Mushrooms, Folklore and the Polish Diaspora in Britain: Foraged Feasts and Festivities in Polish Communities
When looking into Polish cuisine it is impossible to ignore the mushroom. Unlike many Western European countries who often have dubious feelings about any mushroom not cleaned, shrink wrapped and found on the shelves of the local Tesco, forest mushrooms are a trademark of Poland's national culinary heritage 1 . Men selling mushrooms in 1931. Photo: szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl 3/1/0/8/5654 For the Polish migrants, moving to a new country without access or the financial means to access their local food and culinary traditions can add to feelings of isolation as Brown and Paszkiewicz discovered in their 2017 study on the role of food in the adjustment journey for recent Polish migrants coming to Britain since the expansion of the EU in 2004 2 . Finding familiar food and ingredients in the local Polish shop can bring with it a sense of comfort and a link to home. Polish shops and access to familiar food are more than just a business opportunity for new migrants, they are a vital part of e
