The Polish American Cultural
Institute of Minnesota established the Rog Endowment to honor its
founding member Chester Rog and to advance Polish heritage to which
he continues to devote most of his life’s efforts. The goal of the
Rog Fund is to benefit the local community and its Polish
heritage. It will grant stipends totaling $1,000 per year to
individuals and/or groups who seek further professional growth,
Polish language, arts and cultural study both locally and abroad and
who are committed afterward to use what they have achieved to
benefit the cause of Polish heritage here in Minnesota and
Wisconsin.
The Endowment will choose each
year’s recipient(s) in the spring. Please watch the PACIM website or
Pol-Am for information on applications and deadlines.
2008 Recipient: James Bueche
The Chester S. Rog Endowment
for the Advancement of Polish Heritage committee is pleased to
announce this year’s recipient, James Bueche. Jim Bueche, Social
Manager of the Bedlam Theatre on the West Bank in Minneapolis, is
the head chef & menu planner for daily offerings and special
events/catering and the bottom line for making sure the beer gets
ordered. This spring he introduced Polish Fusion Food at the
Theatre’s restaurant.
Jim pursued the Rog Endowment
as a travel stipend to visit Poland and learn about its food
systems, the regional differences of Polish food and the role
allotment gardens and small farms play in Polish cities. His belief
is that Polish food is under represented in our culture because many
do not understand it. He hopes to change that.
His hope is that after his
study in Poland, he will be able to interpret traditional Polish
food when designing the menu at Bedlam. It’s important to him that
he honor the tradition of Polish food and to share that with his
customers. He also wants to broaden the social sense around the food
we eat and to appreciate the importance of local food systems. In
the end, he hopes to show that Polish food is not just a novelty
traditional food, but that it can inform our four seasoned corner of
the world to think locally, usually simply and to celebrate food.
To try out his Polish fusion
menu, go to Bedlam Theatre, 1501 S 6th St in
Minneapolis. Phone: 612-341-1038 or on the web at
www.bedlamtheatre.org.
Rog Endowment Fund Committee:
Charlene Delaney, Bonnie Frels, Terry Kita, Bruce Rubin and Susan
Szczukowski.
