The Buzz: Businesses prepare to help you commemorate Mardi Gras, Lent and Leap Day – Appleton Post Crescent

Dust off your beads. 

This upcoming week will bounce from celebration to solemn commemoration and back again.

The wild frivolity of Mardi Gras arrives Tuesday, followed by the austerity of Ash Wednesday and start of Lent. The first Friday fish fry of Lent lands two days later. Leap Day jumps in Saturday.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a day of sanctioned indulgence before Lent. Bakeries roll out their paczki and restaurants let the good times roll. 

A sampling of Fox Cities businesses celebrating Tuesday:

Simple Simon, Manderfield’s, Hill Top, Mom & Pop’s and many grocery store bakeries make fresh paczki. They’re rich, yeasty donuts filled with fruit jelly or cream. Pronounce it poonch-key, or something close to that. Call a local bakery ahead of time to order special flavors.

More: We all know them as maximum yum, but how the heck do you pronounce ‘pączki’?

An accordion player will serenade those coming for paczki from 7 to 9 a.m. Tuesday at Simple Simon Bakery’s Appleton location. Hundreds of people will show up at this tiny place over the course of the day, making it the bakery’s single biggest holiday.

Many bakeries also make King Cakes, which are coffee cake-style cakes decorated to the hilt with Mardi Gras-colored frosting, sugar and a plastic baby figure that is said to either represent Jesus or good luck. In addition to those mentioned above, Breadsmith takes King Cake orders.

Spats, OB’s Brau Haus, Fox River Brewing Co. and Greene’s Pour House go all out to celebrate Fat Tuesday with menus featuring Cajun gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee or catfish. They have hurricanes and Abita beer to wash it all down. Greene’s is the only one of the four that doesn’t take reservations. Chain restaurants also have food and drink specials.

Fish fries

The annual reader poll of favorite Friday fish fries runs Tuesday. Email your pick by Saturday to [email protected] or post an online comment on this story. During Lent, plan on a wait at most supper clubs and taverns unless you’re an early bird or late-night diner. With the current perch shortage, be prepared to pick an alternate fish.

Leap Day

Downtown Appleton merchants celebrate Leap Day, Feb. 29, with items for 29 cents, $2.90, 29% off or buy-one-get-one-free deals. See a list of participating businesses and offers at appletondowntown.org/leap-local. 

Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.

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