East Side, West Side, all across the town, Buffalonians will be celebrating Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday or Carnival–-whatever you want to call it-–starting this weekend through Tuesday, February 5. All celebrations promise good food, lively libations and pre-Lenten fun.
But the most unusual celebration will be this Saturday, February 2nd at the Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle*, (fondly known at Mickie’s) when the Cultural Committee of this organization hosts their 2nd Annual Paczki Day/Candlemas demonstration and party.
You are probably asking “What the heck is paczki?”
Paczki (pronounced ponch-kee) is a Polish doughnut, and what better way to get ready for Lent then to indulge in these tender fried pastries traditionally filled with fruits, jams or marmalades and rolled in white or powdered sugar. Lent is a forty day liturgical period of fasting and prayer and ends on Easter Saturday. Traditionally, Poles would make paczki just before Lent in order to use up all of the ingredients forbidden during Lent (such as lard, fruit and sugar).
Sound good? Well you can sample paczki this Saturday, and learn to make them too.
I have been conducting the Savor the Flavor program at Buffalo’s Historic Broadway Market this past year and was asked to join the fun by conducting a demonstration on paczki making. Methods used to make raised doughnuts and fried cake doughnuts will be featured. Plus, attendees will learn about proper frying techniques and taste the fillings used in paczki.
Amy Smardz, organizer of this event, will be discussing the various “Carnival” and Paczki Day traditions in Poland and other Slovic countries. Candlemas--a rite that celebrates new beginnings--will also be discussed. Amy joined me at the Wigilia Celebration at the Broadway Market in December and is very knowledgeable on Polish and Slovi traditions. Class begins at 5 PM. Price is $15.00 dollars and includes admission to the party.
Always wanted to win a Food Challenge? You can be the 1st ever Mr. or Ms. Paczki!
To qualify for the title you'll need to bring along your best recipe for Polish donuts and at least 10 donuts for the committee to sample. Who knows? You might be Western New York’s first Paczki King or Queen.
If you cannot make it to the demonstration you can still join the fun. The Paczki Party that begins at 7 PM will include traditional food and plenty of paczki. Admission is $7 per person and will include a ticket good for 1 drink at the bar.
I think that you will really get a kick out of this quirky place. If you do, a one-year year membership will be available at the bar. The membership fee ($10 bucks) is the best deal in town. Where else can you try a variety of imported Polish beers and shots of Krupnik and other imported Slavic liqueurs? Plus the décor is, ah, what can I say, “funky cool”.
A portion of this evening’s proceeds will benefit Dyngus Day Buffalo in an effort to make Buffalo’s Polonia a key destination for the day after Easter festivities, which will be Monday, March 24, 2007.
Reservations are required for the demonstration which begins at 5PM. Call Amy Smardz 716.228.3659 or Aniela Baj 716.479.2342 to reserve your spot today. There is plenty of free parking next to the building.
*The Dramatic Circle was organized and began producing amateur theatricals in 1895. It is the longest continuing operating theater in WNY. The library contains over 4,000 volumes and over 400 hand-written scripts for Polish plays.
Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle
612 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo 14212