FASTNACHT

Monday 3/3/25 6am-6pm & Tuesday 3/4/25 5am-5pm

Flour bags piled ceiling high, extra yeast, cases of heavy cream, and German dirndl dresses ironed and ready for wearing...it must be Fastnacht for sure! Fastnacht is the day of feasting and celebration before the Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday. For those unfamiliar with the Lenten season, it is a quieter time in the Church as the days that lead up to Easter are set aside for prayer, self discipline and the religious practice of fasting. Many people "give something up" for Lent, and often it's sweets. However, on Tuesday, before the fasting begins, it's a time of indulgence and hence the familiar term "Fat Tuesday". Many people know the celebration as Mardi-Gras, or Carnivale, but for those with German roots it's FASTNACHT, feast night... the eve of the fast! We make a special butter-sponge doughnut for the "feast", and it is only made and sold 2 days a year, the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Our Fastnacht doughnuts are a labor of love for our bakers. They are a 2-part dough and require quite a bit of procedure and perfection. Every one is hand rolled and hand cut and with heavy cream in the dough itself, it all seems a bit excessive for a doughnut. There are easier ways to make a doughnut today but some things are about tradition. For two days straight, two generations of family will work side by side, mixing and measuring, rolling and cutting, proofing and frying, powdering, sugaring, and yes eating too! Fastnachts are so much more than a recipe, they're a tradition. A mutual respect, an intangible spirit, and a connection to loved ones no longer present, all seem to interface with the quarts of cream, sifted flour, and the arduous workload at hand. By tradition, the best of the best is served on the Feast and we believe are Fastnachts are just that...the best! They are light, airy, and delicate and finished with a powdered sugar or a cinnamon sugar. Come celebrate with us on Monday or Tuesday, take a bite of tradition and... feast before the fast begins!