Every year around this time, the good people of Michigan consume ungodly amounts of paczki, a traditional Polish jelly doughnut that was originally designed to use up a household's lard and sugar in advance of the first day of Lent.
There's a reason it's called Fat Tuesday. One paczek can pack anywhere from 400 to 700 or more calories, and has about as many grams of fat as a Big Mac. But really, on Paczki Day, who's counting?
Paczki Day is Feb. 9 this year, and we've got a list of some of our favorite Paczki Day destinations. If we've missed your favorite, let us know in the comments.
Metro Detroit
The New Martha Washington Bakery (10335 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck) -- Sandy Bakic, whose family has been making some of Detroit's most popular paczki for decades, says this is her favorite time of year because "it's the time when everyone who comes into the shop is happy!" The bakery will be open from 5 a.m. Monday to 9 p.m. Tuesday, selling paczki for $15 a dozen.
Tringali's Italian Bakery (29100 Schoenherr Rd., Warren) - Get your traditional Polish or non-traditional cannoli or cappuccino cannoli-filled "Italian paczki" at Tringali's. You can order in advance by calling (586) 777-9010.
New Palace (9833 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck) -- Another popular metro area paczki stop, New Palace offers some twists to the paczki, filling some of them with two or three custards and jellies at once. They open at 3 a.m. on Fat Tuesday.
Dutch Girl Donuts (19000 Woodward Ave., Detroit) -- Dutch Girl is open 24 hours a day, but on Paczki Day, there's almost always a long line.
Iversen's Bakery (22441 Michigan Ave., Dearborn) -- This year, the bakery will have raspberry, lemon cream, custard and chocolate cream, and opens at
6:30 a.m.
Lazybones Smokehouse (27475 Groesbeck Hwy. Roseville) Polish pre-lenten pastries at a barbecue restaurant? Only if you want maple bacon paczki. And I have a feeling you might. Pre-order by calling (586) 775-7427.
Sister Pie (8066 Kercheval St. Detroit) switches from pie to paczki on Paczki Day. Look for non-traditional flavors like dark chocolate tahini rye.
Celiac Specialties (1928 Star Batt Dr., Rochester Hills) Even those who are avoiding gluten, whether because of Celiac disease or otherwise, can partake of Paczki day thanks to the gluten-free paczki at Celiac Specialties. 248-860-0680
Give Thanks Bakery & Cafe (225 S Main St., Rochester) Check out the lighter, baked paczki at Give Thanks. Pre-orders accepted through Friday afternoon, and the shop opens at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
Sweetheart Bakery (19200 Kelly Rd., Harper Woods) -- This Detroit favorite will have 13 flavors for Fat Tuesday this year. You can preorder yours by calling 313-839-6330.
Paris Bakery (28418 Joy Rd., Livonia) This family-owned Polish Bakery has an entire section of its website dedicated to paczki, and it shows in their product. Friends rave about the paczki here. The bakery will open at 6 a.m., and there will be live music all day long.
Donut Villa (5875 W. Vernor Hwy, Detroit) -- Donut Villa opens at 5 a.m. to sell their popular paczki. You can preorder by calling 313-849-4752.
Avalon Bakery (422 W Willis St., Detroit) You can pre-order this famed bakery's paczki online. Avalon's paczki are baked, not fried, and are made with organic flour.
Heritage Bakery (37458 5 Mile Rd., Livonia) This bakery brags that their paczki are made "entirely...100%...totally from scratch! You wont find any "bag mix" paczki here!" The bakery opens at 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
Peteet's Famous Cheesecakes (13835 W. 9 Mile Rd. in Oak Park, and 6548 Orchard Lake Rd. in West Bloomfield) Peteet's is your source for the non-traditional cheesecake paczki, and even liquor-infused margarita paczkis. Both locations open at 6 a.m. on Fat Tuesday.
Ann Arbor area
Pastry Peddler (619 Packard St.) -- The bakery advises ordering in advance 734-929-2976 if you want a dozen or more, but they do anticipate having individual paczki for sale Tuesday morning.
The Lunch Room Bakery & Cafe (2200 Fuller Ct.) The North Campus area location of Ann Arbor's beloved vegan restaurant is serving up vegan paczki starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. They are taking no advance orders, and the cafe expects the paczki to sell out quickly.
Dexter Bakery (8101 Main St., Dexter) -- Call ahead if you want to make sure to get your hands on them: 734-426-3848. Otherwise, the bakery opens at 5 a.m., and most paczki are gone by 11 a.m.
Angelo's (1100 Catherine St.) -- If you want to try the paczki from Dexter Bakery but don't want to make the short drive to the west, you can pick some up at Angelo's On The Side. You can call ahead and reserve a dozen at 734-663-7222.
Busch's Fresh Foods Market (multiple locations) -- Multiple friends listed Busch's as their favorite place to buy Fat Tuesday paczki. The regional grocery chain makes paczki in a central kitchen in Clinton and distributes to all of the local stores.
Weber's Inn (3050 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor) -- Place your order by calling 734-794-2400.
Argus Farm Stop (325 W. Liberty) -- Argus will be selling paczki from tasty Fenton bakery Crust on Tuesday. The store opens at 7:00 a.m., and the paczki sell out quickly, so don't delay.
Big City Small World Bakery (500 Miller Ave) -- This Water Hill neighborhood shop, imports their paczki from the East Detroit Bakery in Eastpointe. You can order ahead by calling 734-668-7688, or stop in early (they ran out by noon last year) on Monday or Tuesday.
Produce Station (1629 South State St.) -- The Produce Station is bringing in paczki from the famed Paris Bakery in Livonia. Order in advance by calling 734-663-7010. A limited number of individual paczki will be available Tuesday.
Benny's Bakery (111 W Michigan Ave, Saline) -- Located in the heart of Saline and best known for their decorated cakes, tasty doughnuts and special Saturday pretzels, Benny's has also become famous for their annual paczki output. The bakery opens at 5:30 a.m., and paczki often sell out by 8 a.m. You can preorder by calling 734-429-9120.
Dimo's Deli & Donuts (2030 W Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor) -- A couple of years ago, I stood in line for nearly half an hour for Dimo's paczki, made in-house and beloved by many of my friends, and it was worth every minute. Sweeter and messier than some, the Dimo's paczek has a pastry that stands up well to the sweetness.
Zingerman's Bakehouse (3711 Plaza Dr. Ann Arbor) -- Though they are the priciest paczki in town, Zingerman's Bakehouse has no trouble selling out their special paczki production run every year. My friend Emily, to whom I turn for all of my Polish food information needs, tells me that "none will ever stand up to my mom's homemade, but I have to admit that Zingerman's were the best I've tasted." Emily says the secret is in the flavorful dough and the homemade fillings. Flavors include raspberry preserves, chocolate pudding, sweet ricotta cheese, rose hip jam and lemon cream. Order in advance at 734-761-2095.
Dom's Bakery (1305 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti) -- Several friends swear that Dom's Bakery makes the best paczki in the area. "Dom's. Dom's. Only Dom's," according to my friend Bobby. Paczki are available now through Tuesday.
Achatz Handmade Pie Company (Traver Village Shopping Center, 2643 Plymouth Rd.) -- It's not a traditional paczki in the Polish tradition, but Achatz's baked brioche paczki have some serious fans. Filled with custard or the chain's popular Michigan Four Berry pie filling, Achatz's paczki can be preordered for in-store pickup here.
Plum Market (multiple locations in southeast Michigan) -- Plum Market is carrying six flavors of paczki from New Palace Bakery in Hamtramck in all Michigan locations this year.
Lev's Bakery (124 E Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh) This hometown Tecumseh Bakery is in full paczki production mode, and will have paczki Monday and Tuesday from "4:30 am until we run out for the day, so set your alarm clocks!"
Grand Rapids
Sandy's Donuts (2040 Leonard St., Grand Rapids) -- Seven flavors of paczki are on offer at Sandy's. Preorders can be made at 616-453-4259.
Marge's Donut Den (1751 28th St. SW, Wyoming) -- Marge's opens at 4 a.m. to sell 12 flavors of paczki. You can preorder by calling 616-532-7413.
Kalamazoo
Mackenzies' Bakery (527 Harrison St.) - Available on Monday and Tuesday, you can get your paczki starting at 6 a.m. 269-343-8440.
Sarkozy Bakery (350 E. Michigan Ave.) -- Sarkozy Bakery has been practicing all week for Paczki Day. You can preorder by calling 269-342-1952, or get in line at 7:30 a.m.
Sweetwater's Donut Mill (Three locations: 2138 Sprinkle Road; 269-388-4613, 3333 Stadium Drive, 269-372-3636; 2807 Capital Ave., Battle Creek, 269-979-1944) -- Paczki order sheets are now available at all three Sweetwater's Donut Mill locations, and each order receives festive Mardi Gras beads. The bakeries will also be offering Fat Tuesday-themed doughnuts along with the paczki.
Carey's Cakery and Bake Shop (116 N Centerville Rd. Sturgis) This family run bakery is taking preorders until 6 p.m. on Sunday ((269) 651-5361. "We are normally open 8-5 but will be here super early for orders. We are also offering free delivery for Sturgis and a fee for outside of town.
Bay City
Krzysiak's House Restaurant (1605 Michigan Ave., Bay City) -- Check out Krysiak's House annual Paczki Polka Palooza Party, a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. The festivities include live music, breakfast, and, of course, paczki. Stop by between 5 a.m. and noon Tuesday. Phone orders can be placed at 989-894-5531.
Barney's Bakery (421 S. Van Buren St.) -- Founded in 1929 by Barney Zielinski, they've been using the same recipe for paczki ever since. You can preorder by calling 989-895-5466. The bakery opens at 5 a.m. on Fat Tuesday.
Elaine's Bake Shop (1590 S. Euclid Ave.) -- Phone orders are accepted at 989-893-4970, with walk-ins welcome when the shop opens at 5:30 a.m. on Fat Tuesday.
Saginaw
Butter Crust Bakery (6181 Dixie Hwy., Bridgeport) -- Butter Crust won our Michigan's Best poll for the best doughnut in Saginaw. The bakery opens at 6 a.m. on Fat Tuesday.
Flint area
Donna's Donuts: (1135 West Bristol Rd., Flint) -- Donna's is a Flint staple -- a place to get doughnuts all year round, but things pick up when Fat Tuesday rolls around. Call 810-233-5618 to place your orders in advance. The bakery opens at 4 a.m.
Jablonski's Baker's Corner (5518 E Atherton Rd, Burton) -- Call 810-742-4330 to place advance orders. Jablonski's opens at 7 a.m.
Crust (104 W. Caroline at River St., Fenton) -- Seriously delicious baked goods can be found at Crust, and their paczki are very well-loved. Phone orders will be accepted until Sunday morning at 810-629-8882. Crust will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, and will have live music and Paczki production demos throughout the morning.
Clare
Cops & Doughnuts (521 N McEwan St., Clare) This popular doughnut stop ships paczki across the country. Cops & Doughnuts will open at 4 a.m. on Tuesday.
Jackson
Hinkley Bakery (700 S Blackstone St., Jackson) -- Hinkley's won MLive's search for Michigan's Best Doughnut, and their paczki bring the crowds. The bakery will be open at 5:15 Tuesday, and you can call in your advance orders at 517-782-1122.
European Bakery (622 Page Ave., Jackson) - this long-standing family-owned bakery, which has been in business since 1913, will open its doors at 6 a.m. Tuesday. 517-787-5726.
Jessica Webster covers food and dining and life and culture for MLive. Reach her at JessicaWebster@mlive.com. You also can follow her on Twitter and on Google+.