Where to get king cakes and paczki in Salt Lake for Mardi Gras
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Two king cakes get their sprinkles in New Orleans. (Photo: C. Ross for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Mardi Gras is near, which means it's time to get your orders in for the sweets of the season.
The big picture: For religious and cultural reasons, Utah's Fat Tuesday celebrations tend to be on the skinny side.
- Mormonism is rooted in a Puritan tradition that viewed religious holidays as overly indulgent, so the day (Feb. 13 this year) is not a special occasion in Utah's predominant faith.
How it works: The holiday celebrates the day before Lent — the 40 days before Easter and, in much of Christianity, a season of somber reflection and sacrifice.
- Many churches historically have called on members to give up rich foods during Lent, so "Fat Tuesday" (Mardi Gras in French) was the last chance to enjoy sugar and lard.
- That inspired fun seasonal desserts around the globe.
Zoom in: The New Orleans king cake is a sweetbread circle with colored sugar icing and a plastic baby baked into the dough to symbolize Jesus.
- Paczki are filled donuts, common in Poland and Midwestern cities with Polish immigrant heritage.
The latest: Erin, here! I called about a dozen bakeries and grocery stores this year with dreams of king cakes, paczki, semla buns, galani, fasnacht, alle belles and guaguas — and had a few more iterations of this conversation:
Yes, but: Several Utah eateries are laissez-ing les bon temps rouler!
- Délice French Bakery: King cakes, $24.95. Order by Thursday at (801) 953-1910.
- Gourmandise: King cakes, $24. Order online by Friday.
- Hruska's Kolaches: King cake kolaches, $13.99 for four. Order online.
- Mrs. Backer's Pastry Shop: King cakes, $17.15 or $18 with cream cheese, fruit or almond filling. Order by Friday at (801) 532-2022.
- RISE by Good Day: Paczki, $1.99 apiece. Order by Saturday at (801) 906-8568.
- Schmidt's Pastry Cottage: King cakes, $23.99. Order by Saturday at (801) 280-7200 for the South Jordan location or (801) 967-9766 for Taylorsville.
- Vosen's Bread Paradise: King cakes, $29.99. Order two days in advance at (801) 322-2424.