The eateries in Niantic, Flanders and East Lyme present Niantic/East Lyme Restaurant Week Jan. 19 to 25.

Unlike a typical restaurant week where one price is set for lunch and dinner, each eatery will come up with its own special during the week. Current specials include discounts, free gifts with purchase, special food combos and more.

Niantic/East Lyme Restaurant Week participants include: Best of Everything Country Gourmet, The Black Sheep, Café SoL, The Cake Lady Express, Charlie's Place Restaurant, Covino's Groceria Italiana, East Coast Taco, Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, Giuliano's Bakery, Gumdrops & Lollipops, Illiano's Grill, La Belle Aurore, Main Street Grille, Skippers Seafood, Smarty's Restaurant & Pub and The Spice Club.

For more information about Niantic/East Lyme Restaurant Week, visit www.nianticmainstreet.org.

As a preview to Restaurant Week, The Spice Club offered its recipe for Massaman Curry, a savory blend of spicy and sweet Thai cuisine. This recipe is gluten, dairy and soy-free.

MASSAMAN CURRY

Serves 1.

1 cup coconut milk

1 cup Massaman curry paste

1/2 cup water

1 cup skinless, boneless, thin-sliced chicken (or tofu or mixed vegetables)

1 cup potatoes, cubed

1 cup carrots, sliced

1 cup onions, sliced

1/4 cup peanuts (or cashew nuts)

2 teaspoons all-natural brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon tamarind concentrate

Heat an empty pan over high heat until hot. Reduce heat to low and add 4 tablespoons of coconut milk to the pan. Add curry paste and stir. Add the remaining coconut milk and stir until blended. Add chicken (or tofu/mixed vegetables), potatoes, carrots, peanuts and water. Stir. Add brown sugar, salt, and tamarind concentrate. Cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally. Garnish with crushed peanuts. Serve with jasmine rice.