The Chew Chew

Deciding on where to dine this weekend for Valentine's Day with your significant other is a question on a lot of people's minds. But there's another reason to dine - and especially party - this weekend.

The Chew Chew restaurant in Riverside is celebrating Mardi Gras all week long, starting Wednesday, Feb. 10. The restaurant will have beads, a fortune teller, belly dancers, live music, strolling magic and costumed staff to celebrate the New Orleans day.

Mardi Gras dining specials include Blackened Red Fish, Bayou Crab Cakes, Shrimp and Alligator Jambalaya, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Crawfish Etoufee, Bourbon Pecan Pie, Traditional King Cake and more. Reservations are recommended. Call (708) 447-8781.

Whether you’re tucking into an appetizer as a tempting preamble to dinner or you’re making a meal out of the small-plate dishes, we’ve assembled a guide to some of the suburbs’ favorites.

THE CHEW CHEW
ADDRESS 33 E. Burlington Ave., Riverside
CONTACT (708) 447-8781; www.thechewchew.com
A hit dish for fall and winter is the Duck Confit Rillettes, reliant on time-tested preservation techniques and fittingly served in a mason jar. Chef-owner Scott Zimmer says he starts by blending slow-roasted duck with a little brandy and wine, along with fresh herbs and garlic. The delectable result is spread on an accompanying grilled baguette, accented by a garnish of cornichons: spicy little gherkins. Zimmer calls the dish similar to a pâté, but more rustic and with added texture.
 

The Chew Chew chef Daniel Vollmann (above) grills baguette slices to accompany the restaurant’s duck confit rillettes. One of its signature appetizers (shown below), it is served in a mason jar. STAFF PHOTOS BY ERICA BENSON