Love & Pierogi: The Perfect Pairing

There are certain combinations in life that just work perfectly together: peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, coffee and mornings. At Poppy Ski's Pierogi, we have our own perfect pairing that makes everything possible – love and dumplings.

A New Chapter Begins

Last Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, marked not just another day of pierogi-making, but a milestone in my personal journey. My boyfriend of exactly 9 years and I tied the knot, making official what has been true all along – we're a team, in life and in business.

The Man Behind the Pierogi

While I'm usually the face you see at markets or the name on the packaging, there's someone equally important working behind the scenes. My husband has been the foundation upon which Poppy Ski's has been built. When I first mentioned leaving my steady day job to pursue pierogi-making full-time, there was no hesitation in his support – not even a moment's pause.

From Dream to Reality: Our Pierogi R&D Weekend

His support began long before Poppy Ski's was a business. Early in our relationship, when this pierogi venture was still just a dream, he gave me one of the most wonderful gifts I could have imagined – a weekend of culinary experimentation.

He proposed what he called "pierogi R&D" – encouraging me to go wild and get creative in the kitchen with different flavor combinations. I took the challenge seriously and prepared all sorts of potato and cheese-based fillings: cheesesteak, pulled pork, cheeseburger, sweet potato, broccoli and cheese, and even cauliflower substituted for potato.

Together, we spent an entire weekend making 600 different pierogi! By Sunday evening, he was completely exhausted and even vowed to "never make another pierogi again" (funny how things change). Despite the fatigue, it was the greatest gift – having someone believe in my culinary vision enough to dedicate an entire weekend to bringing it to life.

Looking back, it's incredible to see how far we've come. Now, we can produce about 1,200 pierogies in a single day! That experimental weekend laid the foundation for what would eventually become our thriving business.

After his own long workdays, he'll stop at the kitchen ready to help wash dishes and mop the floors. He witnesses the chaotic, flour-covered reality of a small food business and has never once suggested I slow down. On his precious days off, he's the first to volunteer his time to help.

Building Our Future, One Pierogi at a Time

I often wonder what I did to deserve a partner with such unwavering faith in my dreams. When I envision the future success of Poppy Ski's, I'm not seeing just my achievement – I'm seeing OUR future that we're building together, pierogi by pierogi.

While I'm blessed with an incredible support network of family and friends who have championed this business from day one, my husband is the reason I had the courage to start this journey and the strength to continue it each day.

Thank You

To my husband: your belief in me and in Poppy Ski's has made all the difference. Here's to many more years of love, partnership, and of course, pierogi.

And to our wonderful customers: when you enjoy our pierogi, know that they're made with love – not just for the food, but for the journey we're on and the people who make it possible.

From our family to yours,

Laura Gronski

Owner, Poppy Ski's Pierogi