While I don't hail from New Orleans, my adorable husband does. So, when we got married I decided to start some Mardi Gras traditions of our own. Each year I cook up some of our Mardi Gras favorites to share with friends and family. On the menu this year? A delicious (and healthier) version of shrimp etouffe and shrimp and sausage jambalaya. Let's face it, if you're trying to watch your carbs, Mari Gras might not be the holiday for you, but, on the other hand, why not indulge? It only comes once a year!
I'll be posting some favorite Mardi Gras recipes on the blog the next few days, but to get in the spirit, I'd like to share some of my Mardi Gras essentials!
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| You can't have a Mardi Gras celebration without King Cake! |
First on the list: King Cake! I first tried this yummy treat when my husband and I were dating and I flew into New Orleans for Mardi Gras. If you've never had it, I can only describe it as cinnamon roll cake (and even that doesn't do it justice!). You can order about a million varieties, but my favorite is the "traditional style". Inside each cake is a small plastic baby. According to tradition, whoever gets the piece of cake with the baby has to buy the next king cake. Our favorite is from
Haydel's Bakery, but
Gambino's also has a delicious one. Tip: king cake is absolutely delicious in the morning with coffee.
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| Abita strawberry beer is the perfect drink to go with all of the spicy Mardi Gras food |
Abita beer is available all year long, but their strawberry blend is only available around Mardi Gras time. It's tough to find in Los Angeles, but we've been able to find it at
Bevmo! If you can't find strawberry, the Purple Haze variety is yummy as well.
Lastly, you can't make great New Orleans food without a dash of
Tony Chachere's. It used to be touch to find, but I've found that most major supermarkets carry it.
Laissez le bon temps rouler!
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