STAMFORD, Vt. — Longtime resident Wojciech Rum had enough of traveling great distances to get the quality cuisine of his homeland, so he brought a little slice of Poland to Stamford.

 

"I have been living here for some time and there are not many Polish food establishments here…I felt that we could open something here," Rum said. "It’s almost a personal thing. If you cannot get the food in the store than just bring in the store."

 

So Rum utilized some space in his property on 180 Main Road in which he runs his other business, Four Seasons Images Inc. The result is the 180 Polish Roadside Grill. (A detailed website and Facebook page with information are planned soon.)

 

"We thought why not open here we have room and I think it is a nice property that we have here," he said. "We basically at the spur of the moment just went for it."

 

Rum said he only opened two weeks ago and is still testing the waters. He referred to the current menu as "Polish 101" and folks can expect cornerstone Polish dishes like kapusta, golumpki and pierogi.

 

He plans to add different traditional Polish dishes as specials and if they become favorites, they may get a permanent place on the menu. 

 

Much of the food is made in-house but what is brought in is only of the highest quality, he said.

 

"We did some research and got good contacts for good quality smoked meats from Chicago," Rum said. "In Chicago and near Wisconsin you have Polish farms that raise cattle and pork and then it is processed through Polish channels down to the store … they do it the old-fashioned way."

 

He hopes to change some peoples’ misconceptions about Polish food. 

 

"People think of Polish food as basically heavy and lardy, which can be true, but there is a huge portion of Polish cuisine that is not only vegetarian but vegan," he said. "Like our sauerkraut mushroom pierogi. ...

   

"I travel a lot around the world and what I found out is that the simplest food is usually the best because it relies on ingenuity."

 

There is currently only outdoor seating with shaded areas if people want to sit and eat. The eatery does plan to be open year-round and Rum would like to have an indoor lounge area during the winter months.

 

Rum noted that there is a large Polish community in North County and although he is over the state line he believes they will make the trip.

 

"We are a little bit out of the way but if you build it they will come," he said. "Our slogan is: do a 180, get back to flavor."

 

Rum also hopes those who never had Polish cuisine will give it a shot.

 

"There are 15 or 16 pizza places in a five-mile radius from the center of North Adams (Mass.) and there are a few Mexican and oriental restaurants and I think people long for something different," he said. "This it is good, it is wholesome, it is down to earth, and flavorful. 

 

"That is the reason why they should try it and they must."