Laissez les bons temps rouler! This year, Fat Tuesday falls on February 17, and in places where the cultural tradition is strong, the streets have been alive with parties, parades and delicious feasts ahead of the (alleged) abstinence of Lent.
The annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is the most famous, although the first official American observation was held in Mobile, Alabama, in 1703. While there are no floats and beads on 16th Street to mark the occasion — RIP Bayou Bob’s — there are still plenty of places in the metro area where you can get your fill of boudin, beignet po’boys and other dishes and drinks bursting with flavors from the Bayou State all year long.
While the terms “Cajun” and “Creole” are often used interchangeably to describe food from Louisiana, they are not the same (though there is some overlap). Cajun and Creole are two distinct cultures, and the food reflects that…