If you observe Lent, then you most likely have started the countdown to Feb. 22—Ash Wednesday and the beginning of 40 days of fasting, or the very least, giving up sweets until Easter.
The little time left—called Mardi Gras, Carnival, Carnevale or Fasnacht in parts of the world—will be celebrated with partying and indulgence until the last second of Fat Tuesday, which ends at midnight today.
A Polish tradition is to celebrate the last six days of Carnival, known as zapusty, beginning on Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek) when pączki (fried doughnuts) are eaten. In America, pączki can be found in bakeries on Fat Tuesday or Pączki Day, Feb. 21.
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It is more difficult to find a bakery that won't be offering paczki on Fat Tuesday, so here are a couple local highlights:
- Militello's Bakery: One of the most unique paczki variations is served by Militello's. A punchatello is a paczek exterior filled with cannoli cream and dusted with powdered sugar. As if a paczek isn't rich enough, this really ramps it up. Fusion cuisine at its finest.
- Utica Heights Bakery: A traditional Polish bakery.
If either one of these places is out of your range, try a local Kroger or Meijer.
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