Fat Thursday
Today is Tlusty Czwartek - 'Fat Thursday' in the Catholic calendar. And for the Poles, one product above all others has gained hallowed significance on this day - the doughnut.
Consider it your sacred duty to scoff as many 'paczki' as you can today. Indeed, it would be unchivalrous not to. Many Poles eat doughnuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can rest assured that you're unlikely to have difficulty finding one. Confectioners are rustling up bumper orders.
If in doubt head to one of the traditional confectioneries (cukiernia) that dot every street in this sweet-toothed city. Classics include Cichowsky (ul. Starowislna 21), Hawelka (Main market Square 34) or Sliwa (ul. Krolewska 8). One word of warning, Polish doughnuts come flavoured with rose or advocat, which may come as a bit of a surprise to those raised on the raspberry or strawberry varieties. An acquired taste, but you'll soon be hooked!