If
you like organic, local produce, baked goods, and other healthy food items,
then head to the BioBazar in Warsaw.
The
BioBazar, held every Wednesday and Saturday in a pre-WWII factory building, is
one of my favorite markets where I can purchase unique products such as butternut squash, coconut
oil, kale, seasonal mushrooms, tomatillos, millet, quinoa, gluten-free noodles
and more.
I
use all these seasonal ingredients at home to make dinners that feature items
like green salads, mushroom risotto, homemade tortillas with a tomatillo salsa
or a Cypriot eggplant and lamb casserole.
Every
week, you never know what might be available or in season. Right now, the
market is full of Polish apples and fresh apple juice.
What
I find most interesting about this space is that the BioBazar takes place in a
crumbling pre-WWII building that is surrounded by new skyscrapers and the new
metro line all in the city center.
The
former Norblin
and Company, originally started in 1820, produced metal candleholders,
table decorations and cooking equipment and later metal prefabrications for
more than 100 years. The buildings were badly damaged during WWII; some were
torn down, and others were turned into museum spaces and a theater for awhile.
Today, you can still wander around and see the old assembly lines and some of the
machinery.
There
are fewer and fewer spaces like this remaining in Warsaw. To me, this is what makes
Warsaw interesting.
A
few months ago, I saw some fancy new posters go up touting ArtNorblin,
a new development that will turn the old factory buildings into a gigantic
retail and office space. It looks like some of the brick façade will be
incorporated into the new design. Hopefully! The website says the site still will
be home to the BioBazar as well as a new Norblin Factory Museum.
Before
these buildings get “destroyed,” why not stop by the BioBazar and see a bit of
Warsaw’s pre-WWII history in person. You also can pick up some delicious,
organic produce!
 |
| Inside the BioBazar on a recent Saturday. |
Locations:
BioBazar in Warsaw
ul.
Żelazna 51/53
Open: 10-18 Wednesdays & 8-16 Saturdays
Website: facebook.com/BioBazar.Warszawa
Open: 10-18 Wednesdays & 8-16 Saturdays
Website: facebook.com/BioBazar.Warszawa
BioBazar
in Katowice
ul.
Bracka 20
Open: 8-16 Saturdays
Website: facebook.com/BioBazar.Katowice
Website: facebook.com/BioBazar.Katowice
6 comments:
I never imagined Warsaw had so many amazing places. I hardly scratched the surface while I was there. Such a fantastic city.
Always reasons to revisit Warsaw! :-) Many people's first impressions of Warsaw is that it's ugly once you step out of Old Town. I say the beauty simply is hidden...among the old, ugly Soviet-era buildings!
This Place looks good to visit..specially for food lovers.
I couldn't agree more Joy, the beauty isn't what you see but what you find. I have a few photos I took of Norblin when the little guard let us sneak in 5 years ago. http://garthsgranduer.blogspot.com/2009/04/sunday-strolls.html It was before they really cleared it out. There aren't so many photos as I was still shooting on film in those days! God, I am soooo old.
Great photos, Garth! As if Warsaw needs another shopping mall or Biedronka, but hopefully the developers will preserve some of the historic Norblin building.
We also walked by the old Hala Kosczyki this weekend and saw all the new destruction....oh I mean, construction happening there. :-(
It definitely is!
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