Mardi Gras for Food Lovers

Mardi Gras is a festival of indulgence, so don’t forget to indulge. Spend Fat Tuesday enjoying the goods these Louisiana locals have to offer in the land of Creole and Cajun cooking. –Denise Shoukas

Boscoli Foods, Kenner

The Boscoli family has been manufacturing gourmet Italian foods since 1992 in the greater New Orleans area. An integral part of New Orleans' cuisine is Italian Olive Salad ($10.75/32 oz.; boscoli.com), traditionally found on the famous New Orleans Muffuletta. This mixture of green and black olives, capers, giardiniera (pickled vegetables) and a blend of herbs and spices is packaged in 100 percent imported Boscoli Family Olive Oil. Enjoy it as is, or mix with greens or pastas, spread on a panini or use as a pizza topping.

Calhoun Bend Mill, Libuse

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Patrick Calhoun turned to the farmland of Louisiana to create products that would meet the needs of not only Southerners, but people nationwide who wanted to cook with authentic Louisiana ingredients. If you love fried fish, try Calhoun Bend Mill Fish Fry Coating Mix ($4.58/two 8-oz. bags; calhounbendmill.com), a seasoned cornmeal coating that makes any fish, seafood or vegetable taste delicious. Other ready-to-make mixes include Peach Cobbler, Awesome Onion Coating, stone-ground Cornmeal, and Mexican-style sopapilla.

Magic Seasoning Blends, New Orleans

Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasoning Blends was born in 1983, when customers from the chef’s K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen restaurant began asking to take home the chef’s seasonings. Today the blends area sold to all 50 states and 27 countries around the world, and Chef Paul continues to create innovative American and international dishes from his New Orleans base. A great introduction to Louisiana flavors is his Magic Seven Pack ($18.95; chefpaul.com), which includes all seven of Chef Paul’s original Magic Seasoning Blends. Also check out his sauces, smoked meats, cookbooks and gift packs.

Pickapeppa/Warbac Sales Co., Metairie

Warbac Sales, a three-generation, family-owned and -operated food business, has been importing Jamaican Pickapeppa to the U.S. since 1982 through the Port of New Orleans. Over the years, this Jamaican sauce has become a vital part of the city’s cuisine. Pickapeppa Sauce ($7.18/two 5-oz. bottles; pickapeppa.com/online_store.htm) was created in Shooter’s Hill, Jamaica, in 1921 and is still made there today. Prepared with cane vinegar and aged in oak barrels, it has a sweet but mellow flavor and has been called “Jamaican Ketchup” as a tribute to its range of uses.

Slap Ya Mama Cajun Products, Ville Platte

Walker & Sons "Slap Ya Mama" cajun products is a Louisiana-based company that offers a variety of authentic Cajun seasonings, Cajun pepper sauce, Cajun fish fry and a Cajun Etouffee Sauce. Slap Ya Mama Original Blend ($5/16 oz.; slapyamama.com) is a melange of spices that will add Cajun flavor to any dish. Throw it on popcorn or fries, or spruce up breakfast or leftovers. What’s with the name? Every time the owner’s mother used the recipe that inspired the blends, she would get a loving slap on the back and a kiss on the cheek thanking her for another great Cajun meal.

Southern Bar-B-Que, Jennings

Established in 1957, the Southern Bar-B-Que Sauce company has stood the test of time among Cajuns in Southwest Louisiana. What began with only two products—the original BBQ Sauce and basting sauce—grew to include more than 20 items, from Cajun Salsa and Cajun Roux (both wet and dry) to Brown Gravy Mix and Seafood Boil. A top seller is the Cajun Spray Baster ($3.50; southernbbqsauce.com), available in Original Bar-B-Que, Zesty Garlic & Herb and Jalapeño Butter.

Tabasco Brand Products, Avery Island

This ubiquitous sauce speaks for itself. Original Tabasco Sauce was created by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868 from his own pepper-sauce recipe, which called for fully aged red peppers, salt from Avery Island and high-quality distilled vinegar. Five generations later, Original Tabasco Sauce ($1.90/2 oz.; tabasco.com) is now joined by other flavors, such as Sweet & Spicy, Garlic Pepper, Chipotle and Buffalo Wing Style. You’ll also find other products inspired by Louisiana such as marinades and condiments, snack foods and bloody mary mixes.

Tina's Cajun Creations, Kenner

This company started nearly 20 years ago with just one product: New Orleans BBQ Shrimp Mix. Today it includes a comprehensive line of mixes that exude the flavors of New Orleans cuisine. Best part of all, Tina’s Cajun Creations takes authentic Cajun recipes and transforms them into quick, easy gourmet meals that you can easily make at home. Try the Cajun Jambalaya Mix ($4.75/4 oz.; tinascajuncreations.com) to re-create the quintessential jambalaya brought to every Cajun party.

Tony Chachere's Creole Foods, Opelousas

Tony Chachere's Creole Foods began in 1972 as a retirement hobby for South Louisiana chef Tony Chachere. That year, he published Cajun Country Cookbook, fulfilling a lifelong dream to record the recipes of his beloved South Louisiana cuisine. Out of that process, he developed an instant base called Roux and Gravy Mix. Today, Tony Chachere's Creole Foods is still owned by the Chachere family and continues to operate out of the Lombard Street facility in Opelousas, with an extensive line of products including More Spice versions of the Creole Seasoning, a line of sauces, two more cookbooks and a line of quick-fix rice dinner mixes. Try the Famous Creole Seasoning ($3.50/17 oz.; tonychachere.com), to get a taste of real South Louisiana cuisine.

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