Let the Good Times Roll...Cajun-style! Today I'm featuring a tablescape for a Fat Tuesday Celebration. Fat Tuesday is held in New Orleans on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It's called Shrove Tuesday and the name comes from "shriving," or purification through confessing one's sins prior to Lent.
My invitation sets the tone for a festive event...
The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, gold, and green and I chose these colors for the tablescape. It is generally accepted that the purple stands for justice, the gold for power, and the green for faith.
This is an informal, buffet-style setting; it's the easiest way to host this feast of traditional Cajun foods.
Traditional Cajun foods...
Desserts and beverages on the sideboard...
A festive centerpiece...
A festive centerpiece...
A lamp adorned...
Another lamp adorned... 
Candy on the sideboard...
Menu
Muffulettas...on a Stick
Toffee Crunch Cheese Cake Ball with Jezebel Sauce
Cajun Crab Dip with Crackers
Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage
Mama's Warm Potato Salad
Mama's Warm Potato Salad
Bayou Beer Bread
King Cake
Beignets
Virgin Mary's
Chicory Coffee
Chicory Coffee
For appetizers, I am serving muffulettas...on a stick, instead of sandwiches. The muffuletta sandwich is a specialty and signature sandwich of New Orleans. This is my version and a much more festive presentation than the sandwich.
I'm also serving additional appetizers of Louisiana Cajun Crab Dip with crackers and a Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball with Jezebel Sauce, with Honey Grahams...a Southern favorite.
The Crab Dip...
I'm also serving additional appetizers of Louisiana Cajun Crab Dip with crackers and a Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball with Jezebel Sauce, with Honey Grahams...a Southern favorite.
The Crab Dip...
The Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball with Jezebel Sauce...So very Southern
More traditional New Orleans favorites...Red Beans with Rice and Smoked Sausage.
Some warm homemade potato salad--Mama's Southern style recipe...
Fresh from the oven--Bayou Beer Bread (Not my Mama's recipe)...
More traditional New Orleans favorites...Red Beans with Rice and Smoked Sausage. Some warm homemade potato salad--Mama's Southern style recipe... Fresh from the oven--Bayou Beer Bread (Not my Mama's recipe)...In addition to beer, wine, and sodas, I am serving my "signature beverage" of Virgin Bloody Mary's. 
Of course, no Fat Tuesday party would be complete without a King Cake. The King Cake is a New Orleans tradition that involves a pastry, a small plastic baby, and a party. The King Cake is baked with the small plastic baby inside; the person who gets the slice with the baby inside has various privileges/obligations--my recipient will have to host the next party. If you ever serve King Cake, be sure to tell your guests to inspect their piece of cake before they begin eating it!
The must-have at any Fat Tuesday party...King Cake!
With the dessert cake I am serving Chicory coffee. Chicory is everyone's favorite coffee in New Orleans and is available at gourmet grocery stores or online at Cafe du Monde. This coffee is made with a mixture of chicory--a flavoring that adds mellowness, body, and aroma to coffee. Add 1/2 of your regular coffee and 1/2 of ground chicory and brew as usual. Chicory flavored coffee may be served plain, or with hot milk.
Chicory coffee...Cafe au lait...
Now, you simply must crown a King and Queen at your party. So, we will be playing a Mardi Gras trivia game and the lady with the most correct answers will be Queen and the gentlemen with the most correct answers will be King!
Are you attending a Fat Tuesday Event? Don't forget to take a gift to the hosts...here's a couple of ideas...
Are you attending a Fat Tuesday Event? Don't forget to take a gift to the hosts...here's a couple of ideas...
Any host would love to receive these delicious beignets...
Remember that presentation is everything...Make it Memorable.
You can't have beignets without the chicory coffee...it's a tradition in the South. Here's a gift for the host--a can of chicory coffee, wrapped with green shred in cello, a festive ribbon, and a Mardi Gras themed gift tag, pour vous!
Don't forget your party favors y'all! "Throw me something, mister"! The doubloon (coin) is one of the most enduring symbols of Mardi Gras, so I packed each festive cup with candy doubloons and wrapped them in cello and tied it all up with ribbon--a favor for each guest--Making it Southern...Making it Memorable!
Don't forget your party favors y'all! "Throw me something, mister"! The doubloon (coin) is one of the most enduring symbols of Mardi Gras, so I packed each festive cup with candy doubloons and wrapped them in cello and tied it all up with ribbon--a favor for each guest--Making it Southern...Making it Memorable!
I hope that y'all have enjoyed your visit with me today. Thank you for stopping by...I'm off to enjoy some Fat Tuesday fun!
58 comments:
You have GOT to be the hostess with the mostest! Gracious living looks so appealing...your lifestyle is just so interesting, making things so special. Our lifestyle is so casual, that it makes me feel ashamed when I come visit you!
You truly do, know how to throw a party, whether it be a theme party, or a gathering of ladies for tea.
What a delicious way to live!
