Philly to New Orleans: A Mardi Gras Celebration at the Market

Posted Jan 25th, 12:46

Tuesday, February 16, 11am-2pm,
Center Court

Mardi Gras is coming to Philadelphia with “Philly to New Orleans,” a free celebration at the Reading Terminal Market on Fat Tuesday, February 16, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Hosted by Beck’s Cajun Café, “Philly to New Orleans” evokes the joy and revelry of Mardi Gras with the music, spectacle and tastes of the Big Easy in Philadelphia’s historic public market.

“Get ready, it’s going to be a great party,” said Chef Beck, owner of Beck’s Cajun Café. “Everyone should come and enjoy this taste of New Orleans right here in our own backyard. As they say in New Orleans, ‘Laissez les bon temps roulez’!”

The festivities begin at 11 a.m. with Dixieland music and a parade. Chef Beck will serve-up authentic New Orleans favorites including jambalaya, mufaletta and a giant pot of gumbo. Proceeds from the sale of gumbo will benefit the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity to help the people of New Orleans displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

At 1 p.m., there will be a cutting of the King Cake, a Mardi Gras tradition. A King Cake is cinnamon-filled dough twisted in the shape of a hollow circle. The cake is sprinkled with colored sugar of purple, green and gold, representing justice, faith and power. A porcelain or plastic “baby” is baked into the King Cake. Tradition holds that whoever finds the baby hosts the next party and is crowned king for the day.

For more information, visit http://www.beckscajuncafe.com