About us

Stara Szkoła

To write about it as a "place" is to strip it of its charm.

"Project" is only part of the truth.

"Phenomenon" – yes, that's certainly the closest, although it would be best to combine all of this and sum it up in two words: A GREAT ADVENTURE.

We started modestly with a few flavors of ice cream made from Italian ingredients. Over time, we opened four ice cream parlors and a small café with the charming name "Poezja" (Poetry), and then suddenly… a turnaround. We closed everything and opened one large ice cream parlor, operating on completely different principles. A total REVOLUTION.

We established the first coffee roastery in Podlasie. Importing coffee, nuts, pistachios… these were completely new challenges. We wanted to do everything ourselves, from start to finish. We also focused on searching for strawberries, raspberries, sea buckthorn, blueberries, and bilberries—we had to test everything to choose what we considered to be the best Podlasie fruits for ice cream production.

Another milestone was the confectionery. Marcinek, a classic Podlasie cake, which is now the hallmark of Stara Szkoła. It was an extremely difficult task from the start – how to present a traditional cake, whose flavor originated from a time when there were no refrigerators in homes and cream would sour, in a way that would make it tasty for everyone? Trials, trials, and more trials… but did we finally succeed? It's not for us to judge, but we can't complain about a lack of enthusiasts, and the number of pastry shops trying to copy it confirms our belief that our marcinki are gaining "legendary" status. And to think that our entire pastry business started with egg whites, which we used to make meringues, because the yolks went into ice cream…

In the meantime, we also created our own chocolate, which we produce from raw cocoa beans. It was the first venture of its kind in the region, and perhaps even on this side of the Vistula River! Who would have thought – importing cocoa beans to SOKÓŁKA.

Pistachio creams, nut creams, nut butters – ideas came flooding in, and we didn't want to stop them. We attended courses, trained, took risks, developed, and before we knew it, we were the ones doing the training. Today, we help other ice cream parlors, pastry shops, and bakeries. Lots of places use our recipes, pastes, and ice cream fillings.

Sounds like a good ending to an adventure? Personally, I'm sure we're not even halfway there! Every year, we add something new, take something else away, and improve something else, because in an adventure, only one thing is certain—change.

We have changed the perception of ice cream, confectionery, and coffee in Podlasie. We have changed our Sokółka. We are changing ourselves. We invite you to join us in this change, and even more: we invite you to join us in this ADVENTURE!

2005

It all started in 2005 with a single, modest Italian ice cream machine. It wasn't meant to be a revolution. We just wanted to make ice cream that really tasted good.

A year later, the first artisan ice cream laboratory was established at Plac Kilińskiego. That's where our first recipes were created, and with them, the first real café in Sokółka.

2009

In 2009, we opened a second location, and in 2012, a place that would later be named Stara Szkoła (Old School). We introduced coffee, as well as a novelty at the time—frozen yogurt. And so, slowly but surely, a community began to form, one that has remained with us to this day.

2013

2013 was a turning point: we boldly moved away from Italian components and started making everything ourselves. It was a difficult decision, but thanks to it, we established a standard that we have only improved upon since.

2014

In 2014, we added a second ice cream display case and began making our own nut butters. Ice cream production became a spectacle—we moved it to where guests could see it.

2015

In 2015, a large hall is built, we reintroduce Italian ice cream, and we open the first coffee roastery in the region. We begin importing pistachios from Bronte and nuts from Piedmont – initially only 30 kg.

In the following years, we grew rapidly:

– Roman pizza and a full range of confectionery (2016),

– super-premium range and our own baked goods (2017),

– 64 flavors and training with Amaury Guichon (2018),

– 82 flavors and training with Frank Haasnoot (2019).

2020

In 2020, we are starting to produce pastes and creams with a record granulation of 2 microns, which puts us at the forefront of the global market. This is also the beginning of our journey towards the perfect panettone.

2021

The year 2021 brings 104 flavors and an encounter with the master of Gelato Artigianale, who will forever change our approach to ice cream.

2022

In 2022, we are changing our recipes, in 2023 we will have 122 flavors, and in 2024 we are introducing new equipment that will once again raise the quality of our ice cream to a level that, as we know, cannot be easily described, but can be sensed.

Today, Stara Szkoła is not just about ice cream.
It is a story of family, passion, quality, and hundreds of thousands of smiles.

Artisanal baked goods made from scratch

Our bakery is a place where cakes, desserts, and sweets are made without haste and from the finest ingredients. Each baked good has its own character and flavor that cannot be replicated.

Cakes for every occasion

We create classic and modern cakes tailored to the event and guests' expectations. We focus on natural ingredients, precision, and elegant finishing touches. Taste and aesthetics always go hand in hand with us.

Over 100 flavors of artisanal ice cream

Every day, our ice cream parlor produces fresh ice cream using traditional methods. Classics, seasonal flavors, and original creations—all made from natural ingredients with attention to quality.