Belvil Bakery

This was the Belvil Bakery in the 1950s and 60s in Belleville Michigan.

I thought about the Belvil Bakery in Belleville, Michigan as I munched on a paczki this morning. Today is Fat Tuesday and it was the tradition to eat Polish donuts called paczki on this last day before Lent.

Polish donuts (Paczki) served on Fat Tuesday, the last day before lent.

The Belvil Bakery was a Polish bakery back in the 1950s and 1960s-- a combination deli and bakery that had a certain smell of smoked kielbasa, baking bread, and sugary smell that I can't identify, but definitely remember. The ladies who worked there all spoke Polish and on Saturday morning the place was abuzz with workers and customers. I remember the spool of string that hung down from the ceiling which was used to tie up the boxes of baked goods.

This is where we would buy our rye bread, smoked and fresh kielbasa, lunch meats and occasional baked treats. The Belvil Bakery had the best cake-style doughnuts--I've never had better. The glazed were the best. I used to serve (and eat) them when I worked at the Bingo at the PNA Hall on Sumpter Road. 

The Belvil Bakery doesn't exist anymore. Only the memories of another time and place. The building now houses a hair salon.

If you would like to make Paczki at home I have a recipe for them on my website here.