Here’s how Kravitz Deli, PolishYoungstown celebrate Fat Tuesday in Mahoning Valley
Preparations are underway for Fat Tuesday and the party at Kravitz Deli centered around one of the Mahoning Valley’s favorite filled Polish pastries: the pączki.
The Pączki craze started when PolishYoungstown put on a fundraiser selling the donuts around 2010 to raise money for the folk dance group, according to Aundréa Cika Heschmeyer.
“In other major cities, there’s always a big party for Pączki Day,” she said. “As our pączki sales grew, we came to Kravitz with the idea and worked together.”
The Polkas, Pączki and Piwo party is happening from 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. March 4 at Kravitz Deli in Youngstown, which is Fat Tuesday; it means Donuts, Dancing and Draught.
According to owner Matthew Rydarowicz, Kravitz Deli sold 171 dozen pączki last year.
“I’ve noticed throughout the years, you would think it would be the same faces every single year, it’s not,” Rydarowicz said. “It really isn’t. You’ll get some of the same faces, but then you get to meet other people. It’s cool seeing new people coming in and trying everything.”
Guests who come to Polkas, Pączki and Piwo can pick up donuts individually or by the half dozen to help PolishYoungstown’s genealogy, research and travel grant program.
Order pączki filled with rose, apricot, custard or the PYTown Pączek, which is half rose and half custard.
Rydarowicz said one of customers’ favorite items to order for Fat Tuesday is the Pączki slider that’s served for lunch with kielbasa, mustard, red onion and a pickle.
“We are blessed to have collaborators like Matthew at Kravitz who have celebrated all kinds of cultural things for years,” Heschmeyer said. “All of a sudden, in the last couple years, other bakeries have started selling pączki donuts. Initially, I got really annoyed, and then these guys reminded me it’s all good, because only we bring the party.”
While Kravitz is serving Polish-inspired specialty entrees and treats, the Chardon Polka Band will be playing live polka music all day.
Eating pączki is the traditional Polish way to indulge before the fasting in observance of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, according to PolishYoungstown.
“We’ll have the Pączki king and queen roaming around with beads,” Heschmeyer said. “The Poles celebrate on both ends because they’re hardcore during Lent. No drinking, they give up a lot of stuff, like there’s no drinking, so they celebrate going in to get it out of their system, and Easter Monday, the party starts again.”
