Mardi Gras is February 21st, 2012, also known as Fat Tuesday. When you hear the phrase Mardi Gras, the first thing that comes to mind is probably costumes and parades but what does the phrase Mardi Gras mean. It’s actually French for Fat Tuesday, which refers to the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual of fasting for the Lenten season, which begins on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012, also known as Ash Wednesday.
New Orleans, is the home of the biggest most popular Mardi Gras, celebration. New Orleans, is famous for Creole and Cajun food, what’s the difference you ask, well Paul Prudhomme, famous chef, restaurateur, and author and father of the blackening technique, explains it this way: He describes Cajun food as country cooking, and Creole food is more elegant and sophisticated, city cooking so to speak.
Not to be out done, Cleveland will have plenty of places to party for Mardi Gras.
Salmon Daves, a seafood restaurant, in Rocky River, Ohio, will host their annual Feast of New Orleans Bash, food will be available starting at 11:30 a.m, there will be Creole cuisine and the traditional drink, Hurricanes. Music by the Dave Kasper Quartet, from 6:30p.m till 10 p.m.. You can get more information by calling 440-331-2739.
Paladar, in Woodmere, Oh. Is the Nuevo Latino café, that has a three-week Mardi Gras celebration with a blowout bash on Fat Tuesday. There will be music by Saborit Latin Soul, they will perform from 8p.m to 11 p.m. and South American wine, will be half off, for the evening as well as caipirinhas and mojitos. Party goers will get masks, a Car naval tradition. For more information call 216-896-9020.
Sergio’s Sarava, at Shaker Square, is a Brazilian based restaurant, that will be offering Car naval food and drink specials on Fat Tuesday. The restaurant has a menu that features the flavors of Brazil and their dishes come with a free dessert through Fat Tuesday, you can get more information at 216-295-1200.
Fat Fish Blue, in Cleveland, Ohio. Will be holding a Mardi marathon, from noon until closing. The music starts at 1p.m and there will be a New Orleans buffet, $12.00 until 4p.m and $18.00 from 4 till closing. For more information call 216-875-6000.
No Mardi Gras, celebration is complete without a King Cake, also called the Twelfth Night Cake. The cake is actually sweetened yeast bread, that is baked in a ring shape and then frosted with gold, green, and purple icing representing, power, faith, and justice. King Cake, is colorful and tasty, the best part of the cake, is in what hides within the cake.
Each King Cake, hides a token in the cake. The tokens used are a dried red bean or a figurine of a baby, which represents the Christ child. When the cake is cut and shared, the finder of the hidden treasure is said to have good luck for the coming year but be aware, that the lucky recipient may also be expected to bake the King Cake, for next year or to throw the Mardi Gras party for the next year. “Let the good times roll!!
“Laissez les bon temps rouler”.
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