Shoppers Hungry for Paczki Snap up Fat Tuesday Treats

Fans of the sumptuous Fat Tuesday sweets called paczki were out in force in Berkley today.

The newly opened sold out of all but two prune-flavored paczki by midday and customers at sorted through the boxed treats to find the remaining custard-filled confections.

"We've been selling a lot, really since Saturday," Hiller's manager Joe Bono said. "It's picked up a lot the past two days."

Providing sweet relief to paczki-seekers, he added: "We're far from sold out."

Unfortunately, such was not the case at Butterfly Bake Shoppe, which had only two paczki left at midday.

"It was ridiculous. We had no idea," said Marc Lampcov, whose wife, Olga, runs her cake-decorating business, Olga's Creations, out of Butterfly Bake Shoppe.

He said the bakery sold 21 dozen paczki by 10:30 a.m.

"It was unreal. We had prepaid orders for seven dozen and we easily could have sold more, Lampcov said. "We'll do more next year. We'll be Berkley's paczki destination."

That was good news for LaToyah Meter of Oak Park, who was disappointed to find prune was her only option when she stopped by at lunchtime Tuesday.

"I thought I found a safe place," she laughed.

Lampcov made it up to her with a red velvet cupcake.

Many Christians mark Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, with an indulgent celebration before the Lenten season of sacrifice begins the next day, Ash Wednesday.

Local Mardi Gras celebrations

While many Metro Detroiters mark Fat Tuesday with paczki, Mardi Gras is celebrated elsewhere – such as in New Orleans – with parades, costumes and festive masks. You will find a few Mardi Gras celebrations around here, too. The Royal Oak Restaurant Association, for example, is sponsoring a , with proceeds benefiting local charities. and Dino's Lounge in Ferndale are also hosting Mardi Gras festivities.