A holiday that is basically a month-long feast and party? Sign. Me. Up. I mean, seriously, what more could you ask for? Based on my previous statement, it will come as no surprise that the holiday I am referring to is Mardi Gras aka one of my favorite holidays of the entire year. Of course, most people only truly celebrate it on Fat Tuesday, but you can totally start decorating now since the Epiphany has come! Slightly off-topic, but I have a dream to one day spend Fat Tuesday in New Orleans for one heck of an experience, but given the fact that is *slightly* impossible right now… my home will have to do. Honestly, fine by me, because I can throw myself one heck of a party, even if it is only with three other people!
So, let’s get down to the dirty details. Just kidding, the only thing dirty about this Mardi Gras celebration is the dirty rice. My ideal Mardi Gras party would be decorated with the borderline gaudy decorations (I love them), and filled with real, good Cajun cooking. We’d have a blast just feasting and sharing laughs together, and let us not forget the most important part! I MUST have a king cake at this Mardi Gras party. Above anything else, I am trying to find that baby Jesus hidden inside. I need the good luck! Today, I present you with the greatest Mardi Gras feast you’ll ever see. Picture this: a big dinner party… everyone decked in beads, masks, and boujee outfits. That is the perfect Mardi Gras ambiance. Let’s talk about how you can make it happen yourself.
Let’s start by decorating the table. Think BIG. The more beads, feathers, confetti, masks, and coins you can pile on… the better! However, don’t just let it all go. There needs to be a little bit of sophistication a plan as to how in the world we’ll make it a boujee Mardi Gras feast. I suggest using candle holders or vases of different heights and sizes to add some depth and dimension. Secondly, try to put out a festive runner to differentiate the decoration space of the table and the actual dinnerware space. Adding placemats can also help this, but they are not necessary. The images below are a good example of how I would set the dinner table. You can buy all of these decorations and more at Party Place. Look here for online options or in store for more.
For the menu, I suggest something truly Cajun. Go with some great staples like dirty rice, jambalaya, gumbo, or red rice and beans! You can authentic recipes all over the internet, but I suggest scanning through Pinterest to see which one you like best. Don’t forget the cornbread on the side! The same thing can be said for making the king cake, but if you would rather skip the baking process, check local bakeries like Harvest Moon to see what they offer for this cool holiday. Many bakeries offer king cakes to provide a more authentic Mardi Gras feel for your holiday.
Well, seems like we have it all planned out. Just throw on a fun outfit with some pizazz, a mask, and some beads! You’ll be golden!
If this is for some reason unable to happen for you because of health circumstances or perhaps your kid or anyone else you would celebrate with can’t be there with you this year, think about mailing the party to them! My mom has mailed me a king cake with beads and masks every year I have been unable to celebrate at home. It truly makes my whole holiday even better to know she wants me to have a great Mardi Gras even far away!
