Mardi Gras Season 2016
Mardi Gras masks
A couple of Saturdays ago in the midst of the deep freeze we were honored to have a group of our gardening friends join us for a Mardi Gras-themed gathering. The Carnival season begins on 12th night–Epiphany–and ends on Mardi Gras Day which is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent in the Christian calendar.) In 2016, the season is early and short, beginning on January 6 and ending on February 9.
Entertaining with a theme is fun for me at any time. It helps tie together a menu, invitations, decorations and entertainment. For this party we had New Orleans-style-comfort food.
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Fried Okra
Shrimp Remoulade
Old Fashioneds
Chicken and Andouille Gumbo w/White Rice
Fresh Salads brought by our lovely guests
French Bread
King Cakes (both New Orleans and Pithivier)
Homemade Linzer Torte made by a guest
Cafe Noir
Decorations were easy. Since purple, green and gold are the official colors of Mardi Gras, I used spring flowering bulbs (yellow daffodils and purple hyacinths). Of course, we had beads everywhere. Guests adorned themselves upon arrival and took their beads home as favors when they left.
I’m thinking we might make this an annual tradition! Happy Mardi Gras to you!