100% Worth the Drive to Whiting, Indiana

By Laura Oppenheimer in Food on Jul 27, 2007 3:00PM

You haven't truly lived until you've seen a grown man dressed up as pierogi, or that what Chicagoist's parents always told us when we were growing up. Take the trip to Whiting, Indiana this weekend for Pierogi Fest and we can guarantee that not only will you see a life-sized pierogi walking around, but you will also eat lots and lots of pierogi. The little doughy dumplings can be prepared in a number of ways with a variety of sweet and savory fillings, but Chicagoist is a classicist when it comes to pierogi; we like our filled with cabbage, potato or cheese. No strawberries for us!

If you aren't heading to Whiting (and really, you should), Chicago's food media has been on the pierogi beat in the city this week. Time Out Chicago goes on a pierogi-eating mission with Steve Zavesky, two-time pierogi eating–contest champion at the Fest. Zavesky's verdict? Smak-Tak on 5961 N. Elston Ave. “These are dripping in butter," he told TOC. "This is as close to my mom’s as any we’ve tried.”

The Sun-Times' list of pierogi places doesn't tell you when is the best (or worst), so use with caution (there is nothing worse that a doughy yet dry polish dumpling). Chicagoist has been to a few of these "gems" and we are sad to report that not all of them or worth returning to.

Where do you head to when you want to eat pierogi like grandma used to make?