Polish Food Store offers Fat Tuesday paczki tradition that keeps customers coming back

In Spring Branch, a Polish Food Store hosts an annual tradition on Fat Tuesday, drawing hundreds of visitors eager to indulge in a special sweet treat.

Almost two decades ago, the Polish Food Store on Blalock Road began offering paczkis in two flavors to its customers. This year, they boast a selection of 10 different types of paczkis.

“It’s just like melting in your mouth,” one customer exclaimed. “It’s very delicious.”

Owner Sharon Szpak explained that paczkis originated in Poland as part of the Fat Tuesday tradition observed by Catholics, where glutenous foods are enjoyed before the start of Lent.

“It is a donut, but it’s different from an American donut,” Szpak noted.

Paczkis are filled with jam or cream, and at the Polish Food Store, everything is made from scratch each day.

Throughout the day, a line of eager customers wraps around the store, with some traveling from as far as Montgomery County, drawn by the allure of this beloved tradition.

While paczkis are typically only made for Fat Tuesday, they have become a staple at the Polish Food Store and are available year-round, selling approximately 150 daily. However, on Fat Tuesday, they sell around 1,500.