As many of you know, I love searching out and finding amazing places to eat, and or , buy great food. Not long ago I was lamenting that I wish our local Russian Orthodox Church had more than one Holiday Boutique because I was having a hankering for some Pirosksy. Not to be confused with Pierogi which they also sell but are very different. Piroshky are leavened hand-held pies which have many different spellings, including piroshki, pirozhki, and pyrizhky. They can be shaped many ways like footballs or rounded or flattened and their fillings can be meat or cabbage, potato or apples and cherries, just to name a few. I love all of them and the convenience of being able to take it with you almost anywhere is appealing to me. One of my readers told me about a place in Paramus, New Jersey that I had to try, Gormanoff’s Market . I know what you’re thinking and so was I. I try and avoid the Paramus shopping area as much as possible but checking their website revealed only one other store and that’s in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.
While getting to Gormanoff’s can be a pain, especially if you did what I did and miss one of those wonderful jug handle turns that Jersey is famous for, the overall experience is well worth any hassle you may encounter. Upon entering the store the first thing you’ll notice is a beautifully laid out display of fresh produce. Then ever so gently the wafting smell of freshly baked bread will awaken your senses. As you follow your nose you’ll come across an aisle of chocolate candies from all over the world and another aisle of Russian tea and jams. With every step I’m finding things I have never seen before, this was truly a food expedition! They carry organic as well as Halal and Kosher foods. There are packaged and canned foods from around the world too, but I’m seeking out the Pirosksy.
I walk past the bakery noticing all of the wonderful desserts and taking in the smells, but its the dizzying array of baked bread that really catches my eye. I had no idea how many different types of Rye bread there are. I counted at least a dozen different loaves, all variations of Rye. I chose a dark variety with sunflower seeds, it’s a traditional bread called Mantinga and hails from Lithuania. It’s very dense and has the wonderful flavor of molasses you get from many brown breads. Then back in the corner of the store I see what I’ve been looking for, the prepared food section!
There are soups, salads, dips, vegetables, crepes, blintzes, sausage, fish, meats, dumplings, stroganoff and yes, pirosky of every kind! I’m sure I drew suspicion as I walked up and down each isle a few times looking over the varied selection and trying to make up my mind. Most of the food is kept cold and is to be taken home and heated. I think I was suffering from sensory overload because I couldn’t make up my mind on so many items. I played it safe and went with a little stroganoff, mushroom crepe and every flavor of pirosksy they had from savory to sweet. You pay by the pound between $6.99 or $7.99 depending on which foods you chose, so be careful because it can add up quickly.
I enjoyed most of the food immensely. I’m sure that different regions of Russia have different takes on what goes inside the pirosky and I was hoping to get the meat filled one that tasted like the ones from the church, but the spicing was different and the chicken one seemed to me to be like a chicken salad wrapped in dough. While not bad, but not what I was looking for. I would recommend going back several times and trying new stuff each time. It’s a great place to experiment with foods you normally wouldn’t get to eat. They have a huge variety of frozen dumplings that seemed to be very popular with the regulars. There’s also an incredible fish market of mostly smoked or dried fish and caviar. The butcher shop has amazing people behind the counter willing to answer any questions you have about the various meats that aren’t mainstream.
If you have a sense of adventure and an hour or so to explore, I would really recommend you go to Gormanoff’s (221 Route 4 Paramus, NJ 07652). You can do most of your grocery shopping there at the same time. It might be better if you take along a Russian friend who can explain what things are. I bought a bottle of Kvass with a monk on the front and the only writing I could make out was 1.5%. This is a drink made from rye bread and is fermented which is what the 1.5% was(the alcohol content). It was interesting and grew on me. The dairy section also has many great items, so take your time shop around and bring home some tasty treats from Russia and the world. Until next time, Dastvedanya, from Boone Appétit!
Ok, now I’m officially salivating. It makes braving Paramus Shopping area traffic worth it by the looks of it! Thanks for taking such great photos of the food.
Thanks Bets, I hope you give it a try and report back, we’d love to know what you chose to try.