The 2024 calendar may go down in history as the enemy of romance.
It lists Mardi Gras, better known in Chicago as Paczki Day, on Feb. 13 and Valentine’s Day on Wednesday, Feb. 14. That presents a couple of problems.
Bakery managers have acknowledged that while they do booming business on Paczki Day, it’s not the greatest thing to have Valentine’s Day fall on Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting and abstinence that begins the 40-day Lent period for Christians, according to previous reporting and area pastors. The fasting does not make allowances for heart-shaped cakes or pink-sprinkled Cupid cookies, but bakers remain optimistic.
“People who are more conservative might do that (practice Ash Wednesday fasting on Valentine’s Day), but true romantics will find us,” offered Alexandra Solak, marketing and operations director for Oak Mill Bakery, which is locally famous for paczki and has bakeries in Niles, Harwood Heights, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines and Chicago.
Most bakers are encountering a more practical problem: how to gear up a large Mardi Gras paczki-making operation at the same time they are trying to produce delicate Valentine’s treats decorated with scrolls and roses.
“It’s going to be crunch time for sure,” said Jorge Santizo, owner of Ganache Bakery in Morton Grove. “It’s a good problem to have; I’m not complaining.”
He started selling paczki on Feb. 1, but said the heavy production will occur from Feb. 8, which is Fat Thursday or Tlusty Czwartek, when Poles indulge in the golden orbs, to Feb. 13.
Meanwhile, he has a large order of Valentine cookies going out Feb. 12, in advance of the Paczki Day rush.
Oak Mill bakery is opting for the best of both worlds by offering Valentine Paczki, a box of three custard, dark chocolate-frosted paczki and three raspberry, pink-iced paczki decorated with candy hearts and inscriptions like “kiss me” and “be mine.”
Palermo Bakery in Norridge has cookies decorated for Valentine’s Day, the Super Bowl, Lunar New Year and Mardi Gras, with an extensive selection of paczki, including an occasionally-offered hot fried chicken sandwith on a paczek (paczek is the singular of paczki, which is plural).
Here are some local bakeries offering seasonal treats.
- Ganache Bakery, 9328 Waukegan Rd Morton Grove, 847-410 7198. Traditional paczki cost $2.99 each or $28.99 per dozen. Gourmet paczkis cost $3.25 each or $34.99 per dozen. Valentine’s Day treats include strawberry whipped cream cake, chocolate-dipped strawberries , Valentine cookies and chocolate heart brownies.
- LeilaLove Macarons, 315 Higgins Road, Park Ridge, (847) 518-5003. On Feb. 8, brioche donuts in Nutella, strawberry and pistachio glazes will be offered, with a pink rose latte free with the purchase of six donuts at $2.99 each. For Valentine’s Day, the shop will offer a variety of macaron arrangements, including teddy bear macarons. Boxes start at $15.
- Oak Mill Bakery, 8012 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, (847) 318-6400; 4747 N. Harlem, Harwood Heights, (708) 867-9400, and Arlington Heights and Des Plaines locations. Flavors include traditional fruit flavors and gourmet offerings including whipped cream, and Polish favorites such as rose, prune advocaat.
- Palermo Bakery, 7312 Irving Park Road, Norridge, (708) 695-5998. Classic flavored paczki include poppyseed, custard and various fruit flavors. Gourmet flavors include strawberry and whipped cream, rose and French cream, tiramisu and horchata. Paczki sandwiches including Southern fried chicken and hot honey are offered. The shop also sells a variety of Valentine treats.
