How did Warsaw taste in the past — and how does it taste today? What emotions and memories does it carry? These are the questions everyone who cherishes the city’s culinary heritage will be able to answer. As part of a competition organized by Hala Koszyki, cooking enthusiasts and culinary adventurers will present their own original dishes inspired by traditional recipes. The winning creations will appear in the autumn menu of Nowa Karta Warszawy alongside reinterpretations of Warsaw flavors crafted by the chefs of Koszyki’s restaurants.

The host of the project is Mateusz Gessler, who runs the restaurants Warszawski Sen and Ćma at Koszyki.

Hala Koszyki, present on the city’s map for over a hundred years, reaches back to the roots of old Warsaw. The chefs of Poland’s first food hall have taken on the challenge of creating a new menu inspired by classic Warsaw recipes. Residents who love to cook and want to show the world how they believe their city tastes today have also been invited to join through a competition announced on Koszyki’s website and social media. This culinary challenge encourages creative reinterpretation of recipes once found on family tables and passed down through generations.

The competition for a contemporary Warsaw dish is the first stage of the Nowa Karta Warszawy project, which goes far beyond just a new menu. It is a kind of manifesto of Koszyki’s identity — a reminder of Warsaw’s rich culinary history, a way to bring it closer to younger generations who love new culinary trends, and at the same time to embed it in today’s diversity, openness to world cuisines, and the multicultural character of Koszyki’s dining concepts.

“We will tell the story of the flavors of old Warsaw, reimagined for today, through the talents of our chefs at Koszyki, who will take on old recipes and give them surprising, unexpected twists. We’re also inviting Varsovians to join this story — from their competition entries, we’ll choose the most interesting variations on Warsaw’s recipes. How will Gen Z, millennials, and other generations reinterpret the classic flavors?

Will the iconic wuzetka cake be infused with the omnipresent pistachio? Will Warsaw’s traditional tripe be replaced with oyster mushrooms? And how will our chefs approach the topic? Could śledź po warszawsku inspire a sushi master? We’re in for a fantastic culinary adventure, one that will allow our guests to help shape not just the unique atmosphere of Hala Koszyki but also its offerings. We hope that our Nowa Karta Warszawy, which will emerge from this creative work, will give residents and visitors many reasons to keep coming back to Koszyki,” says Piotr Krowicki, Senior Marketing Manager, Globalworth Poland.

Cook, showcase, and win!

Duos or trios can take part in creating their own modern version of a Warsaw classic. You can enter the competition until August 24, by posting a reel or photos showing the cooking process and final dish on your social media profile (TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook) or by sending them via email. All entries must be tagged with the hashtags: #Koszyki and #NowaKartaWarszawy.

The authors of the twelve most interesting reinterpretations of Warsaw recipes will advance to the second stage of the competition. They will face off in a live cooking grand finale in September at the Pracownia Kulinarna studio at Koszyki.

An expert jury chaired by Mateusz Gessler will select the three best culinary creations. The winning interpretations of classic dishes will feature in Nowa Karta Warszawy — a special seasonal menu that will also include dishes prepared by the chefs of Hala Koszyki, inspired by tradition yet reflecting the unique character of their restaurants. The winners will also receive attractive prizes: RTV EURO AGD vouchers worth 1000, 800, and 500 PLN, while other finalists will receive vouchers to a Koszyki restaurant chosen by the organizer, worth 300 PLN. The project will culminate in a culinary celebration, with further details to be revealed in later stages of the initiative.

A feast for the spirit, too.

Koszyki promises a season full of inspiration — not only culinary. This is a place that has always allowed people to savor culture and art as well. Under the banner of Nowa Karta Warszawy, a series of entertainment events will also take place.

Throughout the summer, Hala Koszyki will invite visitors with the sounds of various musical projects. There will also be debuts of new culinary concepts, making the food hall even more exciting and delicious.

You can find information about the competition (including rules) and events within the Nowa Karta Warszawy project on the Hala Koszyki website under the “What’s On” tab, as well as on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Hala Koszyki was built over 100 years ago on Koszykowa Street in Warsaw on what was then the Koszyki farmstead. Designed in Art Nouveau style by architect Juliusz Dzierżanowski, it returned to the city’s map in autumn 2016 as a unique social and culinary hub, where you can dine at dozens of restaurants and bars or shop for groceries to take home. The complex includes 16,000 sqm of office space and 6,500 sqm of retail space. Hala Koszyki is owned and managed by Globalworth.