Mardi Gras isn’t subtle, and neither is this rainbow-colored confection. So what is a king cake, and why is there a baby ...

Customers stand outside bakeries all over town for paczki on Fat Tuesday, especially at New Palace Bakery in Hamtramck.

Order by the dozen to avoid decision panic at the glass case. Fruit fillings rotate, yet raspberry, plum, and apricot are faithful stalwarts. Ask which batch just cooled for a still-warm, sugar-dusted ...