Paczki-time at Rudy's Strudel in Parma

As pre-Lenten Paczki season approached, I went to my favorite Facebook foodie group (NEO Foodies) to seek out their wisdom.

One thing I really don't like is a paczki filled with a non homemade jelly...the type that reminds you of fruit pie filling in a can.  So I wanted something different than the traditional flavors...something that reminded me more of either a creamstick or perhaps something exotic (coconut cream perhaps?).

Immediately, the group informed me of Rudy's Strudel and Bakery in Parma.  Not only did they have 25+ flavors (many of which were buttercream flavors), but they offered savory paczki as well.

Savory.

I was sold.

This past Saturday morn, I took Max with me to Rudy's and we got to meet Lidia, the owner of the bakery, who was gracious enough to run around the bakery and fill our large order (got a little for everyone)...

...but not before making us feel at home with chairs and toys...

...so that Max could make a masterpiece.

Soon I was driving back a ton of paczki...

 

...as Max slowly enjoyed a chocolate buttercream in the backseat.

Other flavors we got included vanilla buttercream, strawberry buttercream, lemon creme, poppy seed, prune, and marshmallow...

...and most of them were really filled to their limit.

But I was also really interested in the savory paczki where their paczki sandwiches included corned beef and kraut, kielbasa and kraut, potato and cheese...

...and a delicious egg, cheese and bacon paczki that I ate on the way home (like a croissantwich but without the flakiness).

Of course, once we stopped at my brother's house, I started cutting into the sweet paczki too.