Mardi Gras Party ~ Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler
Classic NOLA dishes to celebrate the season...
New Orleans is a magical place where we were lucky enough to visit a lot over the years as so many of our closest friends from college call NOLA home. A city with unique food and culture all their own, it’s hard not to love New Orleans. Mardi Gras season is about a month long, running from Epifany, which marks the beginning of Carnival season, to Fat Tuesday which marks the close of the season. If you don’t have a trip planned, you should absolutely host a Mardi Gras themed dinner party this month! Febuary is the perfect month to host a dinner party, as everyone is looking to bring a little life and joy into these cold winter months! Don’t want to plan a dinner party? Pour yourself a Hurricane, make a batch of Gumbo or Jambalaya and use our shortcut King Cake recipe for King Cake Cinnamon Rolls - a really fun tradition to start with your kids!
Sunday Supper Menu:
Hurricanes
Muffuletta Party Sandwiches
Oysters Rockefeller
Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
King Cake Cinnamon Rolls
‘Elegant yet Easy’ recipe (subscribers only): Smoked Sausage & Chicken Jambalaya
Mardi Gras Party Tips:
Buy fun props like beads and masks and have a Polaroid camera out on the table so everyone can take fun pictures! (owning a Polaroid camera is such a fun party trick).
Play this Mardi Gras themed playlist. Who knows, a spontaneous second line around the table might break out.
A core memory of spending time at our friends’ homes during Mardi Gras was the king cake box that was always out on the table or kitchen counter. Here is our favorite - we just placed our annual order. Have one delivered to your house - it will bring all the joy! And don’t forget - the knife stays in the box ;)
If hosting a Mardi Gras themed dinner party, batch out Hurricane cocktails and serve with mini muffulettas and this famous NOLA cheese dip.
Oysters Rockefeller are such an elegant first course to serve at a dinner party, especially when served on oyster plates. Have your fish monger shuck the oysters for you, but go home with the shells for easy assembly later. Here is a tutorial if you want to shuck your own. Don’t forget these vintage oyster forks - such a beautiful touch.
Mardi Gras Party Essentials:
For Subscribers Only:
Mardi Gras Party Shopping List & Prep Timeline
NEW ‘Elegant yet Easy’ Recipe- Smoked Sausage & Chicken Jambalaya
In addition to Jambalaya being the perfect dish to serve during Mardi Gras season, it is also a fabulous meal to serve whenever you are hosting! Besides the time spent chopping…this dish is one of the best budget friendly, one-pot meals that is awesome for serving a crowd! It can also be made in advance (you can even freeze it - instructions for freezing are included below). It’s also easy enough to serve to just your family on a weeknight. Enjoy!