Mango chipotle paczki? Sounds maddening, but it's true

Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press
·3 min read

Paczki palooza time

Fat Tuesday, also known as Paczki Day, doesn't arrive until Feb. 21. But for Union Joints, the company behind several metro Detroit restaurants, including Vinsetta Garage, Grand Castro and Union Assembly, the time is now. Union Joints has come up with new flavors and some creative names for its 2023 lineup of paczki. Since 2017, the Clarkston-based restaurant group has been offering its take on Polish pastries.

Union Joints collection of creative paczki are available for pre-order.
Union Joints collection of creative paczki are available for pre-order.

This year's flavors are a result of a Paczki Madness bracket-style voting competition. They're available through Feb. 17 and sold in two different four-packs, Madness or Old School, for $16 each. The Madness four-pack includes a pastry that's Rice Krispies-inspired, another that's filled and iced with matcha, a mango chipotle variety with lime Tajin icing, and a bourbon pecan pie version. The Old School four-pack is Union Joints' modern take on classic paczki. There's raspberry hibiscus, vanilla cardamom custard, lemon poppy seed and chocolate coffee.You can order at unionpantry.com for pickup 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 21 at Vinsetta Garage, Gran Castor, Union Rec and Honcho restaurants.

White Castle Valentine's Day is back

Valentine's Day dining returns to White Castle.
Valentine's Day dining returns to White Castle.

Does your valentine crave sliders? After taking a pause during the pandemic, White Castle locations are resuming their Valentine's Day dinner event. From 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, select White Castle locations will decorate their dining rooms for Valentine's Day. There will be hostess seating of guests and tableside service. Guests will order off the menu and be served at the table. Valentine's Day dining at White Castle began in 1991. Nearly 20 metro Detroit locations are participating. For a list of locations and to reserve a spot go to whitecastle.com.

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Detroit Institute of Bagels ready to open

Opening day for the Detroit Institute of Bagels in Detroit's Core City neighborhood is almost here. Owner Ben Newman revealed in October that the popular bagel spot would reopen in the former Ochre Bakery spot at 4884 Grand River near the corner of Grand River and Warren in Detroit. On Monday, Newman confirmed to the Metro Times that the reopening of the beloved bagel spot will be Feb. 16. At first, it will offer carryout, online ordering and grab-and-go options. Sit-down dining is expected to start in the spring.

The beloved bagel shop's original location was on Michigan Avenue in Corktown. It closed two years ago, after seven years in business. Ochre Bakery in Core City closed last May.

Newman said last fall that in addition to boiled and baked bagels with cream cheese and coffee, the establishment would offer Jewish deli classics like challah and rye bread, pastrami and matzoh ball soup. The shop's original location is now home to a James Oliver Coffee Co.

Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mango chipotle paczki? Sounds maddening, but it's true