Several years ago a baby was born. A little pink plastic king cake baby.
I can't remember how I got the baby but I'm guessing from my friend Loly who's from Lafayette, Louisiana. I'd never heard of king cakes until I met Loly. I kept the baby on my windowsill for a year or so with all the other knick knacks that reside there -- figurines, shot glasses, a corn cob pipe, a couple shells. It fit right in until one day I kidnapped the baby from its comfortable home.
I was making postickers for New Year's Eve and decided to put the king cake baby in one. Whoever bit into the potsticker with him in it (or her -- it's hard to tell) would be on track for a very fortunate year. Don't worry, I warned everyone not to bite too hard. My friend Chris got the baby that year. One of the only times when it is ok -- in fact your encouraged -- to bite a baby.
Shrimp, cabbage and mushroom potstickers.
So I've done this a few times since. It's a great tradition -- an every couple of years tradition.
This all leads me to Mardi Gras. King cakes and Mardi Gras...
One of my favorite North Portland restaurants has some fantastic Mardi Gras action this year that you might want to check out. Here's the scoop straight from the source: EaT Oyster Bar is hosting a big Mardi Gras party as well as lots of events during the entire week leading up to Fat Tuesday.
Bon Ton Roulet is playing live on February 13th for EaT's Crawfish Boil, which starts at 1:30pm and goes until they run out. There will be king cakes, traditional beads and doubloons along with a Grand Mardi Gras Dress-up Ball on Fat Tuesday February 16th. Festivities start at 11:30am and go all night with live music, cajun specialties and the crowning of the Mardi Gras King and Queen of Portland. Check out the website for a schedule closer to the day of the event.
EaT Oyster Bar www.eatoysterbar.com