Mardi Gras! Yes, that Tuesday of gluttony is quickly approaching (Feb. 28). Traditionally it’s when people eat and drink with wanton abandon before Ash Wednesday signals 40 days of restrained consumption. Other names are Fat Tuesday and Paczki Day (“punch-key”).
Paczki are doughnuts, but not just any doughnuts. They’re eggy, dense fried Polish pastries with a fruit filling. Making doughnuts was traditionally a good way of using up the Lenten no-nos of fat, eggs and sugar. They’re gonna go fast so place your order ahead of time.
In fact, if you want the strawberry- or prune-filled paczki from Polonez (4016 S. Packard Ave.), you’ll need to order ahead of time (call 414-482-0080). It might be too late to get the doughnuts from National Bakery & Deli (3200 S. 16th St., 414-672-1620); the deadline for placing an order was Thursday, Feb. 23. But hey, call anyway and see if you can sneak in an order! Other paczki suppliers are Cranky Al’s (6901 W. North Ave., Tosa, 414-258-5282) and Holey Moley Coffee + Doughnuts (316 N. Milwaukee St., 414-308-1616). And do yourself a favor; call ahead!
Perhaps the biggest Fat celebration in town is the two-day affair at Maxie’s (6732 W. Fairview Ave.) on Feb. 27-28. The festivities include a heated party tent, live music by the Extra Crispy Brass Band, and a menu of NOLA num-nums, including jambalaya, muffuletta, duck gumbo, blackened hamburger steak, warm bread pudding, strawberry beignets. Get more details here. They’ll also be cutting the king cake at 10 p.m.
One other Fat thought: Third Space Brewing’s Fat Tuesday beer dinner is also Feb. 28, 7-10 p.m. Six Third Space beers are paired with five courses from Shully’s Cuisine and Events. Cost: $65. View the menu and buy tickets. (1505 W. St. Paul Ave.)
