The History of Paczki in Detroit
What is a paczki and how did it become such a tradition in Detroit?
It’s not a donut
First of all, please don’t call it a donut. It’s so much more – The History of Paczki in Detroit is a tradition based on Fat Tuesday and preparing for lent. The traditional reason for making paczki? A smart way to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because their consumption was forbidden by Christian fasting practices during the season of Lent. (one story about the origin says Cäcilie Krapf, a cook in the Habsburg royal court at the end of the 17th century, threw a ball of dough at her husband and it landed in a pot of boiling oil instead…I like this story).
In the United States, Paczki Day was always popular in the Polish Catholic communities from the beginning of the 20th century. Polish immigrants settled in different parts of the U.S. such as Detroit and bakeries popped up in places like Hamtramck.
Where to get Paczki in Detroit
Everyone’s got a favorite place to get their paczki. We love our friends at New Palace Bakery in Hamtramck (and of course they’re the official suppliers of paczki for “Pelvis The Paczki Elvis”) – and folks still line up starting at 3am to get one…or twelve. Always fun to watch the live shots from inside (remember this one?)
I live in Waterford and there will always be a line at Pete’s Bakery to get paczki.
Paczki Inspired Food and Drink in Detroit
The History of Paczki in Detroit is always evolving – including one of the newer traditions when in it comes to paczki day is the “spin offs” – like our friends at Detroit City Distillery and their Paczki Day Vodka – they even brought in an Orange Cream flavor that Doni and Screamin’ Scott inhaled quickly.
Of course we’ve got Paczki beer and plenty of vodka infused paczki at local bars. One our favorite (and controversial) twists came from American Coney Island the Coney Paczki. We’ve tried them a couple of times…it’s interesting (is that PC?). But honestly, you’ve got try one or two just to get a handle on it.
How about stopping at American Coney and try our sweet and savory Paczki too. #paczki #fattuesday pic.twitter.com/1hSkk6Jkvu
— AmericanConeyIsland (@AmericanConey) February 25, 2017
