Paczki!!!

Today the Midwest will be stuffing its fat faces with glee as we celebrate Paczki Day. There is no better place to celebrate than Hamtramck, center of Polish people, culture and food.

Paczki Day started in the middle ages and was created because people were forbidden to consume eggs, lard, sugar, and fruit during the Catholic holiday of Lent. So everyone had to make a treat that would use all of this food up that was in their houses.

Paczki are deep fried pieces of dough shaped into a flat sphere and filled with your choice of fruit or custard filling. They are different than a donut because a donut gets dipped on each side but a Paczki gets totally submerged when it is fried. They are also a little less sweet than a donut, more doughy and less cake like.

Today this holiday is celebrated in Poland and predominately in the Midwest due to our large Polish population. Notable celebrations are held in Boston, Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, and Wisconsin.

Six years ago, Small's Bar in Hamtramck started throwing a huge bash beginning at 10 a.m. and going until 2 a.m. on Fat Tuesday (Paczki Day). They open their doors to approximately 500 people for the day, serve drinks and give out free paczkis. But, the best part is that the mix masters there, including Mike, Rob, Natalie, Melody, and Remi, have figured out how to make a Paczki Bomb! A Paczki Bomb is a 2-3 bite size piece of a paczki packed with your choice of liquor. You can get fat and drunk at the same time! Literally the best idea ever! Mike says that his favorite is stuffed with the famous and amazing Hard Luck Root Beer Vodka, but they also have them made with Raspberry Vodka, Blueberry Vodka, Vanilla Vodka, Bailey's, Lemon Drop Vodka, Red Fish Vodka, Spiced Rum and for the first time this year, Orange Dream Vodka. They said they go through about 25 dozen paczki making the Paczki Bombs, so yes they are a huge hit.

This year they also have The Polka Floyd playing "The Wall" in its entirety beginning at 6 p.m. They will also feature a bar room sing along with "The Captains of the Head" during intermission. All this fun accompanies the other great festivites in the Hamtramck, including the parade that goes right by Small's.

Paczki Bombs are only $3 each! The bar will also be making Polish Sausage and will have souvenir t-shirts and posters for sale! Make sure you head down and join in on all of the fun!