Paczek - (Pawn-check)

It's fat Tuesday Feb. 5th and in the Polish community in Phoenix which seems to be growing exponentially as people flee the cold of New Jersey, Connecticut and Chicago, to new plush homes, plenty of parking and of course the warm weather; the Paczek is the king of Fat Tuesday.  This fried dough filled with jam symbolizes this day and there are more places to get them now then ever before in Phoenix.

PACZEK ---- say  (PAWn-cheCK) singular  (PAWN-chkee) plural

My parents in law who still live in Poland speak often of this day when they hand make dozens of Paczki and eat all of them themselves.  It does not sound like anything but eating these is as unhealthy as its delicious.  Just thinking of fresh paczki wets my appetite.

It may look like a donut with no hole or a donut filled with something, but it's not.  Its so much crispier and different that you must try them.

The best place I know of to get paczki is Europa Pastry Cafe in North Central Phoenix at 6522 N. 16th St. just North of Maryland on 16th St.

My favourite have the "powidla" (made from plums) filling.