Jan-Feb-2016_Final-1-4-16-attempt2

MARDI GRAS

MARDI GRAS AROUND THE WORLD Belgium The country’s most famous celebration takes place in the small town of Binche, in the French-speaking region of Wallonia. Carnival here dates back to the 14th century. Brazil Music and dancing, particularly the samba, are the highlights of Rio de Janeiro’s carnival, the world’s largest with more than two million revelers a day. In Salvador, axé Afro-Brazilian music performed by Bahian drummers sets the tone — and the beat — for the city’s million-strong, week-long street party. Carnival is popular in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and especially Trinidad and Tobago. And while carnival celebrations around the world traditionally end on Fat Tuesday, in Kingston, Jamaica, the party lasts a little longer, extending through Easter. Columbia Croatia Denmark Italy The first masquerade ball took place in medieval Italy (Carnival of Venice is famous for its masks). Masking and other Carnival traditions that began in Italy rolled over to nearby France, Spain and Portugal. From there they spread to French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies in North America, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Republic of Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa. France Like Spain and Portugal, France’s carnival history can be traced back to Italy. The Nice Carnival, which dates back to 1294, is one of the most elaborate celebrations attracting over a million visitors during a two-week period. Carnaval de Paris with its procession of street dancers, puppeteers, and stilt walkers gave us the tradition of the Boeuf Gras float. Germany The first modern Carnival parade took place in Cologne, Cape Verde Islands Caribbean Islands

• Substitute part of the mayo with sour cream and add fresh chopped dill for a savory variation. • Switch the yellow mustard for Creole mustard and add a tad bit of Tony Chachere’s for something spicy. • Use honey mustard instead of yellow mustard and add chopped bacon or Pancetta.These will fly! Bryan loves choices — make-your-own Bloody Marys, top-your-own po- boys, king and queen cakes ... I’m the same way. I was raised that more is more especially when it comes to food, so​I approach it as if I’m setting up a deviled egg tasting. I usually bring at least three variations and my eggs are always a big conversation at parties. FAT TUESDAY F at Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, is the last day to enjoy rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season begins. Here on the Gulf Coast,we associate king cakes with FatTuesday, but around the world, fried dough — beignets, donuts and pancakes — are a more popular way to use up the last of the butter, lard and sugar forbidden by Catholic fasting practices. In

Poland, they eat pączki , which are essentially jam-filled donuts. Spain has their buñuelos . Belgians make oliebollen or smoutebollen , typically with raisins. The Portuguese (and Hawaiians) consume sugar-dusted donut balls called malasada . German’s fry yeasty Fastnachts , or “fast-nights.” In Italy, they eat cenci and castagnoles , and in Venice, Italy, home of the oldest masquerade ball, they eat fried round donuts — frittelle di Carnevale with raisins and pinenuts ( veneziane ), filled an egg-based custard ( zabaione ) or filled with a thick pastry cream ( crema pasticcera ). And in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Canada, where Fat Tuesday is known as Pancake Day, they eat — what else? — pancakes.

Germany. Greece Luxemoborg Poland Portugal Quebec, Canada Russia Spain

ROUSES.COM 11