Getting Into the Mardi Gras Spirit
By Liz Durant, Product Advisor, NB Liquor, Parkway Mall, Saint John
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday; in English the day is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday. This year, Mardi Gras Day is Tuesday, February 21st.
Eat like a king!
King Cake is the traditional Mardi Gras dessert. The bundt style cake is frosted with the official colors of Mardi Gras - purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. A tiny plastic baby is baked inside the cake. Tradition dictates that the person who gets the piece of cake with the baby inside must make the cake the following year.
Visit mardigrasday.com for the recipe. A sweet sparkling wine like Martini Asti would be a great match with this dessert. A late harvest wine such as Conch Y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc would be a tasty compliment as well.
Throw me something mister!
In many areas, the term "Mardi Gras" has come to mean the whole period of activity related to the celebratory events, beyond just the single day. In New Orleans and cities around the world parades with elaborate floats and people throwing beads or stuffed toys to revellers lining the streets are custom. While a trip to New Orleans may not be in your future, NB Liquor is throwing something your way this month: tips for a Mardi Gras celebration that will prove New Orleans isn’t the only place that can throw a great party!
Feed your “Krewes”
The Mardi Gras parade is organized by krewes - groups of people who actually design and create the costumes and floats for the parade. Your party probably won’t have a parade, but you can still serve your “krewes” typical Mardi Gras fare. Cajun and Creole are the main cuisine - both were developed in New Orleans and are based on French, Spanish and African influences. Creole is said to be a little more refined or “uptown” if you will, while Creole is more home-style cooking.
Jambalaya, which is similar to paella, is a popular Mardi Gras dish as is Creole Gumbo and Crawfish Jambalaya. The recipes for these dishes are available at homecooking.about.com. Blanc Pair the Gumbo with a Whitehaven Sauvignon. It’s crisp, citrus notes and grassy undertones balance the heat of this dish perfectly. For the Crawfish Jambalaya try something with a little residual sweetness. Open Riesling Gewürztraminer or a wine with a slightly bigger body like Pierre Sparr Reserve Gewürztraminer would be a great match.
Mardi Gras Cocktails
Contrary to popular belief, Mardi Gras is actually a family oriented event. If children are part of your party, be sure to include colourful fruit punches. Adults might like to try a Sezerak, the official drink of New Orleans. Mardi Gras Mojitos are popular, as are Hurricanes. Check out these recipes, stock up on ingredients, and serve your delicious drinks on purple, gold and green cocktail napkins. And to stay true to the Mardi Gras tradition, ask your guests, young and old, to wear a mask. Happy Mardi Gras!
Sezerak
3-4 dashes of Absente liqueur
2 oz rye or bourbon
3-4 dashes bitters
Lemon peel
Pour Absinthe in a chilled old fashion glass. Tilt the glass to coat completely, pouring off excess. Pour rye and bitters into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 30 seconds and strain into glass. Twist lemon peel over drink and gently drop in glass.
Hurricane
2 oz. light rum
2 oz dark rum
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
1 Tbsp simple syrup
1 Tbsp grenadine
Orange slice and cherry for garnish.
Squeeze juice from half a lime into shaker over ice. Pour the remaining ingredients into the cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a tall glass. Garnish with cherry and orange slice.
Mardi Gras Mojito
2 leaves fresh mint
1 Tbsp simple syrup
2 ice cubes
1 ¼ oz rum
1 oz carbonated water
1 sprig fresh mint
In a cocktail glass, crush mint leaves with simple syrup. Add crushed or cubed ice and rum. Add carbonated water almost to top of the glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or a lime wedge.
Recommended products:
Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 750 ml $19.99
Open Riesling Gewürztraminer 750 ml $13.99
Pierre Sparr Reserve Gewurztraminer 750 ml $24.29
Martini & Rossi Asti DOCG 750 ml $13.99
Concha Y Toro Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 375 ml. $14.29
Absente Liqueur 750 ml $44.29
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