Posted on Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 5:59 a.m.
A Fat Tuesday tradition: paczki at Dimo's Deli and Donuts
By Melanie Maxwell
It's Fat Tuesday and that means paczki. Whether you prefer raspberry, apple or custard, come this time of year, paczki are a hot commodity.
AnnArbor.com photographer Melanie Maxwell filmed Walid Dimo as he talks about paczki season at Dimo's Deli and Donuts in Ann Arbor. Dimo told AnnArbor.com last week that he planned to make about 9,000 of the rich, pre-Lenten treats.
Melanie Maxwell is a photographer for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at melaniemaxwell@annarbor.com.
Comments
a2local
Thu, Feb 14, 2013 : 6:25 p.m.
Dimo makes them the best!
Frustrated in A2
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 5:58 a.m.
Dimo is the man!!!
Elijah Shalis
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 8:54 p.m.
Those are not real paczkis. I got up at 730AM to go to the Copernicus European Delicatessen on Main St. for the real thing. The workers even spoke Polish.
Arboriginal
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 12:30 a.m.
In Hamtramck, demand is so high they start making them a week early and freeze them.
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 10:53 p.m.
I was told they don't bake their own at Copernicus, that they're from Canada... http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/the-quest-for-ann-arbors-best-paczki/
Arboriginal
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 9:40 p.m.
Congrats on your expertise. I'm having my treat from a local.
a2miguy
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 9:17 p.m.
Copernicus is my annual stop, too. I learned, however, that their paczki are shipped in from Windsor. The horror! Still my favorite, though.
a2miguy
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 8:46 p.m.
For the record, paczki = plural, pazcek = singular.
YpsiGreen
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 12:29 a.m.
Thank you. Part of my annual rant, too.
a2miguy
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 8:47 p.m.
....or rather paczek. (ugh, typing too fast)
aatownie
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 8:28 p.m.
I love 'em (Walid and packis...maybe not in that order)
Victoria Merinsky
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 7:50 p.m.
Get the REAL Fatness Phatness ,, plum rosehip 2 kinds of cream custards Amadeus and here http://copernicuseuropeandeli.webs.com/
music to my ear
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 7:06 p.m.
I got mine from Buschs in ann arbor .it was pretty good ( Custard) it was not made from the polish bakery which is said to be authentic .my friend who is a skinny bean pole, took 3 to work she said she was going to eat them in front of not so" bean pole girls"to tease them, " oh the drama " must be nice you can eat 3 and not have to say" once through the lips forever on the hips" tomorrow it is back to oatmeal. pazcki away peoples.
beermaestro
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 6:55 p.m.
For such a relatively small pastry, they seem to pack the caloric density of an iron meteorite-- 700-1000 calories, depending on whether they're fried in lard. I 've consumed 3 in the past few days and I'm feeling rather....heavy.
music to my ear
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 7:07 p.m.
dear Beermaestro did you down them with so brewskis Just asking
HeimerBoodle
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:18 p.m.
Cue the pearl clutching over the annual (shocking!) revelation that a glorified doughnut is not exactly health food.
Barb
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:12 p.m.
So nice to see Dimo's spotlighted. That place is an A2 treasure - LOVE their sandwiches.
Frustrated in A2
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 5:59 a.m.
Totally agree Barb!
treetowncartel
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 3:57 p.m.
Stopped in a t Dom Bakeries around 8 this morning to pick some up, that was all they were selling, no donuts to be found, and they were doing quite the business.
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.
Okay, I had one (not from Dimo's). It was awful. Just a bunch of sugar/HFCS filler, with artificial flavor, out of a can. Now I remember why I don't bother. It was just a filled doughnut. I'd much rather have a turnover with actual fresh fruit.
Belisa
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.
"you break it, you eat it" ... I think I'm gonna look for a job there
G-Man
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
Anything to take away from the fact that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and the real reason for the Lenten season. Not surprising when you look at how Christmas has become commercialized and taken away from the true meaning......
Ignatz
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
At least paczki are real....
HeimerBoodle
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:20 p.m.
You mean the day I revel in telling people they might want to take care of that little smudge on their foreheads?
mady
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
my, my, my. a little early for the sackcloth, don't you think?
Section Six
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 2:36 p.m.
Those are not paczki. They are jelly donuts. Here's a good example of real paczki: http://www.catholicmothersonline.com/2012/02/fat-tuesday-how-to-make-authentic-polish-paczki/
Ricardo Queso
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 7:22 p.m.
Authentic paczki are not filled. A dusting in powdered sugar is all they need. If you think about the history of paczki, how many Polish peasants had access to canned corn syrup laden pie fillings? My source? My grandfather was an immigrant from Poland and owned a bakery in Hamtramck in the 1920's to 1950's.
John
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 5:17 p.m.
They're pretty darn close to what you get in Hamtramck. I grew up with those, and Dimo's is the closest thing I've found out this way. The abominations at Kroger / Meijer / or Bush's are jelly donuts.
Julie Baker
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 3:58 p.m.
Section Six, That's how I think of paczki, too. I would always help my grandma make them when I was growing up. Although she made several varieties (glazed, powder sugar, cinnamon sugar), they never involved filling!
LuvAA
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 2:25 p.m.
Love Walid! They were on a roll this morning and sold out around 8:15am...they were furiously in the back making multiple batches...should be ready by now :-) If you've never been to Dimo's, you have to try his monster sandwiches! The falafel plate is excellent too!
