Views
Paczki
From ArborWiki
February 21, 2012, is Paczki Day.
Paczki, traditional Polish pastries, are associated with using up all of the good ingredients in the house before Lent. They are like big jelly doughnuts -- but richer. In the past couple decades, Paczki Day has spread out from Hamtramck to become a tradition in Southeast Michigan.
The singular is paczek, but nobody ever says that. The pronunciation of the word is debated; locals are apt to say punch-key or poonch-key, though a more accurate Polish pronunciation can be heard here.
Contents |
[edit] Where to get them
Many grocery stores (e.g. Kroger, Meijer) sell large jelly doughnuts as paczki on Paczki Day, but they're posers.
Real ones are imported from Hamtramck, the epicenter of area Polish culture.
Amadeus if you make prior arrangements.
Copernicus European Delicatessen, in the South Main Market. 2009 prices at Copernicus were: $1.25 for one, $7.00 for six, $13 for a dozen. They take pre-orders, but there was no wait at 10am, and plenty left for drop-in purchases.
Dexter Bakery is known for their paczki, especially if you are in Dexter, where the Dexter Bakery is well known in general for its donuts and other pastries.
Dimo's Deli & Donuts are also known for their high-volume paczki selling. Their Paczki are available filled with their standard donut fillings: custard, butter creme, apple, raspberry, blueberry and strawberry fillings.
Dom Bakeries rates highly among stores not focused on Eastern Europe.
Espresso Royale (State St.) carries Washtenaw Dairy paczki in several flavors.
Wise Guys on Packard (theirs feature traditional toppings, too - not all simple glaze) imports from Hamtramck.
Zingerman's Bakehouse is making paczki, new for 2011. [1]
[edit] For a field trip to Hamtramck
If you are going to Hamtramck for Paczki Day, some bakeries to stake out at 5am include:
- New Martha Washington Bakery, 10335 Joseph Campau, (313)872-1988
- New Palace Bakery, 9833 Joseph Campau, (313)875-1334
- Polish Market, Joseph Campau (at Belmont), (313)365-3731
[edit] Closed recently
- New Deluxe Polish Bakery, 11920 Conant (at Eldridge) (313)892-8165 closed in 2011 [2]
[edit] Video
- Paczki Day 2008 in Hamtramck with Mo Rocca for CBS Sunday Morning
[edit] Around the blogs
- Paczki pursuit: Polish treats big draw at Ann Arbor area bakeries, Ann Arbor News, February 2009
- Kitchen Chick discussion of Paczki Day, with a photo of Amadeus's paczki: http://www.kitchenchick.com/2005/02/paczki_day.html
- Kitchen Chick comes through again with an audio guide to pronounciation: http://www.kitchenchick.com/2008/02/paczki-day-tomo.html
- Chowhound has a 2007 thread on best Polish bakeries for paczki
[edit] News references
- Paczki stories on AnnArbor.com
- Paczki stories on Ann Arbor Chronicle
- Paczki stories in Heritage Media newspapers
- Paczki stories in the Google News archives
