More than just a recipe collection, this book is a deeply immersive experience; designed to look and feel like a food themed newspaper straight out of 1970s Communist Poland. From the typography to the colour palette and material choices, every detail evokes the aesthetic of the era; a time when ingredients were scarce, and resourcefulness was essential.

Each of the ten spreads presents a traditional Polish dish, designed with a balance of historical accuracy and a brutalist style. This project highlights the resilience and creativity that defined Polish cooking under strict conditions. Beyond food, the book documents the progression of communism in Poland; from the immediate aftermath of World War II to the political transformations of the late 1980s. It’s divided into three main sections: an introduction (including chapter intros and prefaces), the recipes themselves, and a conclusion with a glossary.

At the heart of the book lies the concept of Kartki: Polish ration cards used during the communist era. These cards dictated what families could eat, when, and how much. The structure of the book follows this concept, with each chapter themed around a specific Kartka and the limitations it imposed. This thematic division not only organizes the recipes but also illustrates the evolving nature of rationing and scarcity over time.

In terms of chapter division, it reads as followed; breads and dairy (P-2 food stamp), meat and hearty meals (M-11 food stamp), salads and veggies (domestic and unregulated product). The book takes the reader through the history of communism in Poland. Notably, the Solidarity movement.

The design of this book is entirely black and white, with the only pops of colour being the stamps, and some numbers. The physical book is made with translucent velum paper, giving the cover a see through effect, with the polish translation peeking through the paper.