John
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.
Try the Roast Beef Club. Only place in AA I've found that has one, and it is amazing.
Hmm
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:22 p.m.
I keep meaning to try a Dimo's sandwich, I hear they are better than "the other guy's", and they're not half a paycheck so I can eat there and not feel guilty
smb
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 2:55 p.m.
Yep, Dimo's is awesome. I'll take one of their sandwiches over an overpriced one from that other sandwich shop Ann Arbor is known for any day.
Bertha Venation
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 1:37 p.m.
MMMM MMMM! Munching on a Dimo's bavarian cream right now!!
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
"Yum! Get in my belly!" ???
music to my ear
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 8:23 p.m.
you people are so mean ,why are you trying to burst his pazcki bubble you go unusual suspect, gobble em down. but whats up with the questions marks
Brad
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 1:35 p.m.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Bastard_(character)
Yvo M
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 1:30 p.m.
Dimo's has some great pastries but I think the best ones are from Dexter Bakery. They also have ones with a cream filling. They have a satellite location now at the new Citgo on Packard and Platt, which is fantastic and much closer.
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 12:47 p.m.
I've never had a paczki, but I agree with Dimo- I need to have one before I die. Today, perhaps... I'm thinking custard.
Hmm
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:20 p.m.
Custard is a win Kellie
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
@mady: Mission accomplished. I may have had two paczki's this morning (it was necessary in order to taste test!) and I have to agree with you, the custard one was better than the fruit filled one..... although both were pretty delicious!
mady
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 3:24 p.m.
Kellie, take it from a long-time paczki afficionado, custard is far and away the best!
Arboriginal
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 12:23 p.m.
Dimo's makes glorious donuts. Walid is a charmer right out of the gate. If he is sold out of buttercream paczki by the time I get there I take it all back!
Arboriginal
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 10:23 p.m.
And we know you know the real thing.
Elijah Shalis
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 8:56 p.m.
Those are donuts not the real thing.
Arboriginal
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 8:52 p.m.
I wanted buttercream as well Bertha. All they had left by the time I got there was raspberry. Still warm and my oh my!
Melanie Maxwell
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 5:41 p.m.
@Arboriginal - I spent a couple hours there yesterday morning to film the video and I can attest to Walid's charm. There were a few family members working the counter (and employees that he treated like family) and the banter back and forth was worth the price of my dollar coffee!
Blue Marker
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 5:01 p.m.
I love Dimo's!
Bertha Venation
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
Agreed! Walid is a dreamboat! They were out of buttercream by the time I got there this morning.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 12:20 p.m.
I think they're gross. But, then again, I don't like donuts and I'm not someone who's into sweet things. Both my ex-husband and current husband love them. My husband and I were at the Meijer near our house last night and he wanted to get some. They only had prune. Not his style. He was bummed, to say the least. I'd prefer garlic bread, or a bag of chips, myself.
Urban Sombrero
Wed, Feb 13, 2013 : 1:16 p.m.
Bertha, I'll have to do that next year. I found them Bavarian cream and blueberry ones. My hubby and my kids were all very happy with them. As for me? GIVE ME GARLIC BREAD OR GIVE ME DEATH. lol
music to my ear
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 6:57 p.m.
but prune flavor severs a purpose ,sugar to some people can( bind ) them up Know what I mean vern. so maybe prune is not such a bad Idea
Paula Gardner
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 6:17 p.m.
I think I just tried my first prune paczki ever - after diving into the wedge of what I thought was chocolate filled. Glad I managed to stick to tradition. I grew up in a paczki-celebrating area that never even offered a chocolate-filled version.
mr_annarbor
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
Prune is a traditional flavor. Dried plums is what folks had left over after a long winter in Eastern Europe. I like prune myself.
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.
@Brad, I think those people must be irregular, or something.
Bertha Venation
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
I tried the Meijer Paczai the other day, Urban... They were awful.... dry and stale. You're not missing anything. If your husband (current and ex) want a REAL good one... they need to go to a bakery.
Brad
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 1:34 p.m.
Who ever thought that putting prune jelly in a donut was a good idea? Me - I'll have a fresh Krispy Kreme any day.
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
He is hilarious. "A gift from the gods." Someone just posted on Twitter who is from Michigan but lives in South Carolina that no one knows what a paczki is where she lives.
smb
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 5:01 p.m.
I grew up in Michigan and lived here until I was 21 when I moved to TX. I never heard of them either. It wasn't until I moved back here that I heard about them when people started bringing them to work on special occasions. I guess it's one of those things. They just weren't the kind of treats my family had around the house. Incidentally, the same is true of Pasties. Never heard of them until I moved back and started doing vacations up north. Nobody knows what those are down south, either. BTW, I'm guessing not many people in Michigan know what a kolache is. People from TX would find that strange too. Also, people around here claim to know what barbeque is but they don't. Try Texas barbeque sometime and you'll see what I mean. :)
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
Yes, I had never heard of them until this morning, reading this article. I'm from Maryland but have also lived in Virginia and Pennsylvania. I think it's an 'up north' thing...
OhioStater
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
I never heard of them until I moved to Michigan about 18 months ago, and I've lived all over the US. Its definitely a Michigan thing.
GoNavy
Tue, Feb 12, 2013 : 2:05 p.m.
In South Carolina they're called jelly donuts.