Fried Bologna, Butter Lambs & Pussy Willows

April 9, 2014

I proud to say I can cross off a couple more things off my To-Do List for Buffalo! First, I finally got my paws on a Fried Bologna sandwich. I don't know why I started obsessing over the idea that I needed to consume one but it's been on my mind for at least half a year. Maybe the influence came from this little blurb on how Fried Bologna is a favorite amongst Buffalonians.

My only prior experience with bologna has been with the Oscar Mayer variety. It's pungent in a not so pleasant way but it will forever take me back to my elementary school days of sack lunches. The other day, I found myself at the local favorite, Broadway Public Market, staring at a vendor proudly displaying Fried Bologna on their menu. Well, I couldn't say no.

How'd it taste? It was less stinky than the memory of Oscar Mayer's and reminiscent of a mild hot dog. The real stand out was the fried onions. Overall it was flavorful, greasy and pretty tasty. Just beware, it will be hard to get rid of that onion flavor from your palate.
So a few words on the Broadway Public Market: it's an indoor market that springs to life around Easter, with heaps of vendors selling holiday treats (and the Easter Bunny also makes an appearance). The market has been around for 125 years and filled deep with Eastern European influence. (I went there once during the off season, and it was a pretty sad looking, empty place). Imagine stands of culinary treats (flavored pasta, chocolate bunnies, etc) and even a whole stand devoted to Polish themed trinkets. 
located at: 999 Broadway, Buffalo, New York
The Broadway Market is also home to Malczewski's Butter Lambs. My mind was blown when I first heard about the butter lamb last year. It's a lamb sculpted in butter, which is a staple at Easter dinner in Eastern European homes. Since Buffalo is so rich with Eastern European influence, butter lambs are omnipresent during the season. I guess nothing says Easter like a butter lamb around these neck of the woods.

I purchased my first butter lamb and sadly broke off its Alleluia flag but have been happily using it for cooking. 
To round out my Broadway Market experience, I grabbed some pussy willows to further celebrate Easter the Buffalo way. Buffalo is known for their post-Easter Monday celebration, known as Dyngus Day. Dyngus Day has been around for over a thousand years and the pussy willow tradition started in Poland when young boys wanted to grab the attention of girls by smacking them with a pussy willow (or even pouring water on them). Girls would reciprocate by also smacking the boys with pussy willows. 
My pussy willows are decorating my apartment but maybe come Dyngus Day, an unsuspecting male will get smacked with one. (cue maniacal laugh). 




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