zapiekanka

plural zapiekanki · plural zapiekankas · alternative proscribed zapiekanki

1. countableuncountableA Polish fast food consisting of a baguette with mushrooms, cheese, and ketchup; may also contain vegetables and meat.

   When I first moved to Warsaw to work as a journalist, in the autumn of 1988, a zapiekanka was the most common form of street food.

   2013 January 8, Anne Applebaum, “Revolutionary eating in Poland”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 09 Jan 2013

   5 more examples

   Family-owned pushcarts now sell the ever-popular zapiekanki (hot dogs) in a major meat-producing country where city dwellers have to line up for hours for their ration of meat from half-empty state-owned food markets.

   1988 September 13, John D. Harbron, “World Affairs: Capitalism still lives”, in Standard-Freeholder, Cornwall, Ont.: Thomson Newspapers Company Limited, →ISSN, →OCLC, “Editorials – Opinions – Letters” section, page 4, column 6

   Sometimes half the Poles walking toward you down any sidewalk in Warsaw or Krakow will be eating some treat or another from their hands: Sausages in buns … Zapiekanki, which are shortbreads sliced submarine style and spread with cheese and tomato sauce and heated …

   1990 August 9, Al Stark, “Ice cream makes Poland easier to swallow”, in Hattiesburg American, Hattiesburg, Miss.: Gannett, →OCLC, page 8B, columns 2–3

   Aside from traditional make-up ingredients, one could also request the following toppings on a zapiekanka: fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, scallions, corn, mayonnaise and ketchup, and others. […] “There’s not enough access to zapiekanki in the United States,” said Pilega, who had never had one outside of Poland until that day.

   2008 September 5, Anna Spiewak, “Zapiekanka, a true taste of Poland: Clifton eatery offers favorite Polish food”, in Clifton Journal, Clifton, N.J.: North Jersey Media Group Inc., →OCLC, pages 3–4

   Even fast foods have experienced a transformation, with the old zapiekankas (grilled baguettes with cheese, mushrooms and lots of ketchup) superseded by oriental kebabs, falafels and wonderful Italian pizzas, often prepared by immigrant Italian chefs.

   2015, Maciej Zglinicki, “What to Eat”, in Poland (Insight Guides), 3rd edition, Singapore: Apa Publications, →ISBN, “Eating Out: Recommended Restaurants, Cafes & Bars” section, page 370, columns 1–2

   Poland’s favourite street snack, the zapiekanka, is a halved baguette covered in meat, cheese and vegetables, then toasted. Zapiekankas are sold from fast-food kiosks all over Poland.

   2015, Teresa Czerniewicz-Umer, Małgorzata Omilanowska, Jerzy S. Majewski, “Where to Eat and Drink”, in Poland (Eyewitness Travel), London: DK, →ISBN, “Travelers’ Needs” section, page 307, column 1