King Cakes and beads are an important party of the Louisiana Mardi Gras experience. Photo: Ed Lallo/Louisiana Seafood News.
by Ed Lallo/Louisiana Seafood News
Snooki, Sammi and JWOWW, as well as the rest of “The Jersey Shore” cast , love to party. This year while visiting the Garden State they don’t have to stray far for their share of King Cakes and Mardi Gras Beads, essentials in celebrating the biggest party of them all… Mardi Gras.
According to Michael Arnone, a Louisiana transplant who lived in the state for more than 10-years is creator/producer of its annual Crawfish Fest, New Jersey residents “don’t have to leave home to celebrate Mardi Gras! Essential ingredients – include a King Cake, beads and traditional Jambalaya – all available online from his store.
Michael Arnone celebrating Mardi Gras in Louisiana. Photo: Michael Arnone Facebook
King Cake, historically a simple dough ring with a small amount of decoration, has a tiny baby made of plastic, porcelain or gold inserted. Whoever receives the cake slice with the baby has to continue the festivities by hosting the next King Cake party.
Modern King Cakes still include the tiny baby, but are more festive. The top of the oval, rich Danish dough is covered with sweet sugar toppings in traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.
Arnone’s favorite resources for King Cakes, as well as Mardi Gras beads, includes Haydel’s and Gambino’s bakeries in New Orleans.
For jambalaya lovers, Arnone has created his own mix that he creates from scratch and serves at the Crawfish Fest. New Jerseyians – as well as everyone else – can order it online.
Mardi Gras Warm Up for Jersey Crawfish Fest
Serving up boiled crawfish, corn and potatoes at the Crawfish Fest. Photo: Bob Adamek
For Arnone, the remote Mardi Gras is a good warm up for the highlight of Jerseys’ own Cajun celebration, the annual Crawfish Fest held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, a little more than 60 miles from the towering skyline of New York as well as the Jersey shore.
“We boil a lot of crawfish,” said the former Jersery resident who now resides on the Tickfaw River back in Louisiana. “This past year I bought the crawfish in Pierre Part.
In addition to crawfish, the festival serves oyster po-boys from Cocodrie, as well as Louisiana catfish alligator sausage and shrimp. Crawfish bread sold at New Orleans Jazz Festival is also readily available.
“What I have focused on for the past 23 years is to give a true representation of the culture, food and music of the Bayou state,” he explained.
Three-time Grammy winning Louisiana artist, Aaron Neville headlines this year’s celebration. . Neville, the owner of four platinum certified records, will be touring his newest album – “My True Story”.
Also performing during the three-day event — scheduled for May 31st thru June 2nd – will be the Wetlands All-Stars, including a special treat for those outside of New Orleans, Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. New Orleans funk stalwarts, Papa Grows Funk, will also make an appearance.
Real Louisiana Food and Products Showcased
New this year is celebration is the Fest Food and Trade Expo, a showcase of Louisiana products and services. Product and services at the expo will be made available in New Jersey stores.
The showcase is an opportunity for Louisiana-based companies to reach Crawfish Fest fans that are passionate about Louisiana food and products with plenty of free samples.
Crowds rock to the continuous music at the annual Crawfish Fest held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ. Photo: Bob Adamek
“This is an opportunity of Louisiana brands to mix business with pleasure and entertain brokers, distributors and guests,” explained Arnone. “The Food and Trade Expo will be held simultaneously during the festival in the open aired Mini-Pavilions at the Crawfish Fest. Paid Festival Admission allows guests to enter the Expo Area.”
Louisiana’s Crystal Hot Sauce and CajunCountry.org are among the official sponsors of the event
A special treat for campers and King Crawfish Krewe ticket holders are eight sets of music on Friday and Saturday nights; Cyril Neville and Devon Allman in the Royal Southern Brotherhood, Los Angeles funk band Orgone, Eden Brent and the recently formed band Camile Boudin & Living Rumors.
Tickets for the 24th annual fest went on sale last October, and grossed more than $30,000 in a 14-hour time period.
Be it Zydeco, Rock, R&B or Country and Western, Snooki, Sammi and JWOWW, as well as everyone else from New Jersey, New York and the other surrounding state, will have the opportunity to taste the food, culture and sounds of exported from the Bayou.
A rainbow stretches across the sky as a band plays on the stage at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in New Jersey. Photo: Bob Adamek
The post Mardi Gras and Crawfish Fest – Jersey Style appeared first on Louisiana Seafood News.