I'd love to be one of your guests! Everything looks so good. Esther
Miss Janice,
What a festive party you are having! I so wish I could come! Thank you for reminding us of the real meaning behind "Fat Tuesday", some believe it is related to the feast!
The feast, by the way, looks scrumptious, another reason I wish I could come!
I can see all of the hard work and time you have put in to this evening and it truly is magnificent... I hope your guests raise a glass to you!
In closing I'd like to add that somehow I missed your last few posts and I had loads of fun reading them. You certainly get your point across...kudo's to Miss Janice!!
xoxo
Jane
P.S. Wondering where you found your fancy paper plates, etc... I love the Weekend Waterford!!
Oh my Miss Janice!! You have set out quite a spread, there! Your decorations are so festive and your food looks so yummy! Every detail is perfect! What can I say but echo your title...Laissez les bons temps rouler!!!...Debbie
That party looks fabulous! Your guests are so lucky to have such an amazing hostess!
This is just such a beautiful, festive, and fun looking party! I love all of your party props, but those place card holders are so perfect for a Mardi Gras party! All of your masks are wonderful too! Well heck, I wanna come to the party. Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler!. laurie
Oh, Miss Janice, you're good! You're really good! This look is awesome and the food looks to die for! I need a beignet! I'm having a giveaway for my 200th post - come by and enter!
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
What a fun, fun party! Every detail is just perfect and the food looks amazing! Thanks for inviting me along through your blog! :D Jewel
So sweet!
This is great Miss Janice! I really do enjoy visiting you. Thanks for sharing your talent.
smooches,
Larie
This was wonderful! I did not think you could out do yourself, but you have, down the simplest little touch. Such a wonderful party! I love the drinks, the crab dip is my favorite dish! I love the silver platter the potato salad is in. We have to have the red beans and rice. I worked in Louisana and got to visit a lot of homes in cajun country. I love seeing how they live, I got to visit a few farms it was wonderful. The company that supplied our Airplane fuel, would come to the Airports and cook down home cajun-style food for us.They are wonderful people. I wanting to go back. I give you a 5 spoon award for this wonderful Mardi Gras event! lol So put your 5 spoons on this great festive event! I love it. You can still come back to Mississippi to our Mississippi Magnolia Southern Belle's lunch and antiquing day. We not set a date, until we find more Mississippi bloggers and friends. The Ham Jam in Phildelphia is in April, I used to go and weave on the loom and spin on the spinning wheel. We will just have to wait and see how many want to do this. Love your tablescape.
Miss Janice you created a beautiful and colorful celebration complete with a Fleur-de-lis.
I can't believe my post almost coincided with Fat Tuesday! How fitting.
Your menu sounds out of this world srumptious.
Beignets... I have had them in the French quarter at Cafe du Monde' and they are so amazing.
Thank you for the kind and encouraging words about our move.
I am so inspired by the words of many bloggers telling me to trust in Him.
It has given me peace.
Have a wonderful party!
~Melissa :)
Oh how I wish I could've attended your party! Everything looks so delicious and beautiful! You are such a wonderful hostess.
Any word from your tarnished swap partner?
What a wonderful table setting and party.Everything looks so festive and fun.You always know how to put on a beautiful party or dinner.Love reading your post and seeing how you decorate for your affairs.
Gosh i wish you were my neighbor. I would invite myself over for all your parties. And DON'T think i did not notice that Harlequin candle and plate. They kept calling me, telling me ," Mishelle come get me". mishelle
It looks so fun and you remembered every detail! Beautifully done! Now to get on your guest list ;)
Miss Janice! This post was amazing! Just when I think you have out done yourself...you surprise me again!!! I have never had a better sandwich than a muffaletta (sorry if I misspelled it) but I went to New Orleans the Thursday before Katrina hit and let that Saturday. I was able to enjoy one of those sandwiches. It was incredible! I tried and tried to recreate the recipe to no avail! Your idea is amazing and I will defineately try it this way!
Have a beautiful day!!
p.s. You truely inspire me to bring my own beauty to my life. Thank you!!
so lovely- you went all out :)
kHm
Wow! This is fabulous!! I absolutely adore the decorations and food. You are so amazing!!
Hi Miss Janice...this was a party for the eyes for sure & I can only imagine how great the food tasted. You were born to entertain!
;-) Bo
What a delicious party. Love the decorations. Maybe you could share some of the recipes (crab dip, toffee) on Foodie Friday with Gollum! :O)
Hi Miss Janice, Thanks for your sweet compliments! I wish I could entertain like you!! You are just amazing! I bet it was an awsome party. I don't do alot of entertaining, but when the time comes, I'll definitly know where to come get some great ideas! Kristen
I am obviously obsessed with this post-- AMAZING. I love your muffuletta on a stick! How did you make the beer bread?
AMAZING!!
Well I am so very, very jealous! I just love a 'theme' party and you do the very best ones.... I so love the muffuletta on a stick and the party favors and the food, well, lets just say the food looks devine. You can throw a great down-home, fun-time party..
