King Cake for Mardi Gras in LA (preferably Westside)?

[DMojoD]

Fat Tuesday is around the corner! Does anyone know where to get a king cake in LA? Thanks!

[monku]

Couple months ago I was at Wal Mart in Duarte and they had a rack full of them in the middle of an aisle.

[jonno333]

Hey, does anyone know someplace in the SF Valley that sells King cake? I am in Reseda

[duke_of_mildew]

You can try Porto's... they had them last year. No idea if they were any good though.

[Lmo1823]

I ordered mine from Portos last year. You have to special order it I think. Also, they couldn't put the baby inside the cake because it is a choking hazzard. It was quite tasty though. Not exactly the same as when I would have it shipped from New Orleans, but less costly!

[Franimal]

You can order from Haydel's in New Orleans. They ship overnight. Complete with beads. They also includde a porcelain object. Last year it was a Fema trailer with christmas lights. The year of Katrina, it was a skeleton man with hair sticking stright up, holding a baby. representing the old and the new.

Also, Uncle Darrow's in Marina Del Rey is holding a Mardis Gras party on Saturday, Feb 9. They'll have music, crwafish boil and it's a good time! The proceeds go to brad Pitt's "Make it Right" foundation.

[DMojoD]

Thank you PayorPlay and Franimal for the great suggestions!!
For our parties in the past we have always ordered kegs of Abita beer. Many liquor stores in the area only need a few days notice for the order.

[DMojoD]

So last year Uncle Darrow's came through for us and we picked up our King Cake from them.

Usually we have our own Mardi Gras party for Fat Tuesday, but I don't think we're going to this year. Does anyone have any favorite places they like to spend Fat Tuesday celebrating Mardi Gras? It's not widely celebrated in these parts. We're thinking of going to Cafe Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach.

[PayOrPlay]

We usually end up at the LA Farmers Market either on the preceding weekend or on Fat Tuesday itself.

http://farmersmarketla.com/newsandeve...

Gumbo Pot is not the best food by a long shot (and in fact we often skip the Louisiana food altogether) but the atmosphere is friendly and party-like and crowded enough to feel like a real mini-parade. If nothing else you get to hear the legendary Eddie Baytos and the Nervis Brothers, who are the real deal (personal connection disclaimer--they played at Cynaburst's and my wedding!) as well as other fine musicians.

Caveat: Mardi Gras is so dadgum early this year and the weather may be lousy, just like in N'Awlins----Chris Rose has a column in the Times-Picayune this week complaining about this very problem. Caveat #2: this Sunday is of course also Super Bowl Sunday, so who knows what that will do to the atmosphere over the weekend. (And to think some of us deluded Saints fans were speculating earlier this year about what would happen to the Sunday parades when the Saints made it to the Super Bowl. Ha!)

[Piglet]

..(And to think some of us deluded Saints fans were speculating earlier this year about what would happen to the Sunday parades when the Saints made it to the Super Bowl. Ha!)

Just saw this thread linked to a newer one; I couldn't resist bumping this comment back up a year later! Hope your Mardi Gras is especially festive this year.

[brd78]

Has anyone heard of Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen? I just found out and heard they are having a Mardi Gras event on Fat Tuesday. What better way to spend Fat Tuesday with the Brennan family, i say. From what they told me its $40.00 for all you can eat buffet with new orleans food, jazz music and drink specials. ticket also includes a compimentary drink, im not sure what that is. I plan to check it since im in the OC and there is not much to do here for Fat Tuesday. Im even surprised Disney is doing anything at all but sounds like fun.

[missliisa]

Brennan's Jazz Kitchen is great!

Jorge at the bar makes killer drinks as do the rest of the bartenders.....the menu keeps changing..... but the beignets are yum! Go..... sip a French 75 and have fun!!
Lassez les bonne temps roulez!

[fdb]

Paris Pasty on Westwood Blvd....read it in LA Times today.

[Lmo1823]

I just called Paris Pastry and they made it clear to me that they did not have "Louisiana style" King cakes-- they only have "European style" King cakes. I asked for the difference; the only thing I could really make out was the the European style has marzipan in the center and does not have the amazingly gaudy colors on it. So, I didn't order mine there. Trying Portos next. Just an FYI.

[fdb]

Sorry I didn't know the difference. Thanks for clarification.

[Jerome]

european king cake might put an almond inside - and it's traditionally served on Epiphany (three kings). The new orleans one is served on mardi gras and has "the baby" baked in, a small plastic or ceramic doll - however gets the baby hosts the party the following year.

[fdb]

Interesting info. Thanks.

[rnp0123]

I lived in New Orleans for 7 years. Almost every day during carnival season somebody brings a King Cake to work. Whoever get the baby buys the next King Cake. By Mardi Gras everybody is pretty sick of King Cake.

[GHF]

Went to Porto's today. Did not have any in at the time to check it out personally. The picture of the cake in their posters looked great. Ordered for pickup later, $15.

[Jerome]

Is it real orleans king cake or is it cuban Roscon de los Reyes?
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/3/3356...

[duke_of_mildew]

Not westside, but I saw that Porto's has king cakes.

[rtibor]

No problem. You must go to the Gumbo Pot today. Its at the Los Angeles Farmers' Market, 3rd and Fairfax. They have a Mardi Gras party with bands on two stages from noon until 8PM. If yo email me at rst90274@yahoo. com I'll send some photos of the event that I took yesterday. The Gumdo Pot has king bread and all kinds of great Cajan food. Check it out, get some free beads.