Laissez les bons temps rouler, eh!
A New Orleans tradition
Mardi Gras means, now, mostly exchanging beads for a glimpse of what you may not likely else wise see.
Hurricane drinks, too, and lots of them.
Drunken debauchery, then, seems what it is. And shouts of “throw me something, mister!”. But that isn’t how it always was, more or less.
New Orleans predates the US Constitution by a few years. It was founded in 1718 by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville, and “[b]y the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades we know today. In the early 1740s, Louisiana’s governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, established elegant society balls, which became the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today.” [1]
Between Anne Rice and Faulkner, New Orleans has a deep and rich literary tradition and history as well as, of course, music. New Orleans Jazz is well known and Preservation Hall perhaps the best place to find this amazing tradition.
Food, baby, food.
I like history and New Orleans (N’Awlins) has plenty of it. The architecture and the stories and the traditions are rich and worth learning about.
But I want the food. The food has an equally impressive history. From the many dishes over the years we’ve come to know a few. Beignets from Cafe Du Monde, King Cake is a Mardi Gras staple and a good ole Oyster Po’Boy. Of course, if you get to N’Awlins and don’t get a muffuletta, well, go back and remedy that omission.
One of my favorite N’Awlins confections has no real connection to Mardi Gras, I just like it. That’s the pecan praline. As confections go, it is one of the best which has no chocolate and for my money, if I’m buying them instead of making them, no one does better that Aunt Sally. That’s not an affiliate link, I just like them so much that if you can’t or won’t make them, buy hers.
Sit down food
Sometimes you just want to get away from the maddening throngs. My brother-from-another-mother Todd has a restaurant, Trenasse, not too far from the maddness (let’s be frank, the party goes where it goes) and if you make a reservation it is a great way to get N’Awlins food and a seat and bathroom.
Gear up!
If you go and wish to be every part as silly as is expected, you’ll need some stuff. Beads mostly. Lots and lots of beads. Get them early when the are cheap like from that Amazon affiliate link. In the city, if you are buying them, you are paying a premium. Don’t do that.
If you go, packing is not the same as a trip to any other city. Bring only those clothes you won’t be sad about losing. Between the fluids, both bodily and cup variety, clothing can get ruined rapidly and permanently.
A mask maybe, two pairs of shoes going, one pair returning-savvy?-and a high tolerance for overindulging on everything.
Let the good times roll.
Coffee in the Big Easy
Chicory coffee is a tradition in N’Awlins and if you can’t get there, bring the coffee to you. This link from Amazon has a variey of brands.
Drink you N’Awlins coffee in the spirit it was intended with this mug from my mug store, Cranky Without Coffee.
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