If there is one thing more Cleveland than the Browns, it’s pierogies. So a pierogi that combines Dawg Pound fervor and good Polish cooking might be the most Cleveland thing ever.
Offered out of Pierogi Joe’s food truck, a Polonia-flag-red converted RV adorned with speakers blaring polka, the butter-coated, griddle-browned Dawg Pound chili pierogies ($7 for three, $12 for six), created by Rudy's Strudel and Bakery, are packed to their hand-pinched edges with homemade, beer-infused chili and cheese.
Joe Becker, Pierogi Joe himself, started the truck three years ago to pair his ethnic heritage (he grew up in both Slavic Village and Poland) with his love of pierogies. While he originally started out making his own, these days he turns to Rudy's for its creative takes such as a baseball-themed pierogi filled with brats and sauerkraut. That version, when available, comes cooked in beer and served with Bertman Original Ball Park Mustard-infused sour cream. His latest menu addition from Rudy’s Strudel and Bakery has been scoring a touchdown.
Those Dawg Pound Chili Pierogies include one additional ingredient for football fans, says Becker: “We say [it’s] ‘woof,’ ” he says. “Just kind of like, ‘and love.’ Y’know? ‘And woof.’ ” 330-304-2858, pierogijoes.com
Click to read our Cleveland Pierogi Guide, a taste of 25 of Cleveland's best pierogies.
