Angielski (ENG) 
Polski (PL) 
I'm a meat lover
Marty is a member of Slovak and Czech non-governmental organizations. He also works with informal groups of young people. In the past, he was the leader of one of such groups - Marty for you. In youth projects, Marty is most often involved in leading teams. In his work in non-governmental organizations, he also dealt with foreign EVS volunteers, preparation and implementation of various types of local events. He is an experienced Human Library activist at the local and international level. Today, however, we'll talk about something different...
Andrzej Smyk: Hi Marty. If you don’t mind, we won't talk about work today ;-)
Marty: OK, I won't mind :)
AS: You told me you were working on developing a YouTube channel about cooking. How did you come to that?
M: I don’t know exactly. One day I woke up and realized that I can shoot videos when I’m cooking. Anyway I like postproduction of movies/photos.
AS: Does your channel have a special food theme or you will just cook whatever you like there? So far I saw traditional Slovak dishes there...
M: It depends what I plan during the week. I’m picking one dish for YouTube usually.
AS: Slovakia is Poland's neighbor. All in all, we could have similar culinary traditions. I personally see more connections with Hungarian or Romanian traditions in Slovak kitchen. You've been to Romania, Hungary and Poland. What's your opinion on that?
M: I think that we share some culinary traditions with Poland and Hungary. For example: We have 'pierogy', tomato soup like in Poland, but also goulash like in Hungary. It depends where in Slovakia you live. With Romania, I’m not sure. They have 'bryndza' (sheep's milk cheese) but it is a bit different than ours.
Marty presents how to prepare goulash:
Marty: OK, I won't mind :)
AS: You told me you were working on developing a YouTube channel about cooking. How did you come to that?
M: I don’t know exactly. One day I woke up and realized that I can shoot videos when I’m cooking. Anyway I like postproduction of movies/photos.
AS: Does your channel have a special food theme or you will just cook whatever you like there? So far I saw traditional Slovak dishes there...
M: It depends what I plan during the week. I’m picking one dish for YouTube usually.
AS: Slovakia is Poland's neighbor. All in all, we could have similar culinary traditions. I personally see more connections with Hungarian or Romanian traditions in Slovak kitchen. You've been to Romania, Hungary and Poland. What's your opinion on that?
M: I think that we share some culinary traditions with Poland and Hungary. For example: We have 'pierogy', tomato soup like in Poland, but also goulash like in Hungary. It depends where in Slovakia you live. With Romania, I’m not sure. They have 'bryndza' (sheep's milk cheese) but it is a bit different than ours.
Marty presents how to prepare goulash:
AS: And what is a difference between Romanian and Slovak 'bryndza'?
M: I saw in their shops that it has different consistency.
M: I saw in their shops that it has different consistency.
AS: What do you like to cook the most and what is your signature dish?
M: I’m a meat lover. I like to cook everything from meat. The best is schnitzel :D. Also I like to try dishes from other countries. Example: Supa pomidorowa. The best from Poland :)
Meat dish? Here you can see Marty’s proposition:
M: I’m a meat lover. I like to cook everything from meat. The best is schnitzel :D. Also I like to try dishes from other countries. Example: Supa pomidorowa. The best from Poland :)
Meat dish? Here you can see Marty’s proposition:
AS: But you told that you also have tomato soup in Slovakia. So what is so special about this Polish one?
M: Our tomato soup is more sweet than salty.
AS: And what is the least tasty part of Polish culinary tradition in your opinion?
M: I don’t like buckwheat.
AS: What’s wrong with it? It’s healthy... :D
M: Not for me :)
AS: We need to talk about 'bryndzowe haluszki' on a deeper level ;-) Can you tell us what it is and what are the versions of this dish in Slovakia?
M: 'Bryndzové Halušky' is a traditional Slovak food. Made from very small dumplings, sheep cheese, sour cream and fat. The dough is made from potatoes, flour and water. And we have tool for making 'halušky' :) The best bryndza – sheep cheese, you can buy is in region of Liptov or Orava. I would also advice to try this dish in typical traditional Slovak restaurant called 'Saláš'. Polish translation of 'Saláš' would be 'Chata'.
