The story
The earliest record of obwarzanki comes from the royal court in Kraków: an account entry from 2 March 1394, in the household of Queen Jadwiga and King Władysław Jagiełło, notes one grosz spent on these rings for the queen. In 1496 King John Albert gave the city's bakers' guild a monopoly on white bread, including obwarzanki, which at first could only be baked during Lent by appointed bakers. Later rules chose the bakers by drawing lots. Today about 170 street carts sell some 150,000 a day, and the obwarzanek krakowski has had EU protected status since 2010.
Also known as obwarzanek krakowski, obwarzanki, obarzanek, Kraków bagel, Krakow pretzel.
On the Meridish menu
Obwarzanek was the street food course on menu No. 30 on October 30, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
A braided, boiled-then-baked bread ring scattered with poppy or sesame seeds, sold from street carts. Royal court accounts here mention it in 1394.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
