Celebrate Mardi Gras with King Cake from Bakery Hill

Tuesday, Mar. 1, is Mardi Gras, also known as “Fat Tuesday”—  a cultural celebration rooted in religious practices associated with observing the days prior to Easter.

It’s also a day associated with a specific sweet (vanilla and cinnamon) pastry that is decorated in purple, green, and gold: the King Cake.

On Mar. 1, Bakery Hill will feature slices of King Cake for $1 each. It’s a one-day-only special, available until all slices are sold… so get in line early, or you might miss out!

Background: According to information provided by Chef Michael Vanfleet (based on info published by Country Living magazine), the first King Cakes were made in Europe to celebrate the Catholic Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day (as in the Christmas carol “We Three Kings…”), on January 6 each year.

• The French brought the cake with them to Louisiana in the 1870s, and the King Cake tradition has become associated with Mardi Gras in in New Orleans. But the cake is popular in many locations, starting in early January and continuing until Ash Wednesday, when Catholics typically give up something for Lent.
   
• The colors used to decorate a King Cake have special meaning: green symbolizes faith, purple stands for power, and yellow represents justice.
   
• There’s always a little plastic baby hidden in the cake, too, which makes eating King Cake more fun. (Since you’ll be getting individual slices of cake from Bakery Hill, finding the baby won’t be as much of an adventure.) Some say the baby represents Baby Jesus, and others say the baby is a a symbol of luck or prosperity.
   
• According to King Cake tradition, if you get the slice with the baby you’ll be “crowned” king or queen for the day and perhaps be on your way to a very good rest-of-the-year.
   
• And if your slice doesn’t include the baby, just enjoy your very good cake!

If you’d like to learn even more about the history of King Cake and how this culinary tradition has evolved in New Orleans, here’s a 5-min. feature story from CBS Sunday Morning (aired on Feb. 27).

(Photo of Bakery Hill King Cake provided by Chef Michael Vanfleet)