M: Our tomato soup is more sweet than salty.
AS: And what is the least tasty part of Polish culinary tradition in your opinion?
M: I don’t like buckwheat.
AS: What’s wrong with it? It’s healthy... :D
M: Not for me :)
AS: We need to talk about 'bryndzowe haluszki' on a deeper level ;-) Can you tell us what it is and what are the versions of this dish in Slovakia?
M: 'Bryndzové Halušky' is a traditional Slovak food. Made from very small dumplings, sheep cheese, sour cream and fat. The dough is made from potatoes, flour and water. And we have tool for making 'halušky' :) The best bryndza – sheep cheese, you can buy is in region of Liptov or Orava. I would also advice to try this dish in typical traditional Slovak restaurant called 'Saláš'. Polish translation of 'Saláš' would be 'Chata'.
AS: Haha, good that you provided the translation. The Polish word 'szałas' refers to a much simpler residential structure ;-). Now you live in Košice, but have been to the Czech Republic many times and also lived there. What are the differences when it comes to culinary traditions between Czechs and Slovaks?
M: Czechs and Slovaks have a lot of similar culinary traditions. For sure they have too many versions of dumplings :D
AS: Is there any dish which you tried in Czech Republic, but you would never say it is Slovak tradition?
M: Pork, cabbage, dumplings. This is typical for Czechs.
AS: What traditional snacks do Slovaks eat when watching a hockey match on TV?
M: Honestly? I’m not watching Ice hockey. But I used to go to watch games when I was younger. And of course you drink beer when you go there. But I think, potato chips are more than welcome too.
AS: Now let's talk about vegetables. Potatoes are probably the most popular in Poland, and onion is the queen in the Lubelskie region. Do you have a favorite vegetable that you like to cook or add to your dishes? And do Slovaks have a vegetable that they most often add to their dishes?
M: What is vegetables? :D ...But I’m using too much garlic, and as a base of dish, onion. I don’t think we have vegetable typical for us. Our food is more based on legume (lentils, beans, peas…), potatoes too, and food made from flour.
AS: It's nice to eat tasty, but it's not always healthy. What is in your opinion the tastiest unhealthy dish and the best healthy dish?
M: I’m fan of McDonald’s and KFC :D Healthy food? What’s that? :D
M: Czechs and Slovaks have a lot of similar culinary traditions. For sure they have too many versions of dumplings :D
AS: Is there any dish which you tried in Czech Republic, but you would never say it is Slovak tradition?
M: Pork, cabbage, dumplings. This is typical for Czechs.
AS: What traditional snacks do Slovaks eat when watching a hockey match on TV?
M: Honestly? I’m not watching Ice hockey. But I used to go to watch games when I was younger. And of course you drink beer when you go there. But I think, potato chips are more than welcome too.
AS: Now let's talk about vegetables. Potatoes are probably the most popular in Poland, and onion is the queen in the Lubelskie region. Do you have a favorite vegetable that you like to cook or add to your dishes? And do Slovaks have a vegetable that they most often add to their dishes?
M: What is vegetables? :D ...But I’m using too much garlic, and as a base of dish, onion. I don’t think we have vegetable typical for us. Our food is more based on legume (lentils, beans, peas…), potatoes too, and food made from flour.
AS: It's nice to eat tasty, but it's not always healthy. What is in your opinion the tastiest unhealthy dish and the best healthy dish?
M: I’m fan of McDonald’s and KFC :D Healthy food? What’s that? :D
AS: The last question. When I talk to people from other countries about Polish dishes, there is one thing that shocks everyone, no matter where they come from. Everyone believes that this is a scandal and a crime. What do you think about pasta with strawberries?
M: The thing is that we used to put fruits inside dumplings, but regular pasta with fruits? It is a crime. Like pineapple on pizza :D
M: The thing is that we used to put fruits inside dumplings, but regular pasta with fruits? It is a crime. Like pineapple on pizza :D
AS: Thank you for the interview, good luck with development of the channel and see you at work! ;-)
M: Thanks also :) See you.
M: Thanks also :) See you.
If you want to stay tuned with Marty's culinary propositions, subscribe to his YouTube channel:
