Oak Mill had about eight types of paczki today: rose, advocaat (eggnog liquour, which I had thought was Dutch), raspberry, strawberry, rose, lemon, custard. and perhaps one or two others.

Today I bought 1 1/2 dozen paczki from Delightful Pastries, 5927 W. Lawrence (just east of intersection of Lawrence and Austin). and took them in to work. Wonderful! Around eight different flavors. The co-owner must have sensed my disappointment when the clerk told me they were out of custard, because she immediately went to the back and filled half a dozen for me. (Piece de resistance was the fresh strawberry/whipped cream variety. OMG.)

Then she and I struck up a conversation. She was in pre-med, gave it up for pastry, worked under Gale Gand, and now owns the bakery with her mom. Gave me a brownie for the road. Tasted like dark chocolate cream.

Everything there looks great. I think this might be my _new_ bakery.

Carol--I love Delightful Pastries; it seems like they go the extra mile as far as ingredients, presentation, taste, etc. Try the rogaliki when they're fresh out of the oven--those are the yeast twists with either cranberry or other fillings (forgot). Cranberry is my favorite. I'm going tomorrow to pick up an apple szarlotka for a Super Bowl party. The bakery owner usually slips a little extra in my bag, also. It's a wonderful, neighborhood place. Halina's, a favorite Polish restaurant, is in the mini-mall across the street. Anna

I have not made it to Andy's yet but as I was zooming (not really) east on Division this afternoon, I saw it! East of the boarded up Andy's, I don't know why I was searching westward!

A friend brought over paczki the other day from Kasia's (I may have this misspelled and I didn't get the address yet). I had prune. Very good, slightly chewy and with a delicious fresh tasting prune filling. I preferred this version to the Alliance.

I meant to mention, I tried Oak Mill and was much, much happier. Much closer to the traditional paczki I used to get in Poland while there (rose and prune), though there was definately some "americanization" such as the overfilling and some of the choices like custard and whipped cream. Very, very happy and I know where I'll be going from now on.

That's one of the things I like about Polish cooking, the use of fruit in baked goods.

Ardneth wrote:I meant to mention, I tried Oak Mill and was much, much happier. Much closer to the traditional paczki I used to get in Poland while there (rose and prune), though there was definately some "americanization" such as the overfilling and some of the choices like custard and whipped cream. Very, very happy and I know where I'll be going from now on.

And, as I mentioned earlier in the thread, they have them all year long.

Do they have the full range of flavors all year?

They appear to, although I haven't checked if they have each and every one all year long. They always seem to have rose and prune and several others, though

My favorite place for pushkies has closed. Does anybody have a recommendation in the Westmont area?

Or, fairly close??

Roger

HI,

What was your favorite, so at least we know where not to look for them?

Regards,

dodger wrote:My favorite place for pushkies has closed. Does anybody have a recommendation in the Westmont area?

Or, fairly close??

Roger

Most of my rec's are in the Midway area...

I know that Bobak's in Burr Ridge does them. There's also a place next door, called Kirsten's Danish Bakery that is advertising doing them this year. You can go in and sign up for a box in advance with her mix or to make your own selection to guarentee you get what you want. I saw the forms over there a few weeks ago but I don't recall if there was a cut off for ordering.

Kirsten's Danish Bakery
94 Burr Ridge Highway
Burr Ridge, IL
http://www.kirstensdanishbakery.com/

Any Northshore or Northwest suburb recs appreciated.

Central Bakery in downtown Mount Prospect carries a variety of Paczki - They even have someone dressed as a paczki!!
I cannot comment on how authentic these are, and certainly there are many that I'm sure are Americanized versions, but they are very nice looking paczki

jygach wrote:Any Northshore or Northwest suburb recs appreciated.

Central Bakery in downtown Mount Prospect carries a variety of Paczki - They even have someone dressed as a paczki!!
I cannot comment on how authentic these are, and certainly there are many that I'm sure are Americanized versions, but they are very nice looking paczki

Central Bakery Paczkis are among my favorites. Thanks for the reminder.

