PIROSHKY, PIROSHKY

The first ON MY WAY HOME for 2011 -

This week found Nana and I at Pike Place Market on a guided food tour. One of the stops was at a Russian bakery named Piroshky Piroshky. This is actually one of our favorite Market stops. Piroshkys are savory or sweet little pies designed to be eaten with one hand. This bakery was founded in 1992 by a Russian family that immigrated to the US after the fall of Communism. With the help of the Seattle Russian community they managed to lease a space, buy equipment, and set everything in place. They sent out announcements to all their friends and the media about their grand opening, and then realized they had used all their money and had nothing left to buy baking supplies.

They appealed to their family and friends, but all of them had already loaned them money and had nothing left to give. Sadly they returned home the day before their opening with about 50 dollars between them. When they opened the door they saw that someone had slid an unmarked envelope under it with 1000 dollars in cash. They used the cash to buy all the supplies they needed and spent all night baking. The grand opening was a great success.

Some time later they discovered that the benefactor was a Russian friend who actually owned a bakery a couple blocks away from them. She reached out to help them even though they would be in direct competition. The two bakeries thrived, and the families have been friends ever since.

Nana and I were very touched by this story. Pres Monson often encourages us to reach out to our neighbors, whoever they may be. Reaching out to others in charity helps each of us to find our way home.

Love to all,

Gramps