Colleen Curran
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Colleen Curran
Let the good times roll. It’s almost Fat Tuesday.
(This year, Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 13, the day before Valentine’s Day.)
If you’re looking to get into the Big Easy spirit, here’s where you can find king cake, crawfish and more.
King cake
Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods has been making king cakes for over 44 years, since the 1980s. The demand grows every year and, this season, Ukrop’s will be producing around 6,500 cakes.
All Ukrop’s king cakes are made from scratch and made by hand. The Danish dough is made with a cinnamon filling, topped with icing and decorated with purple-, green- and yellow-colored sugar for Mardi Gras. A baby is included with every cake so that customers can hide it, as is tradition.
Ukrop’s king cakes can be found in Mid-Atlantic Kroger Stores, Libbie Market and Harris Teeters in Williamsburg as well as Ukrop’s Market Hall (7250 Patterson Ave.). Select Food Lion locations will offer the cakes this weekend. The last day for the cakes in store is Fat Tuesday, Feb. 13. You can also place an order at ukropshomestylefoods.com.
Montana Gold Bread Co.’s (3543 W. Cary St.) king cake is filled with cinnamon and butter, topped with vanilla icing and the Mardi Gras colors ($23.99). Your best bet to get your hands on a hot king cake is to place an order 24 hours in advance. It tries to keep a few in-store for purchase, but they go fast. Call (804) 359-7700 to reserve yours.
Up All Night Bakery (1221 Bellevue Ave.) in Bellevue is also offering its take on a homemade, from scratch king cake ($24).
Early Bird Biscuit Co. (119 N. Robinson St.) has whipped up a stunning king cake for Fat Tuesday. You can order ahead for the full size ($25); baby-size versions will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Taste of New Orleans pop-up
Natalie’s of Lebanon is hosting a Taste of New Orleans pop-up dinner with a seven-course tasting menu including charbroiled oysters, a Louisiana crawfish boil, Creole gumbo and co*cktails for purchase from The Verdant Lady. $65. Tuesday, Feb. 13. 5 p.m. 2825 Hathaway Road.
Gumbo
Parterre: The Southern restaurant at Linden Row Inn serves a classic chicken and andouille sausage gumbo over rice ($19) or add shrimp for $7. Parterre also serves beignet-like crafted doughnuts tossed in powdered sugar and served with chocolate sauce ($7). 100 E. Franklin St.
Manchu: This take-out spot in Brookland Park serves New Orleans fried chicken wings, shrimp po’boys, and chicken and beef sausage gumbo with okra, onions and rice ($7.49). 2914 North Ave.
The Boiling Crab: While crab and seafood boils are its specialty, The Boiling Crab also serves gumbo ($7) and crabber fries. The California-based restaurant opened its first location in Richmond last year. 2053 W. Broad St.
The Speakeasy Grill: Located at the Hippodrome Theater, The Speakeasy is open for Sunday brunch only and serves a New Orleans-style gumbo with shrimp, yardbird and sausage cooked fresh to order and served with rice ($9), as well as shrimp and grits, fried oysters and a cornbread basket. 526 N. Second St.
Crawfish and beignets
Live Crawfish & Seafood serves crawfish platters and beignets year-round, as well as seafood boils and raw or steamed oysters. Two locations: 9020 W. Broad St. and 7531 Midlothian Turnpike.
Mardi Gras events
Busch Gardens Mardi Gras: Busch Gardens Williamsburg is going all-in on the Big Easy theme with a Bourbon Street Brigade, stilt walkers, bayou-inspired cuisine and a cirque show in the Globe Theatre, plus roller coasters and New Orleans decorations throughout the villages. New Orleans dishes include seafood gumbo, bourbon pecan bread pudding and a crawfish boil. Through March 3. Single-day tickets starting at $53.99 online.
Top five weekend events: Snowball Festival, Chocolate Fest, and Galentine's Market
Snowball Festival
Chocolate Fest
Virginia Opera: 'Sanctuary Road'
Galentine’s Market at Hardywood
Super Bowl watch parties
Colleen Curran (804) 649-6151
ccurran@timesdispatch.com
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Colleen Curran
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