Punch-key. Poonch-key. Pooch-key. No matter how “paczki” is pronounced, 16 people will eat their fill of the Polish pastries from Bennison’s Bakery in an eating contest Saturday.Saturday’s event is the newest way Bennison’s is connecting to the community after its 72-year history.
Larry Bennison opened the bakery on Davis Street in 1938. After Bennison’s death in 1967, Guy Downer, who used to sell ingredients to Bennison, bought the bakery. Downer now owns Bennison’s in partnership with his son Jory.
“As a kid, I always worked in the bakery,” Jory Downer said. “(Baking) is the only thing I’ve ever done.”
Guy Downer said he can’t imagine running the bakery without Jory. Now Jory’s son, also named Guy, works in the bakery as well.
“I’m just glad that I have lived long enough to see my grandson here,” the older Guy Downer said.
Although Valentine’s Day is approaching, Jory Downer said the bakery chose to focus instead on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 16. However, the bakery still offers cookies, cakes and other sweets made especially for the occasion.
“Valentine’s Day is a terrific day in the bakery when it’s not on a Sunday, ” he said. “It’s a hotel and dinner day now instead of people picking up something after work.”
Instead, Bennison’s will celebrate Fat Tuesday with paczki, Polish pastries similar to jelly doughnuts that are traditionally eaten on the holiday, Jory Downer said. The bakery will host a paczki-eating contest Saturday afternoon benefiting the American Red Cross and its relief efforts in Haiti.
“They’re not allowed to squeeze the jelly onto the floor,” he said. “Hopefully no one gets sick.”
Weinberg junior Julie Santella, who will be participating in the eating contest, said her friends encouraged her to join the contest because she has a huge appetite.
“Doughnuts and a good cause-sounds good,” she said. “I can’t even pronounce what they’re giving us to eat.”
The bakery has modernized with new technology and new styles of baking, but some traditions have been in place since Bennison was owner.
“One thing we have never changed is our devil’s food cake,” Guy Downer said.
Lisa Itamura, who brought her 7-year-old son Alex Kanard to Bennison’s to buy cookies, said she had been to the bakery three times earlier in the week.
“Anytime we need a cake, we come here,” the 40-year-old Evanston resident said. “I like the fact that it’s a nice neighborhood bakery.”
David Roberts, a student in Northwestern’s School of Continuing Studies, said he has been coming to Bennison’s for 15 years.
“It’s a really good bakery,” the 59-year-old said. “It’s not like the Plaza Cafe; it’s been around.”
Even those who do not step inside Bennison’s can still experience it from the street. Passers-by can watch Guy Downer and other workers decorate cakes through a window on Davis Street.
“Kids love to stand up there and watch us work,” Guy Downer said. “Adults do too.”[email protected]
