Need one final gluttonous fling before Lenten fasting kicks in? We’ve got a slew of Fat Tuesday treats from joints across the city serving up Mardi Gras-inspired fare. From king cake cupcakes to Creole meatloaf, you’ll plenty of deacdent treats that will have you loosening your belt a few notches. You may be full, but it isn’t called Fat Tuesday for nothing.
1. Head to the Hill for a Jambalaya Mardi Dog from Steve’s Hot Dogs. This twist on the hot dog features a spicy andouille link on a jambalaya-smeared roll. Finally, jambalaya you can eat with your fingers without getting messy. (well, not too messy).
2. After polishing off your spicy dog, cool down with a Lil’ French King Cake from Pint Size Bakery. These four-inch cakes are made with homemade puff pastry, raspberry jam, house-brandied cherries and a smooth vanilla glaze.
3. Beat that afternoon slump with a cup of coffee from Café Ventana in Midtown, and enjoy a free beignet to boot. Not a coffee drinker? Not to worry. Any purchase you make comes with a complimentary beignet today.
4. For a slimmer take on Fat Tuesday, head to Hiro Asian Kitchen for its Mardi Gras special salad. The Mardi Gras color combination of green kale, purple cabbage, spicy golden walnuts and cranberries prove that even the health-conscious can celebrate Fat Tuesday.
5. To be truly decadent, head to Juniper‘s Fat Tuesday Feast. For $20, enjoy a traditional crawfish boil with house-made andouille, potatoes, corn on the cob and cornbread washed down with Dixie beer.
6. Dash to Lubeley’s Bakery for a Jumbo Hurricane Cupcake. We know, we know – you may think you’re too full, but consider these rum-soaked cupcakes a post-meal cocktail.
7. Power through your food coma for a late-night Creole Mardi Gras pizza from Epic Pizza in Soulard. This finger-licking pizza with Creole sauce, mozzarella, andouille sausage, blackened chicken, green peppers and red onions is an ideal end to a truly Fat Tuesday.
Will you still be feeling the Mardi Gras mood tomorrow? For more creative Cajun dishes year-round, try out Riverbend Restaurant and Bar’s Creole Meatloaf, or The Kitchen Sink‘s Cajun Gyro. While it may no longer be Fat Tuesday, you can still eat like it is.
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2014.