In honor of Fat Tuesday, which falls on February 17 this year and marks the last decadent feast before the 40-day fasting season of Lent, Charlotte Patisserie is creating the most delicious deep-fried Polish donuts called pączki that are traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday. If you’re celebrating, make sure to visit Charlotte Patisserie now because their pączki are simply the best.
Unlike standard donuts, pączki (pronounced poonch-kee) are yeast-raised, flattened spheres that are denser, richer, and packed with fillings like jam, lemon, or custard and then topped with glaze or powdered sugar. The pączki made at Charlotte Patisserie is perfect. Made in a traditional style by pastry chef Michael Lechowicz, their version is decadent—but not overly sweet—light, airy, a non-greasy finish and loaded with different fillings like rose (most traditional), hazelnut and caramel miso. Their other flavors include spicy apple, black currant, raspberry, pistachio chocolate, lemon meringue, and Oreo.
Charlotte Patisserie, a splendid bakery known for its delicious and beautifully decorated old-world European desserts, has been quietly perfecting pączki and other pastries for more than a decade. Founded in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, over a decade ago, Charlotte Patisserie has since established a loyal following for its hand-crafted, traditional French desserts created entirely in-house. Led by Lechowicz and his sister Magda Stefanske (owner-operator), the family business opened a new outpost in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood last month at 78 Seventh Avenue and on the corner of West 15th Street.
The intimate Manhattan spot offers the same elegant pastries, meticulous technique and intimate neighborhood feel that made the original into a destination for Brooklyn dessert enthusiasts. The Chelsea location provides guests a rotating selection of mouth watering pastries in flavors such as Duet (white chocolate, milk chocolate, hazelnut crunch inside), Black Currant Lemon, Bourbon Chocolate Pecan, and more. Additional sweets include Opera Cake (layers of almond sponge soaked in coffee syrup with chocolate ganache and coffee buttercream), seasonal fruit and nut tarts, macarons, truffles, crème brûlée, salted caramel, and more.
In addition, the bakery also offers an assortment of drinks like coffee, espresso, tea, and hot chocolate. Best of all, each and every dessert and pastry at Charlotte Patisserie are freshly baked and meticulously decorated with inviting flavor combinations that will put a smile on your face and satisfy your sweet tooth. Charlotte Patisserie is a pastry wonderland that’s worth visiting!