Mardi Gras

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Mardi Gras. How to explain the world's biggest party? If you were born in New Orleans it's just the way things are.

But, if you were not, you need some explanation and guidance. So, to begin, Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. It is always celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday so the date changes every year.  Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and for Catholics that means sacrifice. So, Mardi Gras is a last bash before Lent. But in New Orleans, one day of partying is simply not enough. Technically the season of Mardi Gras, called Carnival, begins on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany. So, lesson number one, Carnival is the season, Mardi Gras is the day.

The Mardi Gras parades start about two weeks before the actual date of Mardi Gras. There are several types of parades. Some are put on by "old line" krewes, the traditionalists who have the tableau balls, and a king and queen elected from within the krewe. These krewes go back to the 1800's and really established the Mardi Gras traditions in New Orleans. The Krewe of Rex presents the oldest of these parades and dates back to 1872. Rex parades on Mardi Gras day and the king of Rex is the official king of carnival. Lesson number two, Krewes are the private clubs that put on Mardi Gras and related events of carnival. The expenses of this monumental party are paid by the individual members of the krewes and there is no commercial sponsorship for Mardi Gras Parades.

Almost all of the New Orleans parades travel down St. Charles Avenue and into the Central Business District. Very few parades actually go into the French Quarter because of the narrow streets in this old, historic section of town. Lesson number three, if you want to see a parade, you have to leave the French Quarter, or at least go to Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter.

No matter what goes on during the carnival season and specifically on Mardi Gras day on Bourbon Street, it all ends exactly at midnight. At the stroke of midnight, Lent starts and the party ends. Mounted police leading a parade of large street cleaners clear Bourbon Street. So, it's best to be off Bourbon Street before midnight. Many newcomers to Mardi Gras either don't know this or don't believe it and get caught up in the fray. Believe it, the party ends at midnight.

Weekly Features

This week Executive Chef Barry Matthews got into the theme of Mardi Gras and came up with some wonderful dishes that with make you think you were down on the bayou. At lunch, try the Blackened Catfish with red beans and rice, or the Oyster Po'Boy made with fresh Willapa Bay oysters. At dinner, the soft shell crabs are a must try! The crabs are dredged in cajun seasoned flour and pan fried, served over red beans and rice and topped with a fresh Remoulade sauce.

To see all of Chef Barry's features, click on the links below:

Weekly Lunch Features
Weekly Dinner Features

Quote of the Week

Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk.

                                       - J.C. Penney

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