Beck's Cajun Cafe Says, "Happy Mardi Gras!"

Beck's King Cake--Where's the Baby?

Mardi Gras is the festive season celebrated in New Orleans that  marks the end of Christmas and runs through the start of Lent.  From January 6 (Epiphany) through Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday, March 8 this year) New Orleans is bursting with parades, feasts, parties, jazz music and loads of fun.  In anticipation of the fasting and deprivation of the Lenten season, Mardi Gras offers revelers the chance to feast and indulge.  (Candidly, though, I have spent time in New Orleans outside of Mardi Gras and I have yet to see Lenten fasting and deprivation.  Definitely my kind of place.)

One particularly unique Mardi Gras tradition is the King Cake.   The ring-shaped cakes, which are comprised of a yeast dough filled with cinnamon, cream cheese, nuts or fruit, are generally braided, decorated with the traditional Mardi  Gras colors of purple, gold and green, and always contain a tiny plastic baby.  The baby symbolizes the Christ child; when the cake is served, whomever gets the piece containing the baby is guaranteed good luck for the next year, and is obliged to host the next king cake party.  Becks Cajun Cafe will be offering authentic King Cakes from now through Mardi Gras.  While you're there, don't miss their other Cajun delights:

Beck's Shrimp Creole

"Cajunista" with a menu favorite

I highly recommend a visit to New Orleans.  But if the plan does not fit into your immediate future, Beck's can certainly transport you there culinarily.  Laissez les bons temps roulez!