Mardi Gras means more than beads and drunken revelry on Bourbon Street. It translates to Fat Tuesday in French and is the day before the start of Lent, a traditional time of fasting. The fatty foods that would otherwise spoil during the next 40 days would have to all be eaten that Tuesday. And while most of us can’t be in New Orleans right now, it doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate.
If you need some inspiration, here are some ways the rest of the world does it:
New Orleans: King Cake
The French left their mark in New Orleans with their rich history and even richer desserts. There are different variations of king cakes around the world, but in New Orleans it’s a sweet yeasted dough, frosted and decorated in green, gold and purple, the colors of royalty. Try the Bayou Bakery version with a cream cheese filling.
NoVA to Do: Laissez les bons temps rouler (Cajun French for let the good times roll) with a King Cake from Bayou Bakery. // 1515 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington
United Kingdom: Pancake Day Race
The easiest way to use up sinful items such as eggs, dairy and sugar would be to make pancakes. In England, Shrove Tuesday might have been the day to confess sins before the start of the penance season but has since become their national Pancake Day (which are really French crepes). Pans are heated all over the country, ready to flip some cakes, but none like in Olney, England. Local legend has it that back in 1445, a housewife was in the middle of making pancakes when she heard church bells and ended up running to church in her scarf and apron, fry pan in hand, with the cake still in it. The story sparked an annual race in which women competitors in head scarves and aprons with fry pans run a set course to the church while flipping pancakes at the start and finish lines. The international twist to this race is that since the 1950s, the women of Olney have sprinted against the women of Liberal, Kansas, in a simultaneous race.
NoVA to Do: Skip the run, or, if it makes you feel better, run to the pancakes at Petit Loulou. // 713 E. Main St., Purcellville
Iceland: A spanking for a bun
Called Bolludagur in Iceland, the Monday before Ash Wednesday is Bun Day. Brought to the island by their Scandinavian neighbors, celebrations include children making and decorating spanking sticks called bolludagsvöndur. With the war cry of “bolla, bolla, bolla,” young children greet their parents on the morning of the day with their spanking sticks; every spank administered earns them one bolla, or bun. The cream buns (made with choux dough) are only served on Bun Day, with the nation of 330,000 consuming over 1 million buns. If the cream buns are not enough, the party goes on the next day on Sprenidagur, or Bursting Day, where salted meat and pea soup is the traditional dish.
NoVA to Do: You don’t have to spank anyone to get your buns at Silva’s Patisserie. // 167 Glyndon St. SE, Vienna
Miałam ochotę na takiego domowego paczka…takiego jak kiedyś robiliśmy w domu….zwykłego.. malinowym dżemem nadzianego no….to sobie zrobiłam #paczek#paczki#domowe#pyszne #drozdzowe #ciasto#tlustyczwartek #pyszne #zcukrempudrem #malinowy #dzem#dougnouts #homemade #delicious #yeast #yeastdough #raspberries #raspberryjam#filling#
Poland: Paczki
What is now a filled jelly doughnut began as a piece of dough fried in lard and stuffed with pork. As with all foods on this list, paczki (ponch-key) was created as a way to use up all the leftover lard and meat given up for Lent. French chefs who worked for King Augustus III are credited with lightening and sweetening the fried dough. There’s a touch of grain alcohol included in the dough to keep it from absorbing too much fat during the frying process (paczki are generally fried in vegetable oil now). Traditional flavors include plum and rose jam.
NoVa to Do: Find your sinful doughnut at the Polish Market; you can beg for forgiveness tomorrow. // 431 Maple Ave. W., Vienna
