7 ways to Mardi Gras Indiana-style
Po' boys, brass bands, Brazilian beer, even paczki
Stop fretting about not being in New Orleans this Fat Tuesday, and get these parties on your Mardi Gras schedule.
1. Gumbo cook-off
Some of Indy's best chefs break out the big pots for a gumbo cooking contest 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28 at Indianapolis City Market. Carlos Salazar of Rook, Chris Benedyk of Love Handle and Matt Stum of Libertine Liquor Bar are among cooks. Sample a 4-ounce serving of each of 10 gumbos, plus French bread from the market's Circle City Boulangerie. Vote for your favorites using Mardi Gras beads. Water, craft beer, and wine will be available for purchase at Tomlinson Tap Room. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for ages 6 to 16. Kids younger than 6 get in free. Score tickets online at marketgras2017.bpt.me.
222 E. Market St., (317) 634-9266, indycm.com
2. Hit the streets
Beads, bourbon and beer take over Speedway 8 p.m. Feb. 25 for Mardi Gras on Main. Street performers and prizes for the best costumes are fueled by lots of food and drink specials. Get gumbo and Cajun catfish bites at Barbecue & Bourbon. Daredevil Brewing Co. features $2 off growler refills. Foyt Wine Vault serves Hurricanes, sangria and live music by Second Story Trio. Dawson’s on Main and Rolling in the Dough plan gumbo. Crawfish etouffee is also on the Dawson's menu. Hit a crawfish boil at Big Woods Speedway. The band Audacity plays 9 to 11 p.m. at Dallara IndyCar Factory. The show costs $5, but the festival is free to attend.
Main Street, Speedway, townofspeedway.org
3. Carnival times two
Jazz Kitchen stages a Brazilian carnaval organizers bill "the hottest party of the year" 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 25. Samba for sure. Indiana University Brazilian Ensemble's 20-plus drummers specialize in Brazil's carnaval music. Expect big-screen presentations of celebrations in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. Also see Brazilian artist Artur Silva's photos and videos documenting Rio de Janeiro. The night's Brazilian menu showcases the country's national drink, caipirinha (cachaça, sugar and lime), and its popular dish feijoada (black bean, beef and pork stew). Advance tickets cost $12. Crab Cakes, jambalaya, shrimp etouffee, king cake and other New Orleans fare comes with beads, masks and a rousing Pork 'n' Beans Brass Band show 7 p.m. to midnight Feb. 28. Tickets cost $15, including food. Book either event quickly. Seating is limited.
5377 N. College Ave., (317) 253-4900, thejazzkitchen.com
4. Drink a true NOLA beer
Based just north of New Orleans, Abita Brewing Co. sends out firkins of its Coconut Turbodog, a brown ale cask conditioned with fresh coconut, just in time for Fat Tuesday. Big Lug Canteen taps its firkin (small cask) for a night of partying to the music of DysFUNKtion Brass Band. A Creole shrimp boil, red beans and rice and andouille are on the menu, as well as $4 pints. The party runs 5 to 11 p.m. Feb. 28. The band starts at 7 p.m.
1435 E. 86th St., (317) 672-3503, biglugcanteen.com
5. Keep it real
It’s not a Mardi Gras party discussion if you’re not talking Zydeco’s Cajun Actual in Mooresville. The restaurant’s south Louisiana cuisine has been featured on CNN and Food Network. Housemade Cajun cured meats, gator on a stick, gumbo, fried seafood, po’ boys join specialty entrees such as blackened catfish filets served over jambalaya or crawfish maque choux, a spicy corn chowder traced to the South’s Caddo tribe.
11 E. Main St., Mooresville, (317) 834-3900, zydecos.net
6. Bag a gator
If you miss Mardi Gras, don't fret. Eat some alligator at a celebration to help teachers 6:30 p.m. March 7 at The Outpost. Organized by the Lafayette Breakfast Optimist Club, the gathering features oysters, alligator and stuffed mushroom appetizers, a full Cajun dinner, music by Alan Jones and his Dixieland Band, Whyte Horse Winery wine tastings and live and silent auctions. Wear a costume. Tickets cost $40 each. You must RSVP at the club's website by Feb. 24. Proceeds fund grants given to teachers engaged in special projects.
2501 Old U.S. 231, lafayetteoptimist.org
7. Don’t forget the paczki
Fat Tuesday is also Paczki Day for Polish communities in the United States. What are paczki? Basically, jelly-filled doughnuts, only these doughnuts contain extra butter, sugar and egg yolks. Scheduled on Shrove Tuesday, another name for the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, Paczki Day is a time of music, games and feasting, including paczki-eating contests. Indy doesn’t have a Paczki celebration, but you can find the pastries at Long’s Bakery and Taylor’s Bakery.
Long’s Bakery, 2300 W. 16th St., (317) 632-3741, facebook.com/longsbakery
Taylor’s Bakery, 6216 Allisonville Road, (317) 251-9575, taylorsbakery.com
Call Liz Biro at (317) 444-6264. Follow her on Twitter @lizbiro, Instagram @lizbiro, Facebook and Pinterest.
Is the man behind Bru Burger the restaurant king of Mass Ave.?