Couple behind Hungry Cottage in New Milton, Agnes and Sebastian Ziolkowski, plan to open Polish store

A POLISH couple planning to open a shop in New Milton offering their native food and drink say they are “super excited” about their new venture.

Agnes and Sebastian Ziolkowski are preparing to launch the store in Whitefield Road almost next door to the Hungry Cottage cafe which they have run for 15 months.

Due to open its doors on 1st April, the facility will take the place of the former Raise the Roots greengrocer.

The couple, who have been in England for 17 years, said it will be the only dedicated Polish food market for miles around. It will offer “everyday fresh produce”, along with bakery goods, meat, dairy, jams, pickles, mustards and other speciality items.

Agnes and Sebastian are also applying for an alcohol licence in order to offer Polish vodka, beer and liqueurs.

Sebastian told the A&T: “Some English supermarkets carry a small selection of Polish items, but this will be a whole shop dedicated to them.

“We are super excited to open. There is quite a large Eastern European community locally but judging by how many English customers we get in the café we also think a lot of those will also be pleased about us opening a shop.”

The cafe is just a few doors down from where the shop will be, and features a variety of English staples along with a daily Polish special lunchtime dish.

Agnes explained how she learnt to cook from a very early age by watching her mother in the kitchen.

She said: “At first, I was so small I had to stand on a stool but everything I know I learnt from her. Now if something I make tastes as good as my mum’s I know it is good!”

Word of how excellent her cooking is has quickly spread, with customers now booking tables for when their favourite national dish is going to be on the menu.

“This week I have a table for four booked for my borscht soup,” said Agnes. “They just love it. I thought when we first opened the café that most customers would be Polish, but in fact we have a lot of English people who love the Polish food.

“They like tasting something different to what they would normally have and learning more about our cuisine. Today we had a lady in who said we had the best Polish food in the area – that’s so lovely to hear.”

Breakfasts include a traditional English or one which features Polish sausages and bacon.

Among the daily Polish specials she offers are a hearty Polish stew called bigos; pierogi – dumplings with various fillings; croquettes containing meat, sauerkraut and mushrooms; and Polish hot dogs.

There are also delicious cakes, home-made soups served with Polish kaiser rolls, and baguettes baked fresh every day.

A wide variety of English dishes is also available, including a pick-your-own-five breakfast for £5.50 or the Big Daddy, both featuring sausages from New Milton high street’s butchers T.Barlett & Sons.

Jacket potatoes and burgers are also on the menu.

Agnes said: “All food is cooked fresh to order. We do not use a microwave at all.”

Apart from the shop and cafe, the couple also have another venture planned – a van offering Polish street food at festivals all over the UK.

“It's going to be a big year for us!” said Agnes.