Down in New Orleans Fat Tuesday is a major event — parades, food, costumes and such run through Mardi Gras. Dayton may not have the parades and but we’ve sure been known to get into the Big Easy swing of things itself. If you’re looking for a place to take on some Cajun grub and party down, here’s where the beads will be flying:

Rue Dumaine is letting Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!!!! They’ve ordered in lots of Oyters, made homemade hurricanes and are hosting at ABITA BREWING COMPANY beer tasing featuring Abita S.O.S Charitable Pilsner, Restoration Ale
and Mardi-Gras Bock -$12 includes the beers and an Amuse-Bouche prepared by the RUE DUMAINE kitchen.

Here’s Chef Anne’s MARDI GRAS menu 2011 for March 8th:

Louisiana oyster & Gulf shrimp gumbo $6.5
Chilled Creole poached gulf shrimp and mirliton slaw with remoulade dressing-$9
Char-grilled oysters with garlic (4 per order)-$9
Oysters on the half shell-$10.5/half dozen $22/dozen
Pepper jelly glazed chicken livers** over griddled cornbread rusk-$7.5
Smothered chicken quarter with crawfish tails and spinach, served over cheesy grits-$15
Creole braised beef & French fry po-boy dressed with cabbage slaw (y’all are gonna need a napkin or 2 with this one)-$14
Cornmeal crusted catfish with house made tasso-black eyed pea salad and Creole mustard butter sauce-$14
Grilled Andouille sausage with red beans & rice-$13
Bananas Fosters bread pudding with caramel-pecan sauce-$5
Calas (classic Louisiana fried rice fritters) with triple berry jam filling -$5

Reservations are always suggested at Rue Dumaine, locatated at 1061 Miamisburg Centerville Rd in Washington Township. Call 610-1061 for more info.

The Winds in Yellow Springs celebrates in style with Fried Oysters, Bananas Foster, Festive Cocktails and lots of Beads.
Reservatations are suggested, call 937.767.1144

A trip to Troy may be in order to attend the Mardi Gras Ball at LeDoux’s Restaurant. For $20 /guest you ‘ll enjoy a Live Dixieland band, dancing, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beads, games and more. Attendees are encouraged to wear a festive costume and/or mask for a costume contest. Raffle tickets for sale for a trip for two to New Orleans. A portion of the ball admission fee benefits the Piqua Arts Council. Call for reservations at (937) 875-2000.

The Wine Loft has joined forces with Clothes That Work to host a Fat Tuesday celebration featuring a Dayton’s Best Legs Photo Shoot to kick off the 4th annual Hunks in Heels fundraiser. For $20 guests get admission, 2 drinks, appetizers and 2 votes for their choice of Dayton’s Best Legs!

Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District invites you to come on out for cajun food specials, hurricane shots, pub science, the malibu girls, live DJs and Ashley will have SUPER SOAKERS FULL OF SHOTS! Food specials are available all day!

TJ Chumps is hosting a party with “crazy drink specials” including 75 cent well drinks for the ladies and $2 domestic pints for the guys from 11am – 9pm on Fat Tuesday

Don’t worry if you already have Tuesday booked, McCormick & Schmick’s is hosting a Creole Wine Dinner on Thursday at 6:30pm $50 includes a four-course Creole menu paired with French wines. Reservations required, call (937) 431-9765.

If you’re not celebrating out and about, may we suggest you stop by your favorite bakery and and least pick up a King Cake!

History of Mardi Gras King Cake

Hundreds of thousands of King Cakes are eaten during Mardi Gras each year in New Orleans, Louisiana. In fact, a Mardi Gras party would not be authentic without the traditional King Cake as the center of the party.

The cake is made with a rich Danish dough, baked and covered with a sugar topping in Mardi Gras colors; purple representing justice, green representing faith, and gold representing power.

Originally objects such as coins, beans, pecans, and peas were hidden inside of every King Cake. Wealthy Louisiana plantation owners in the later 1800s would sometimes put a precious stone or jewel in their King Cakes. In the mid-1900s, a small plastic baby became the symbol of this Holy Day and was placed inside of each King Cake.

The New Orleans tradition is that each person takes a piece of cake hoping to find the plastic baby inside. The recipient of the plastic baby is “crowned” King or Queen for the day and that person is obligated to host the following year’s party and supply the King Cake.

Here’s to becoming the King or Queen! Cheers!