Love ya,
Miss Kara
What a festive tablescape. Your parties have to be wonderful.
So fun, so festive. Love the colors of course!
Valerie
Ms. Janice, your buffet table looks lovely and the food is making my mouth water!...Christine
My favorite tablescape today! I LOVE it! I want the recipes...all of them! Wow! I want to COME to this party! What fun!!!!
And on your sidebar, things you dont like.. taking the Lords name in vain. I am with you. What is with that? It really bothers me.
Oh doggone it I'm a day late and a dollar short. I wish I was at this fantastic mardi gras spread!!
Everything is fabulous. Over the top wonderful... well done :0)
Miss Janice, it's so hard to keep my manners in check when I want to CRASH your party! But I won't. I'll just leave a nose print on your outside window from looking in. (I'll apologize in advance for the squashed flowers)
That was fun! Hope you had a good time at your wonderful party!
I wish I was there. That is an adorable theme and you did it perfectly! Love all the masks.
You're making me hungry! Mardi Gras is such a fun theme. Great job.
Looks like a FUN party... and YUM!
Truly amazing! I am overwhelmed actully! This is pure perfection! WOW!
What a perfect celebration, you thought of everything! Wish I could borrow the fleur-de-lis stuff for my son's Court of Honor on Saturday to celebrate becoming an Eagle Scout.
Enjoy you festivities, Candy
This is INCREDIBLE! Have you ever thought of putting all this down in a book?? Or even better - can you adopt me please??!
What a fun tablescape! Who wouldn't want to come to your party?! Wonderful!
Linda
I feel like I've been to Mardi Gras. What a fun party table. Your guests are so lucky to be invited!
My Father & Mother were fans of Luzianne coffee with chicory. They used to purchase it at the supermarket. I've never tried it myself (I lean more toward tea), and don't know if it is still sold in the grocery store, though I'm sure it is available online if nowhere else. The bag had a red label I think; I'll have to look for it the next time I'm in a store.
Your feast looks wonderful and I am sure your guests will remember this party for a long,long time.
Dear Miss Janice,
Bravo, very fun and festive. Your menu looked delicious but also so attractively set. You always see to every detail. I so enjoy visiting. Thanks for sharing, Maryrose
Wow! You spared no detail in putting together this fabulous Mardis Gras party...I love that you even adorned the lamp with festive touches! The food all looks fantastic too...what an inviting buffet filled with tempting treats! I think all of your blogging friends wish they could swing by your party! :-)
You are a fabulous hostess.This is so fasinating.I love that you even decorated the sidebaord and the lamps.The food however has made me so hungry.Well done as always Miss Janice.And thank you for answering
my question...Ann
I love your tablescape! Especially the use of the mask and feathers for a centerpiece! Cute, cute, cute!
Oh my goodness! I am in heaven with all that purple goodness! Your table is beautiful, truly beautiful... (Ok, gotta breathe...)
Thanks for sharing such a lovely spread.
Carolyn of What Now? Tablescapes
Miss Janice,
You are a woman after my own heart! I believe we should celebrate more! Nothing is better than hosting a group of friends with a theme in mind. I love, love, love your decor and your food selections! Great job!
Smiles,
Alisa
Miss Janice, I've never been very familiar with Mardi Gras......this was a really fun and interesting post. I would just love to have the opportunity to go to this party of your!
Elaine
My goodness Miss Janice, you put all ym parties to shame! This is simply FANTASTIC!
Thanks for the experience! I have never been to MG. You really went all out. Looks like lots of thought went into this.
Very festive!
Donna
Running late this week visiting blogs....again...I hope everyone left me some leftovers!Looks great!
Hope you had a great Tablescape Thursday
Susan
Wow! doesn't even begin to describe this tablescape and heavenly food. Great menu and especially love the muffeleta on the sticks.
Miss Janice, You are the queen entertainer!!! Your parties are perfect, down to every detail! Blessings, Nancy
Wow Miss Janice, You've outdone yourself on this one. Not only are the decorations super fabulous, but your menu is tremendous! Especially the Louisiana Crab Dip. ~CC Catherine
Hi Miss Janice! How FUN!!! Educational too. Those bloody marys could have been your centerpiece; so colorful and pretty! Since it is 4:30pm I am starving; this post was delicious!!!lol Have a great weekend - Sincerely, Jeannette
You are amazing! You know soooo much about everything! I've never been priviledged to be invited to a Fat Tuesday party and I can tell I've been missing out! What fun and great food! Janice...you sure do know how to spoil your guest and put on a fab party!
Hi Miss Janice,
I musts say you have created another wonderful collection of festive decorations. Your guests are very fortunate to have you in their lives.
Everything from the colors, food and drinks are so inviting.
Have a great weekend.
What a fabulous fete! I would love if you would post the recipes to some of these fabulous dishes like you have before and like you often did on your website.
Love this blog...so many fantastic ideas as usual!!
What a great party -- it looked so festive and so New Orleans! the food looked yummy too!
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