Echoes of My Nola Past

My Family research is in the NW part of Louisiana, but I’m starting to love all things Louisiana especially New Orleans.

I’ve grown to love the music and now starting to get into the food from the city.

I was speaking with a friend and he mentioned “King Cake”. I asked whats that and he challenged me to find out. “Do the Research” he said. So heres what I found out:

In the Southern United States this tradition was brought to the area by colonist from France and Spain and is associated with Carnival, which is celebrated in the Gulf Coast region centered on New Orleans, but ranging from the Florida Panhandle to East Texas.

“King Cake” parties in New Orleans are documented back to the eighteenth century.

The “King Cake” of the New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition comes in a number of styles. The most traditional is a ring twisted bread similiar to that used in “broche” topped with icing or sugar usually colored purple, green, and gold(the traditional carnival colors) food coloring.

“Cajun King Cakes” are traditionally deep-fat-fried as a doughnut would be and there are many variants, some with a filing the most common being Cream Cheese and Praline.

It has become customary in the New Orleans culture that whoever finds the “Trinket” must provide the next “King Cake” or host the next Mardi Gras party.

I’ve never been to New Orleans, but looks like I will be going real soon.