in the shops. The problem becomes exacerbated during the Polish state of emergency at the beginning of the eighties, was rationed than meat.

Break from 1989 to today

Since the introduction of the free market economy in 1989, the Poles enjoy a culinary variety, as it did not exist before. In the course of many milk bars had to give up because they did not have the same appeal that offered the new private restaurants. The operation was often too old, there was a lack of waiters and the simple equipment was not appealing enough. Most milk bars were converted into ordinary mini- restaurants. From nearly 40,000 such bar mleczny that there was at times the People's Republic of Poland still are today about 140 remained. Some have survived because they now offer meat dishes, improves the quality of the offer and the prices have increased. In addition, the Polish government subsidizes the milk bars each year, with several million euros (but only vegetarian products, which is why meat dishes are a bit more expensive). The cities and municipalities provide the premises and pay for part also electricity and gas. Thanks to this help, it is possible that prices, even if they have gone up, which still are at a low level. In recent years, the grants for the Polish milk bars are, however, declined significantly. Therefore, the number of Polish milk bars continues to decline. The bar mleczny is thus a rather dying institution.

Food and Drink

The food bar mleczny consists of dishes and dishes of Polish cuisine, which is traditionally hearty and rich in fat. In this case, the offer is no longer limited in contrast to earlier times of scarcity on meatless diet The basic structure still make food from milk, dairy products, eggs ( for example, pancake ), grits and flour. Although the meals are very cheap, the preparation of the dishes is very labor intensive, which is why newly notified kitchen staff often give up the job. In the fifties you still selling beer in some of the premises, later no more alcohol was basically offered. In the socialist era, there were rare except ice creams desserts as desserts were considered bourgeois and thus considered disreputable. Typical of the Bar mleczny include the following traditional dishes:

• Bigos, a Schmoreintopf from sauerkraut and cabbage
• Pierogi ( " pierogi " ), semi-circular dumplings with various fillings
• Barszcz, a clear deep red soup made from fermented beetroot
• Żur or Żurek, a sour and spicy soup made ​​from fermented flour
• Kasza, a buckwheat groats
• Kotlet schabowy, pork chop with various supplements

Human Role in Poland

Especially in the period of socialism formed the milk bars not only a convenient and cheap alternative to eating at home, but were also a center of social life. Nevertheless, they were criticized and ridiculed. Your bad reputation they owe mainly to the economy at the service, the reduced range of simple food and simple interior design. The institution is aware of the latest generation of old movies, old jokes and grandmotherly tales. So, in 1980, the cult film comedy Miś ( German: the teddy bear ) by Stanisław Bareja. One of the most famous scenes in Polish cinema history plays there in a bar mleczny. The place seemed almost to be a symbol of poverty and to stand for the absurdities of so-called real socialism. As part of the nostalgia milk bars attain again a new popularity, even if there are fewer workers today, but rather the unemployed, pensioners and also students who are counted for loyal customers. For many young Poles have now even iconic. You can not remember the time of the long queues and the food is rationed. Some visit the bar mleczny because they add a touch of the socialist past for the duration of a meal reflects their guests and because it is often the " last bastion " of traditional Polish cuisine.