News and information from the New Orleans area
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King Cakes, King Cakes, more King Cakes
015 years
I remember when I moved to NOLA, only plain King Cakes were sold in a few bakeries, especially McKenzie’s Bakeries around town. No groceries sold them. All King Cakes were plain. These were the dark ages of King Cakes. A number of years later, McKenzie’s introduced the first filled King Cakes, and there was no looking back. Now, every grocery and bakery in town wouldn’t consider not selling King Cakes- they bring in shoppers. New Orleanians cannot get enough King Cakes! We live in the enlightened age of King Cakes, with a zillion flavors available to anyone in the world with an internet connection.
To show just how far filled King Cakes have come, here’s the list from Rouse’s Supermarkets current circular of the various fillings and flavors they sell:
Almond
Apple
Apple Cream Cheese
Bavarian Cream
Blueberry
Blueberry Cream Cheese
Caramel
Chocolate
Coconut
Cookies & Cream
Cream Cheese
Heavenly Hash
Lemon
Pecan
Pina Colada
Pineapple
Praline
Raspberry
Strawberry
Strawberry Cream Cheese
That’s a lot of flavors, and even more exist. Pick a flavor, and someone makes and sells that flavored King Cake!
I conducted an unscientific poll among my facebook, twitter, myspace, and nola.com Mardi Gras forum ‘friends’. The overwhelming choice of most for the best King Cake in the metro area is Haydel’s Bakery first and Randazzo’s second.
In the Christian faith, the coming of the wise men bearing gifts to the Christ Child is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. This is known as the Feast of the Epiphany or Little Christmas on the Twelfth Night. This is a time of celebration, exchanging gifts and feasting. Today, the tradition continues as people all over the world gather for festive Twelfth Night celebrations. A popular custom was and still is the baking of a special cake in honor of the three kings called a King’s Cake. In these early cakes, a pea, coin or bean was hidden inside the cake. Now, King Cakes contain a tiny plastic ‘baby’. The person whose piece contains the baby has to throw the next King Cake party. King Cake parties are enjoyed by the young and old all over the region and the world via the internet.
My Little Mardi Gras Blog Merges with Carnivalneworleans.com
015 years
Holy Moly!! My little Mardi Gras blog, started as a labor of love to express my love of Carnival, has joined the ranks of the big Mardi Gras web players. Icorp.net’s Carnivalneworleans.com had 200 million visitors over the last decade. Google ‘Carnival New Orleans’ or ‘New Orleans Carnival’, and carnivalneworleans.com comes up a least twice in the top 10 rankings. That brings the Mardi Gras loving hordes to carnivalneworleans.com every season.
Carnivalneworleans.com has always been a static site, featuring an elaborate History of Mardi Gras and loads of photos from Mardi Gras past. The photos cover the Mardi Gras spectrum from the bawdy French Quarter to the Barkus dog parade, also in the French Quarter. The content has successfully drawn hordes of visitors, as it is the kind of information that any Mardi Gras enthusiast can use and enjoy.
2010 Carnival Season Kicks off Tomorrow Night
015 years
Tomorrow is January 6, or Twelfth Night, the official kick off to the 2010 Mardi Gras Season. The first two events are on January 6- the Phunny Phorty Phellows ride a decorated St. Charles Streetcar from uptown to downtown. The Joan of Arc Parade walks throughout the French Quarter.
Phunny Phorty Phellows
Start/End: Willow Street at Carrollton Avenue, Uptown, 7 p.m.
A free event
The Phunny Phorty Phellows board the streetcar and began their ride to “Herarld the Arrival of Carnival” down the St. Charles Ave. Streetcar Line. The Phellows are an historic Mardi Gras organization that first took to the streets 1878 through 1898. They were known for their satirical parades and today’s krewe members’ costumes often reflect topical themes.
St. Joan of Arc Parade
Start: Decatur and Conti Streets, French Quarter, 6 p.m.
End: St. Philip and Decatur Streets, French Quarter
A free event
This second annual parade walks on Twelfth Night, Joan of Arc’s birthday, in celebration of her story and the golden statue that graces the French Market at New Place de France. The post-parade party features free live music by Pierre Pichon and Marc Gunn beginning at 6:45 at The Market Cafe©, 1000 Decatur Street.
Route: Begin at Decatur & Conti Streets; up to Chartres, across Jackson Square, continuing on Chartres to St. Phillip, up to Joan of Arc statue at St. Philip and Decatur Streets in front of Market Cafe©
The Joan of Arc Fete was a one day festival celebrating the life and legacy of St. Joan of Arc, Maid of Orleans. The festival featured panel discussions, a free French class, songwriting and costume workshops, a silent auction, a cabaret-style arts showcase of Joan-related chamber music, original songs, and theater excerpts. The Festival ran on Sunday, January 3, 2010 from 10 am to 6 pm at the Bienville House Hotel, 320 Decatur Street in the French Quarter.
King Cake season arrives with Carnival, with local bakeries and groceries selling their version of King Cakes, many of them filled. Varieties include cinnamon, strawberry, cream cheese, blueberry,
lemon, pecan praline, apple, raspberry, plain, and many, many more flavors. King Cakes are shipping around the world, some with Mardi Gras packages including beads & doubloons; purple, green and gold decorations; and masks.
King Cakes come in numerous sizes and fillings
Nevada Mardi Gras models itself after Mobile's Joe Cain Days, not New Orleans Carnival
016 years
by NewOrleansMusicMan
in Mardi Gras
This is rather surprising, not because Mobile’s Mardi Gras isn’t fun or historic, but because the New Orleans Mardi Gras is much better known.
Mardi Gras krewe accused of writing thousands in bad checks
216 years
by NewOrleansMusicMan
in Mardi Gras
A WDSU exclusive, I think: http://tinyurl.com/ckryse. It involves the Krewe of Tut in Houma, LA. A Houma record producer, who saw the parade roll this year, said, “The parade, frankly, was pretty bankrupt too…”