Paczki day a wild success as 2,916 donuts sold out | News, sports, jobs

030405 … R Paczki 1 … Liberty … 03-04-25 … Patty Rydarowicz from Kravitz Deli fills an order from Paczki during the fat Tuesday in the local deli … by R. Michael Semple

Liberty – A Polish tradition overtook an Irish, as Kravitz Delicatessen and Polish Youngstown on the 15th annual Paczki day.

The Kravitz owner Matt Rydarowicz said that the sales volume for the annual carnival celebration was higher than the sale at St. Patrick's Day, which is traditionally the highest influence day of the year.

Rydarowicz took over ownership of the Belmont Avenue restaurant in April 2002.

Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer from Polish Youngstown said that 243 dozen of the Paczki, a Polish donut, were sold. That is 2,916 of the sweet treats.

she said

“This was the first huge relapse since Covid” Said Heschmeyer.

However, she and Rydarowicz said that the weather had played a role in the great turnout. The temperatures were most of the day in the mid -1950s and it was sunny.

“A year when we had an ice storm, we had to give away our last batches”, “ Said Heschmeyer.

“People don't mind standing outside when the weather is nice.” Rydarowicz added.

According to Heschmeyer, a percentage of the Paczki turnover and a lower percentage of the regular turnover of the restaurant according to Polish Youngstown goes to support scholarships for students and other events.

“We brought this tradition to (former owner) Jack Kravitz, so it is nice to see that people still come out and support them.” Said Heschmeyer.

She said that the Deli cannot keep up with the volume of the sold donuts, so that Polish youngstown summarizes with the Cleveland Bakery. However, some of the pastries are produced in Kravitz.

“The cook here uses my mother's recipe and we trained the Cleveland Bakery for how to do it, also with her recipe.” Heschmeyer said about her mother Dolores Cika, who died in 2009. “I and Marta (from Krakus Deli in Boardman) were in the back while wearing our Babuschkas.”

Rydarowicz said the Koch from Kravitz and he is usually “Pretty good with numbers” But he had never expected the sale of Corned Beef and Kohl on Tuesday.

“Today our best sales day has been since my takeover” he said. “We sold our last six Paczki five minutes after closing.”

In addition to the weather, he said that he thinks the opening at 8 a.m. also helped the sale because people are on their way to work.

“We were struck all day”, “ Said Rydarowicz.

The newspaper's photographer said that the line outside was 15 when he arrived shortly after 10 a.m. and 30 a.m. when he went an hour later.

“We appreciate all customers and their support. Hopefully you will come back the weekend of St. Patrick's Day. “ Said Rydarowicz.

In addition to Paczki, Kravitz also offered other Polish dishes, including Kielbasa, filled cabbage and Polish beer as well as her own menu offers.

The food of Paczki is the traditional Polish way to indulge in the past of Lent before fasting, which begins today. Although they look like Jelly -Donuts, Paczki consist of particularly rich dough with eggs, fats, sugar and sometimes milk. Traditionally, the dough is added a small amount of alcohol alcohol before cooking. While it evaporates, it prevents the oil absorption deep into the dough.

Paczki's sales in Poland are highest “Fat Thursday” Mark the beginning of the last week of the lectures. In the United States, Wednesday is observed the day before the Ascher. It became popular in the Polish communities at the beginning of the 20th century, said Heschmeyer.