How to Order at a Ukrainian Deli in Canada

Learning how to order at a Ukrainian deli in Canada starts with a plan, but stay flexible: most delis sell prepared foods by the piece or by weight. Perogies, holubtsi cabbage rolls, kovbasa and borscht fill the case. Ask for a taste, buy small amounts of several things and ask how to cook them.

A Polish deli in Canada overlaps with a Ukrainian one but has its own signature items, so compare the sausages by buying a small amount of several. Say please and thank you, and buy bread the day it is baked.

How to order at a Ukrainian deli counter

Most delis sell prepared foods by the piece or by weight. You wait at a counter, point to what you want and tell the server how much. Many items are sold fresh in trays and others frozen in bags. Some delis have a small lunch counter or a few tables.

Come with a plan, but stay flexible. A good first order for two people is a dozen perogies, two cabbage rolls, a ring of sausage and a loaf of rye, which makes a meal for two evenings. Ask for sour cream and fried onions on the side, and a small container of dill pickles if you have room in the bag. The case may hold dishes you have never seen. Ask the person behind the counter what is best today. They will usually give you a small taste or a story.

What are perogies, and how do you buy them by the dozen?

Perogies (also spelled pyrohy or varenyky) are half-moon dumplings of dough filled with potato, cheese, sauerkraut, mushroom, cottage cheese or fruit. Perogies by the dozen is the standard way to buy them. A dozen is twelve pieces, enough for two people as a main course with sides.

Ask whether they are fresh or frozen, and how to cook them. Boil until they float, then fry in butter with onions for a golden crust. Serve with sour cream. Choose a mixed bag to try several fillings.

What are holubtsi cabbage rolls?

Holubtsi cabbage rolls are cabbage leaves wrapped around a filling of rice, sometimes with meat or buckwheat, baked in a tomato sauce. The leaves are tender, the rice is soft and the sauce is slightly sweet and sour. They are a staple of holiday tables and church suppers.

Buy them by the piece or by the tray. Reheat in the oven with a little sauce, covered with foil, until hot. Serve with sour cream and bread. Ask whether the rolls contain meat if you eat vegetarian.

What else is in the case?

Look for kovbasa (garlic sausage, sold by weight), borscht (beet soup, served hot or cold), nalysnyky (thin crepes filled with cheese and baked), pampushky (garlic buns), potato pancakes, pickled beets and herring. Dessert items may include poppy seed rolls and honey cake.

Order a small amount of several things instead of a large amount of one. Ordering by weight or by the dozen is the same logic as at any deli counter. If you do not know a word, point and ask.

What should you look for in a Ukrainian bakery in Canada?

A Ukrainian bakery in Canada sells breads and sweets that mark the calendar. Look for rye bread, braided loaves, poppy seed rolls, honey cake (medivnyk), cheese pastries and paska, the tall decorated bread eaten at Easter. Many bakeries sell perogies and cabbage rolls, too.

Buy bread the day it is baked. Ask whether the sweets contain nuts. A bakery with a line of regulars at opening time is a good sign.

How does a Polish deli in Canada compare?

A Polish deli Canada wide overlaps with a Ukrainian one but has its own signature items. Expect pierogi (the Polish spelling), kielbasa in many varieties, bigos (a hunter's stew of cabbage and meats), żurek (a sour rye soup), smoked meats, cold cuts, pickles, rye bread and makowiec, a poppy seed roll. Paczki, filled doughnuts, appear before Lent.

Compare the sausages by buying a small amount of several. Ask for the smoked kind if you want a deeper flavour. The Saskatchewan comfort food guide explains how these dishes fit into Prairie cooking.

What are the small etiquette points?

Say please and thank you. Be patient, since the person serving may be elderly, and the line may move slowly. Bring cash, since some small delis do not accept cards. Bring a cooler bag in warm weather if you are buying meat or dairy.

Do not be shy about asking for a taste. Many delis offer one. Learn a few words: "dyakuyu" means thank you in Ukrainian, and "dziękuję" in Polish. A small effort is warmly received.

How do you cook what you bring home?

Follow the counter's advice. Keep frozen items frozen until needed. Pan fry perogies in butter and onion. Reheat cabbage rolls in a covered dish. Serve borscht with sour cream and dill. A simple meal of perogies, sausage and pickles is easy to make and feeds a table.

For more ideas, the Canada guides hub lists regional pages, and the guide to finding good food in a new city in Canada shows where to look.

Back in your kitchen, get the Mosey app, rate the perogies, rolls and bread you brought home and build a list of the delis and bakeries worth a regular stop.