Mardi Gras Mambo

The parades have started and the beads are flying as New Orleans tries to recapture its partying spirit just six months after Katrina. To help get your own Mardi Gras revelry in full swing, the Going Out Gurus put together a great list of ways to celebrate, my personal favorite being the po'boy at Johnny's Half Shell (it's damn good).

In addition, Acadiana is featuring Mardi Gras specials through Tuesday, and on the 28th, beads and masks will be on hand to help you channel the bon temps. Also, look out for the silver bean in your calas, the deep fried rice fritters Acadiana will be serving for dessert on Mardi Gras. Six lucky bean-finding souls will be crowned kings and queens at lunch and dinner.

And on Fat Tuesday at Chef Geoff's (both locations), lunch and dinner specials will include seafood gumbo, jambalaya and oyster po’boys.

Of course you could always stay in and play host with these recipes for classic New Orleans cocktails. And it's not too late to order a king cake or whip one up yourself.

If you want to do more than raise a toast, check out the New Orleans Habitat for Humanity chapter's Web site, which has information on building projects including the proposed Musicians Village, where more than 80 homes will be built for displaced musicians.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Here's another great way to get involved with the Gulf Coast. Check out KaBOOM!'s Operation Playground. http://kaboom.org/AboutUs/OperationPlayground/tabid/6804/Default.aspx

KaBOOM! is DC based national nonprofit that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct nearly 1,000 new playgrounds and skateparks and renovate 1,300 others across North America.
2/23/2006 6:56 PM
Anonymous said…
Dude, take it from a native, if you're going to order a king cake, and I recommend you do, don't order from kingcake.com. They do a brisk business all year round and their product's nothing to write home to your mamma about. Support one of the many local New Orleans bakeries who desperately need the business and whose cake will be infinitely more scrumptious. I'd suggest going to Haydels (www.haydelbakery.com/) or Gambinos (www.gambinosbakery.com). Laissez les bons temps rouler, y'all.
2/23/2006 7:17 PM
Amanda said…
Thanks for the tips.

I have to admit I was being lazy and just googled king cake to find somewhere that could still ship them. Looks like Gambinos can FedEx. Haydels site was down. Thanks for a giving us a local's take.
2/24/2006 12:48 PM
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