Mardi Gras kicks off with Fat Tuesday on February 9. Though parties across the nation celebrate the festive holiday, New Orleans natives know best how to host an authentic celebration. Here are tips from local vendors on bringing authentic flair to a Mardi Gras celebration.
1. Elaborate costumes are key.
For the high-end masquerade parties that are commonly held in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras parades, flamboyant dress is key. "Wearing black-tie attire is the minimal," says Bobbi Rice of Bobbi Rice Weddings. "At the very least, you have to wear a formal gown [or tux]. And on top of that, you should have a mask, a headdress, or a boa." Rice is heading to an event this weekend dressed as Marie Antoinette, and her staff is dressing in French Renaissance-inspired garb.
2. It's not Mardi Gras without a king cake
All of the New Orleans natives agreed that a king cake is key to a proper Mardi Gras celebration. The round cake is glazed with white frosting and dusted with colored sugar; it holds a plastic baby figurine at its center. "Whoever finds the baby in his or her slice must buy the next cake or perhaps host the next party," says Rice.
3. Serve local fare.
In addition to the king cake, traditional Mardi Gras parties offer plenty of Louisiana-style fare. Renee Maxwell, secretary for the Mardi Gras parade group Krewe of Orpheus, recommends the following snacks: jambalaya, red beans and rice, gumbo, and Popeye's fried chicken.
4. Observe the color scheme.
"Mardi Gras’ distinguishing colors are purple, green, and gold, which symbolize justice, faith, and power in that order," says chef David Gaus. A New Orleans native, the chef now helms Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery in Washington. "If you're throwing your own bash, these colors need to be a part of your decor, from paper streamers dangling from your ceiling to the traditional Mardi Gras beads and the coloring on the king cake."
5. Offer plenty of cocktails.
All the New Orleans native stress the importance of good drinks for an authentic Mardi Gras bash. Gaus suggests serving creative spins on Brandy Milk Punch and Hurricanes; Rice likes serving Sazurac and Pimm's Cups.
6. Play thematic music.
"The first thing any Mardi Gras party needs is music," says Maxwell. "We at Orpheus are partial to [Louisiana native] Harry Connick Jr. His album Smokey Mary features great music for a Mardi Gras party. The album is named for a song Harry wrote about one of our signature floats and features its photo on the cover."