It is incomprehensible that you weren’t aware of Superman, the original Superman, the error on the Lake, nba fumble, the shot, the Hall of Fame, LeBron James and the reigning NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers, or any of these other famous people. Now I’m starting to feel bad. Anyway, the “Polish Boy” is one Cleveland-related phenomenon that you likely have never heard of.
No, it’s not an Eastern European boy band. A “Polish Boy” is a kind of sausage sandwich that’s often constructed with smoked, char-grilled kielbasa that’s been placed into a huge hotdog bun, drenched in sweet and sour barbecue sauce, and topped with French fries and chilled, creamy coleslaw.
I promise you, it’s excellent.
It has captured the attention of even Esquire Magazine, which dubbed it “soul on white”—as in white bread. Additionally, Wendy Williams acknowledged its grandeur on her show bearing the same name.
Despite how well-liked they are, Polish Boys can be slightly difficult to locate according to where in the city you are. When I was a child, we used to get these from the numerous sidewalk sellers downtown outside the stadium on our way to Cleveland Indians games. Nowadays, “Seti’s” is your best choice. It’s a mobile dining establishment that’s often stationed outside Dean Supply, a store that supplies restaurants in the town of Redwood Ave. The majority of soul food establishments, like B&M’s as Hot Sauce Williams, provide both the traditional dish and their own unique spin on it.
If Polish Boys are so excellent, why haven’t I heard of them, you may be asking.
Well, as opposed to other American cities that are well-known for their cuisine and offer favorites like:
Pink’s wags in Los Angeles, Po ‘Boys by Nawlins’ in New Orleans, or even Philly Cheese steaks in Philadelphia. There is not much hype, and there is a lot of respect for the brilliance, as with most things from Cleveland. But those in the know attend and enjoy a wonderful treat, missing out on snobs and the less educated. Just keep in mind to bring plenty of napkins!
Are you feeling daring? Try making a sandwich at home and bring a bit of Cleveland in with you.
The basic materials and directions for about 4 burgers are shown below:
You will require:
- Two pounds of split, cleaned, and peeled potatoes, cooked in canola oil with salt
- 4 boiling links of smoked beef kielbasa. (Optional): following a quick deep fry, after boiling
- 4 hoagie rolls with white bread
- Coleslaw, either prepared at home or purchased.
Use of spicy sauce can render it more genuine. * BBQ Sauce.