KC Croatian Povitica: Strawberry Hill, Old Country, Mema’s, Peter May’s or Krizman’s?

[Melanie Wong]

Another Kansas City area specialty that has caught my eye is Croatian povitica.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/482752#3331368

From this post, it looks like Bichelmeyer only bakes it during the holidays for the benefit of the school.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/473315

I’m wondering where a good version can be found. Strawberry Hill Povitica, Old Country Bakery, and Mema’s seem to bake it on a regular basis though Old Country’s hours of operation for walk-ins are limited. Povitica has also been sighted at Peter May’s House of Kielbasa and Krizman’s House of Sausage --- any good and do they make their own or sell the product of one of the aforementioned bakeries?

Any others? What’s your favorite?

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Mema's Old Fashioned Bakery
1829 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City, KS 66111

Old Country Bakery
14438 W 100th St, Lenexa, KS 66215

Strawberry Hill Povitica
8609 Quivira Rd, Lenexa, KS 66214

Mema's
1211 Main St, KC, MO 64105

Bichelmeyer Meats
704 Cheyenne Ave, Kansas City, KS 66105

Krizman's House of Sausage
424 N 6th St, Kansas City, KS 66101

Peter May's House of Kielbasa
1654 Bristol Ave, Kansas City, MO 64126

[Melanie Wong]

Thought I’d share what I’ve learned on the Povitica trail these last couple days.

Peter May’s House of Kielbasa sells povitica from Bernice’s Bakery, but only at Christmas time.

Friday afternoon I grabbed the last slice of povitica from the downtown location of Mema’s Bakery. A couple inches thick, the slice from a double-folded loaf was $3.49. This was the richest of the three examples I’ve tasted --- more buttery, sweeter, more spices. The layers were very thin, approaching strudel dough rather than bread-like. The external layers were on the tough side, but the inside was softer and sodden with buttery moistness.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/5744616676/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/5744070687/

At Saturday morning’s Downtown Overland Park farmers market, I headed over to the Pallo Povitica booth on the end where this cute little girl waited on me and offered me a sample. The English walnut filling had a more intense flavor than the other two, coming through more directly with less spice and butter influence. It is, however, sweeter and had some crystallized sugar in spots. The lighter pastry has a leavened, bread-like texture that tasted the freshest of the group.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/5744621588/

Besides whole loaves, small plates with two thin slices are offered for sale for a $1.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/5744078647/

At Strawberry Hill Povitica in Lenexa several flavors of filling are produced and available for sampling. I tried the walnut, poppyseed and cream cheese filled povitica. The overall style seemed in between the other two. The pastry layer was thicker than Mema’s yet thinner than Pallo. Not as sweet as those two, and it’s about mid-way between them in butteriness and spice level too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...

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Strawberry Hill Povitica
8609 Quivira Rd, Lenexa, KS 66214

Mema's
1211 Main St, KC, MO 64105

Peter May's House of Kielbasa
1654 Bristol Ave, Kansas City, MO 64126

Pallo Povitica
Kearney, Kearney, MO

Bernice's Bakery
6000 Leavenworth Rd, Kansas City, KS 66104

[chileheadmike]

Thanks for the report back. I hope you're having a great time and I'm looking forward to more reviews.

Thanks
Mike

[bbqboy]

I second that.

[Melanie Wong]

Another candidate, Pallo Povitica sells at the Saturday morning Overland Park farmers market.
http://www.pallopovitica.com/

Any opinions?

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Pallo Povitica
Kearney, Kearney, MO

[chileheadmike]

I have only had Strawberry Hill's. Very good, thin layers of bread and the filling wasn't too sweet.
I think I got it at the City Market on a Saturday when they do the Farmer's Market there.

It's been a while since I've had it though.

ETA. There are lots of Amish baked goods to be had at the City Market on Saturdays. Pies, bread, etc. Everything we've had has been great.

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City Market
20 E 5th St, Kansas City, MO 64106

[Melanie Wong]

Unfortunately, the one time commitment that I must keep is to be in Overland Park (where I'll be staying) on Saturday. I am hoping to get to the Downtown Overland Park Farmers Market early Saturday morning. But I see that City Market has permanent vendors and a Sunday market as well -- let me start a new thread about it

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City Market
20 E 5th St, Kansas City, MO 64106

Downtown Overland Park Farmers Market
7950 Marty St, Overland Park, KS