Casa Santo Stefano Credit: Photo via SantoStefanoTPA /Facebook

Gluttony is apparently one of the seven deadly sins, and with Lent starting this week, it’s time to cram it in.

Ybor City’s Casa Santo Stefano can help with its first-ever Carnevale celebration. In Sicily, Carnevale goes back centuries and is a chance to binge eat before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which finds Catholics—devout and otherwise—trying to sacrifice something to emulate Jesus’ alleged 40-day fast in the desert.

Braised short rib ragu at Casa Santo Stefano in Ybor City, Florida. Credit: c/o 1905 Family of Restaurants

Casa Santo Stefano, an Italian restaurant that pays homage to the gastronomy of Sicilians who emigrated to historic district, celebrates daily with decor, face painting, magic, balloon animals and a 10-item Carnivale menu. Highlights on the specials include cheesecake Giuseppe with marsala-macerated berries, bracioluni flank steak, pappardelle a rau Siciliana (braised short rib ragu, pictured) and the arancini al burro—a traditional teardrop-shaped antipasti of fried saffron risotto balls combined with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto and served with the restaurant’s fresh house-made tomato sauce.

Reservations are suggested but not required for Carnevale at Ybor City’s Casa Santo Stefano happening daily through Tuesday, March 4.