It's Paczki Time: Where to Find the Fat Tuesday Treat

For many area residents, Fat Tuesday — which falls on March 4 this year — is not complete without the delectable Polish delicacy known as paczki. 

Due to the Chicago area's large Polish population, the fried dough creation has become a staple of the pre-Lenten celebration and indulgence. Filling and icing varieties make the choices almost unending.

But you don't have to be Polish to enjoy the seasonal goody.

Here are some readers suggestions on a few places to get your paczki fix, both near and far. 

If we left off your favorite bakery, let us know in the comments section. 

• Sugar Hills Bakery, 644 S. Main St. in Algonquin, (847) 658-8765 will have the following flavors available on Fat Tuesday: Raspberry, strawberry, prune, rose hip, lemon, apricot, custard-filled. There will also be fresh strawberry, blueberry or cherry with whipped cream or fresh strawberry with cream cheese. The Algonquin store will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday. 
  
• Blue Cow Polish Deli, 2102 W Algonquin Road in Lake in the Hills, (847) 854-4051. The deli opens at 6 a.m. Tuesday. 
• Country Donuts, 181 W. Virginia St. in Crystal Lake, will have paczkis available and customers are encouraged to call and order ahead of time. The paczki varieties include: Our Pączki varieties include: buttercream and custard, buttercream and black raspberry and buttercream and strawberry. The phone number is 815-455-2028. 
• Konrad's Bakery, 9351 Ackman Road, will have paczki available and will open early at 6:30 a.m. on March 4. 
• Joe Caputo's & Son, 100 South Randall Road, has paczki available in its bakery.