It’s Mardi Gras—Time to Enjoy Some Great (and Naughty) Food!
What do you think of when you hear the term “Mardi Gras”? Chances are good that you start salivating, remembering the delicious treats you enjoyed in years past on the eve of Ash Wednesday and Lent. There’s no question about it—Mardi Gras offers a banquet, both literal and figurative. Let’s look at some of the most popular foods commonly associated with this festive holiday.
What Is Mardi Gras?
Taken from the French language, Mardi Gras literally translates as “Fat Tuesday.” Technically, though, Mardi Gras doesn’t refer to a specific date, but instead refers to a season or period of time, commonly starting on or around Epiphany (January 6) and ending the day before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, the most popular day during Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday, as it’s the last day before the beginning of Lent. As a result, many people take the final opportunity to enjoy some of the things they play to give up as part of their Lenten sacrifice.
What Are the Typical Foods Associated with Mardi Gras?
Lent is a time of sacrifice, with many people forsaking sweets, cakes, candies and rich, fatty foods for 40 days. As a result, Fat Tuesday is typically a day for over-indulging in those treats. Among the different pastries you’ll find in abundance on Mardi Gras are:
- Paczki (sort of pronounced like “punch key”—These little donuts are Polish in origin, typically deep-fried and filled with something—common fillings include fruit jams, lemon curd, custard, chocolate and even Nutella. You can usually get them dusted in powdered sugar, glazed or sprinkled with orange zest.
- King cake—Mardi Gras simply isn’t Mardi Gras in New Orleans without King Cake. A cinnamon roll/coffee cake mashup, this confection takes its name from the three kings who came bearing gifts to the baby Jesus. With bright purple, yellow and green icing, the King Cake is typically stuffed with cream cheese, fruit and other tasty fillings, as well as one surprise—a small plastic baby. If you find the baby in your piece of cake, you must either throw a party or bring a cake to the next party.
- Cajun food—Though the first Mardi Gras in America was held in Mobile, Alabama, New Orleans is the undisputed home of modern-day Fat Tuesday. It should come as no surprise, then, that Mardi Gras commonly includes a wide range of Cajun treats, from gumbo to etouffee to jambalaya to crawfish pie.
