THAT THURSDAY FEELING!

Falling this year on February 16th, there can be few days in Poland more deeply cherished than Tłusty Czwartek…

Rooted in Poland’s devoutly religious psyche, historically-speaking the last Thursday before the Lent holiday was traditionally a day on which worshippers would feast on goodies that would otherwise be shunned during this solemn period of fasting. As the years went by, that came to mean one thing alone: the donut.

Now bordering on mania, Fat Thursday sees the consumption of over 100 million donuts nationwide, with immense, unwieldy queues forming before daybreak at the bestknown bakeries and sweet stores. In Warsaw’s case, that means Zagoździński, family-run

The New Wave

Kukułka

Mokotowska 52

Lukullus

Lisowska 23, Chmielna 23, Rozbrat 22/24, Walecznych

29, Mokotowska 52A

MOD

Oleandrów 8 & Paryska 27

The Old Guard

Cukiernia Pawłowicz

Chmielna 13

Irena

Zakopiańska 20

Stary Dom

Puławska 104/106

Zagoździński

Górczewska 15 establishment that’s been doing business since 1925. Wrapped in waxy paper and tied together with a string, it’s the donuts from legendary venues such as this that go the quickest, with demand so high that limits are often enforced strictly rationing how many individuals can buy.

Bridging the past with the present, these old school refuges provide a glorious glimpse into the past (right down to their surly and occasionally hostile service), yet they’ve faced increasing competition from a fresh crop of newbies that have more in-line with the Western-style donuts so beloved by Chief Wiggum. Whichever you prefer, Warsaw won’t let you down.