Beware the “baby trinket”…..

Dine 'N Dish

by Wendy Gordon | on February 23rd, 2012 |

by contributor Wendy Gordon

Le Bon Temps Rouler. It wasn’t NOLA, but came close as Tuesday, February 21st brought a bevy of Mardi Gras celebrations to DC—and the annual celebration of Fat Tuesday to many of the area’s aptly themed Crescent City dining establishments, and to Central Michel Richard.

While the anything but standard regular menu was in place that evening, the addition of Cajun suisine favorites like Gumbo, Etoufee, Turtle Soup, Moon Pies and King Cake, and of course iconic NOLA inspired libations like Sazeracs, Absinthe Suisesse, and Hurricanes (which will be available from the bar throughout this month), along with Bourbon Street Dixieland Jazz by Laissez Foure.

King Cake was a highlight of the evening—the pastry has a small ‘baby’ trinket inside, Whoever gets the baby in their slice is hailed as King or Queen for a day. In some circles, it’s believed the person who gets the baby trinket will soon have a baby. We’re wondering how many of the Tuesday night revelers are a little frightened at this very moment?

The king or queen is also usually obligated to supply the next king cake or host the next party or both.

Again, we’re wondering how many of our readers are a little daunted by having a cast of hundreds descend on their homes next Mardi Gras?

The reality of the situation—there’s nothing quite like tossing back some Franco-inspired grub—but with the addition of servers handing out beads and a saxophonist that even played tableside, it seems highly likely that we’ll all be back next year—if the guest population hasn’t doubled by then.