The local's guide to pączki

Tom H: "No doubt in my mind that Bennison's in Evanston has the best pączki!!"

Matt M: "For pączki, it has to be Jarosch Bakery in Elk Grove Village. That's the town I grew up in and the bakery that I always convert people to on pączki day. Every time, the person will swear I am wrong until they have one."

Rebecca H: "Don’t forget about pączki at Country Donuts in Crystal Lake. That business is iconic in CL!"

Lindsay C: "If you're in the North or Northwest suburbs, Continental Bakery is the best place for pączki."

Andrea: "I like Dinkel's on the North Side and Weber's Bakery on the South Side."

Phillip W: "Forest View Bakery on Milwaukee Avenue is my go-to for pączki. Authentic pastries that taste like the ones I get in Poland."

Jennifer P shared memories of the departed Busy Bee in Downers Grove: "Every year they made the most mouth-watering pączki … locals are now wondering where to get something that can almost compare."

Of note: Pączki is pronounced POANCH-kee and is plural. Pączek (POAN-chek) is the singular.

• But, as the joke goes, no one uses pączek because you can't eat just one!