PIETRZYK PIEROGI

Making pierogi is something Erica Pietrzyk has done since she was a kid. Making pierogi was a family activity. Everyone would come over to the house, and the day would be filled with lots of potato peeling, and pierogi stuffing. Frequently this was done around a major holiday, like Christmas or Easter, but sometimes it would be done just because.

Making pierogi is something Erica Pietrzyk has done since she was a kid. Now her family recipe is in over 100 stores, and this Tuesday she is adding paczki to the menu!

However, there is a local pierogi shop that is putting a new twist on this food, stuffing with them creative fillings or transforming into something brand new like a taco! The place is responsible for these fun creations is Pietrzyk Pierogi in Detroit. Pietrzyk Pierogi has been at its location in Gratiot Central Market for about a year. At their store, Pietrzyk sells a range of pierogi along with soups and different polish street eats. They also have fun pierogi inventions like their taco pierogi and Yaki rogi, their take on a Japanese pancake.

click to enlarge Lee DeVitoErica Pietrzyk at the counter of Pietrzyk Pierogi. click to enlarge Pietrzyk PierogiIt's happening. Chef Erica Pietrzyk will extend her playful take on Polish cuisine to the beloved paczki just in time for Fat Tuesday.Her Pietrzyk Pierogi shop in Eastern Market is now taking pre-orders . Pietrzyk says all of her paczki fillings are made fresh from scratch in Eastern Market and are sourced from local vendors.Paczki are a dozen for $20, and customers can get a minimum of three flavors or a mixed dozen. Pre-orders end on Thursday, Feb. 20.Pickups are from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25.You can also catch Pietrzyk Pierogi's paczki from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, at Kuhnhenn Brewery in Warren, during "Paczki Brunch" from noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Urbanrest Brewery in Ferndale, and from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fat Tuesday (Feb. 25) during the Polish Muslims' show at Ant Hall in Hamtramck.Pietrzyk Pierogi is located at 1429 Gratiot Ave. Suite #109, Detroit.

The newcomer, called Pietrzyk Pierogi, is located at 1429 Gratiot Ave., Suite 109. Pietrzyk Pierogi serves pierogis, soups, salads and meats. Pietrzyk Pierogi has proven popular thus far, with a 4.5-star rating out of three reviews on Yelp. Yelper Lionel B. added, "My favorite [pierogi] was The Becky [with] jalapeo peppers, sour cream and cheddar cheese. " Swing on by to take a peek for yourself at Pietrzyk Pierogi.

click to enlarge Mar Manzarnes Bobadilla Brockclick to enlarge Mar Manzarnes Bobadilla BrockPop-up pierogi-maker Pietrzyk Pierogi is preparing to open a brick-and-mortar space in the Eastern Market's Gratiot Central Market.The new carryout restaurant, retail space, and production facility will offer fresh and frozen pierogi. Among the flavors are those packed with traditional cheeses, potatoes, and meats, as well as inventive varieties like the Sports Bar with Buffalo chicken, buttermilk ranch, cheddar cheese, and a hot sauce drizzle.The menu will also offer zapiekankie (Polish street pizza), city chicken, cold vegetable salads, kielbasa, seasonal soups, and more. Several vegan and vegetarian options will also be available.Founder Erica Pietrzyk says the pierogi are a better, healthier alternative to the mass produced, frozen variety available at grocery stores, and she's planning to begin distributing them at metro Detroit grocers in the coming months.Pietrzyk also says she plans to hire people with developmental disabilities and victims of domestic abuse to help with production.Pietrzyk Pierogi started serving pierogi and Polish cuisine based off of family recipes in 2014 at bars and breweries around metro Detroit, and Pietrzyk says her success with the pop-ups is what motivated her to open a permanent space. The company also makes what are arguably the best Paczek available in Hamtramck on Fat Tuesday.The company is still in the process of fundraising, and it's looking for a little help on that front