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Kazimiera
Bober, better known as Kasia, is living proof of
the “American Dream” as she has been defined by
the Chicago Tribune and
other local newspapers have defined her. She
immigrated to the United States from Poland in the
nineteen seventies with a dream of a better life for
herself and her children. After years of working odd
jobs and financial struggles, she decided to pursue
something that she felt she was good at, which was
cooking. She opened her deli in December of 1982 and
began to offer home cooking to the neighborhood
customers. She would cook at night and sell her ethnic
cuisine during the day. Although the beginnings were
difficult, it was through her hard work, perseverance
and dedication that Kasia was able to succeed. As her
clientele grew, Kasia began to notice that her pierogi
were becoming one of the best selling items. After
years of showcasing her products at neighborhood
festivals, she was asked to participate at ‘The Taste
of Chicago’, one of the largest food festivals in
the country. It was also at that time the she won the
first of four consecutive awards for ‘The Best
Pierogi in Chicago.’ With all the acclaim she
received, Kasia’s next break was getting her pierogi
into some of the largest supermarkets in the
Chicagoland area. Kasia’s Pierogi were also the
first ever to be served aboard United Airlines, the
biggest airline in the world. Dignitaries such as
President Clinton, Mayor Richard J. Daley, Governor
Ryan and many others have also sampled Kasia’s award
winning pierogi. Kasia, with the help of her children
and now grandchildren, is successfully fulfilling her
“American Dream”. |