Delightful Pastries, 5927 W. Lawrence (just east of intersection of Lawrence and Austin). Still my favorite, and the favorite of my Polish friend and her family, who say they're the best paczki in the city.

it's been a couple years but I really liked oven fresh

Delicious things tend to happen whenever I hang around with Cathy2. Today was no different. Bridgeport Bakery somehow appeared out of nowhere, and we were greeted by a display of large red and white boxes featuring Polish heraldry and announcing: "Paczki." It quickly became clear that they take their paczki seriously in Bridgeport.



According to the helpful woman at the counter, the best way to be assured of obtaining the paczki you want on February 28th is to make an order by phone. Here is where it gets intense. You must reserve your order leaving not only your last name, but your first name and phone number. When you arrive to pick up your order, you will be asked for your last name, then your other identifying information will be cross-checked with the paperwork on hand. (Cases of paczki-loving imposters making off with prepaid orders have been a problem in the past). For those who simply must have the first available paczki of the day, the staff will fill pre-arranged orders for those who knock on the door any time after 12:01 AM on the 28th. (Deliveries of very large orders can be arranged to take place for a couple of days before Fat Tuesday.) Also, if you order bacon buns, you can pick those up, too.

We were advised that it is best to order ASAP if you plan to buy more than a few paczki. As always, it's best to double check about special arrangements. I'd be sure to ask again about the 12:01 pickup option when I called to order if I were planning to be there just after midnight.

Here is a list of paczki flavors available at Bridgeport Bakery:
(75 cents each except as noted below):
Apple
Apricot
Blueberry
Chocolate Buttercream
White buttercream
Cheese (recommended by counter staff)
Cherry
Custard (chocolate)
Custard (powdered sugar)
Lemon
Peach
Pineapple
Plain
poppyseed
Prune
Raspberry
Strawberry (powdered sugar)
Strawberry & whipped cream $1.00
Whipped Cream .85

Bridgeport Bakery
2907 S. Archer Avenue
Chicago
773-523-1121

Meanwhile, kitty corner from hipster-cool Alliance, the mean girls at Andy's were cooking up some of the best I have had.

Oh, the "mean girls".. I am scared of them! I will check out the rose paczki, but I would also like to try some of the many sausages they have there, but I am always too scared of the mean girls to ask what is what.

Any suggestions/tips for trying out the sausages at Andy's? I have no idea what any of them are...

Josephine wrote:According to the helpful woman at the counter, the best way to be assured of obtaining the paczki you want on February 28th is to make an order by phone.

Note, that "Poilsh-Polish" paczki day is TOMORROW, i.e., Holy Thursday. Many of the Polish bakeries around town will be gearing their load for tomorrow. So be warned.

Rob

emdub wrote:Oh, the "mean girls".. I am scared of them! I will check out the rose paczki, but I would also like to try some of the many sausages they have there, but I am always too scared of the mean girls to ask what is what.

Any suggestions/tips for trying out the sausages at Andy's? I have no idea what any of them are...

They are really quite harmless and some would say attractive. However, you are in for a 7th grade level "Sarc 3" course, in Polish, if you dare betray your ignorance in a reasonable and polite manner. Besides, we learn by eating. Buy a selection of things, they're practically free and the label will have the Polish name. Otherwise, I'd nicely ask Anna here, because she's not mean at all. Another gentle introduction might be had at Bobak's, which has more bilingual product descriptions. Look at their website. And be firm.

jygach wrote:Any Northshore or Northwest suburb recs appreciated.

Oakmill opened a location in Arlington Heights on Rand Rd, just SE of Target and NW of Euclid.
2314 E Rand Rd
Arlington Hts
(847) 454-0139

Those ladies at Andy's are charming compared to a typical store clerk in Communist Poland! Our biggest shock when visiting Poland 2 summers ago was how helpful and nice all the sales people were. 180 degree change under capitalism. My husband spent 6 years living in Warsaw in the 1980's while in med school. He was literally in shock. The requisite rudeness was gone.

What's what at Andy's? It's all good. Buy a quarter pound of several things, start a list, and mark down what you particularly like.

Do some research on Andy's website: www.andysdeli.com. They have the names in Polish and English, so you have a slightly better idea of what you're eating. If you give me specifics, I can give you translations. The biggest differences in the sausages are the amount of garlic and the courseness of the grind.

Pork is big in Poland, so there are many versions of pork sausages (wieprzowe) and ham (szynka, szynkowe).

Beef is wolowe mieso, wolowina (with a slash through the "l").

Chicken is kura, kurze.

Veal is cielecina, cielece.

Don't ever ask what's in headcheese (salceson), kiszka (blood sausage) or flaczki (tripe). Just savor the flavors...Smacznego! Anna

Stopped in at Andy's Deli & Europa Cafe on Division for Polish-Polish Pazcki Day. I got there right around 9:00 a.m., thinking I wouldn't get the freshest - but I was surprised that they were still quite fresh. I bought a half-dozen to bring into work. I saved the rose for myself, which was delicious. The other selections offered were apricot, raspberry, custard and prune.

There was quite a whir of Polish people going in and out with their boxes of Paczkis.

So, if I were to try to go tonight after work, or tomorrow, or this weekend, would I be too late? Do you know what time Delightful opens?

Thanks!

Don't worry, Ms. Paris--paczki are featured year round, and Delightful Pastries is gearing up next for the crowds this coming Tuesday. Call for availability or to reserve.

According to their card, but best to verify: Delightful Pastries, 5927 W. Lawrence, Chicago, 773-545-7215; hours: Tues-Saturday, 6 AM--7 PM; Sunday 6 AM--3 PM. Anna

Does anyone have any good suggestions on finding Panczki in the western burbs area (Naperville'ish is preferred)?

Has anyone tried panczki from Bobak's?

We are hard pressed for a good bakery out this way.

Thanks.

PBandFluff wrote:Does anyone have any good suggestions on finding Panczki in the western burbs area (Naperville'ish is preferred)?

Has anyone tried panczki from Bobak's?

We are hard pressed for a good bakery out this way.

Thanks.

I was at the Bobak's in Burr Ridge just this afternoon. Today they only had three types of paczki available, apricot, custard, and rose. I made the trip just to pick up some rose because it's a favorite in my house and a bit harder to find. There is also a bakery next door that's very good called Kirsten's Danish Bakery and they're taking preorders for the 28th. I walked in to pick up a list because I remember someone else in the thread was asking about paczki in the Westmont area. I spoke with the owner there and she told me that she accepts phone orders but you have to have a record of what you ordered on paper when you come in.

On my order form you have to provide your Name/Phone/ and Pick up Time. They advise no pick ups before 5.30 Am.

They have a Kirsten's Special Dozen for $11.95 however you do NOT get to select what goes into the dozen.

Otherwise all the other flavors available are $1.10
Raspberry
Apricot
Lemon
Poppy Seed
Cherry
Strawberry
Butter Cream
Apple
Custard
Cheese
Blueberry
Prune
Fresh Strawberry (however it is $1.95)

I will probably order a dozen or so from here, and then walk in next door to Bobak's to pick up some Rose and any other flavors that might not be covered here.

Kirsten's Danish Bakery
94 Burr Ridge Parkway
Burr Ridge, IL
http://www.kirstensdanishbakery.com/
(630) 655-2066

I don't have Bobak's address, but it's two shops over.
630.655.2100 <-- Burr Ridge Location.

I also wanted to add that I'm seriously considering trying a small order from Bridgeport Bakery too. With all the talk as to how each place makes them differently I'm thinking of trying a sample from different places this time around.

zim wrote:it's been a couple years but I really liked oven fresh

Oven Fresh being directly around the corner from my house, I tried out a few of their paczki. Tried my first rose flavored one... um, must be an acquired taste. The fresh strawberry & whipped cream was very nice, although I thought the sweet glop/strawberry ratio was a bit high. The thing I like best about these paczki is the lightness and greaselessness of the dough. They're less like a doughnut and more like a light, sweet, yeast roll... but with the nice crust you get from being cooked in oil.

Now, if only more bakeries used a good quality custard filling in their products.... sigh.

Oven Fresh Bakery
7210 W Foster Ave
Chicago, 60656
(773) 631-7000

Giovanna

Central Bakery in Mt. Prospect says they are selling them the 28th, I think. I have not had the paczki but I like some of their other stuff and I would like to surprise my Polish SO.