Mardi Gras: King cakes, gumbo and jambalaya from Tacoma to Puyallup

Here’s a look at Mardi Gras happenings between Friday and Fat Tuesday (Feb. 9, 2016).

MARDI GRAS PARTY IN PUYALLUP

Where: Bourbon Street Bar and Grill, 401 S. Meridian, Puyallup; 253-604-4404; Facebook.

When: Friday-Sunday and Tuesday

The New Orleans themed restaurant in downtown Puyallup, Bourbon Street Bar and Grill, plans live music, a special menu and cocktail list on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Fat Tuesday.

A covered, heated tent will host the music.

Performing will be Hook Me Up at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Blues by Heather Jones at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Chuck Gay at 6 p.m. Sunday and Jeff Mims at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. There’s no cover charge.

Owner Mike de Alwis said via message that a special menu is planned, “We will have a typical New Orleans style menu that will include jambalaya, gumbo, red beans and rice, fried catfish, oysters, Louisiana seafood platter and more.” For dessert, there’s bread pudding and beignets.

Be sure to check out the bar’s new cocktail menu, designed by Mickey de Alwis, son of the owner. Another son, Jehan, runs the restaurant’s kitchen.

GUMBO FEED AT DOYLE’S

Where: Doyle’s Public House, 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma; 253-272-7468; Facebook.

When: New Orleans-themed menu through Tuesday, plus a fundraiser gumbo feed from 11-11 p.m. Tuesday.

Do the Irish celebrate Mardi Gras? Well, they do at Doyle’s Public House. The St. Helens neighborhood Irish bar has New Orleans-themed food specials on the menu through Tuesday, made by Ben Marcus, who locals will recall from the long gone Parkland restaurant From The Bayou. Marcus previously worked at the restaurant with Marcus’ brother, Matthew, who ran the restaurant with business partner Kevin Roy.

Marcus said via message he’ll have chicken and sausage gumbo ($3.25 cup/$5.25 bowl), crawfish étouffée ($13.24) and a shrimp po’ boy ($10.25) on the menu through Tuesday.

There’s also a special gumbo event that will raise money for Fish Food Banks of Pierce County from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday at the bar. Marcus will make a chicken and sausage gumbo and he’ll be joined in the kitchen by Tacoma City Councilman Robert Thoms, who also will make gumbo. All proceeds from the sale of gumbo goes to the food bank.

KING CAKES AT CELEBRITY CAKE STUDIO

Where: Celebrity Cake Studio, 314 E. 26th St, Tacoma; 253-627-4773; Facebook.

When: Through Tuesday.

Odette D’Aniello is putting the pastry skills she learned in Louisiana to use. She’s offering King cakes in a variety of flavors for $35 through Tuesday. Order the cakes at least three hours in advance, but preferably 24 hours. Order at this link or call the bakery.

Flavors include blueberry and cream cheese, pecan praline, raspberry cream cheese and strawberry cream cheese. Each cake includes a plastic baby, which the purchaser can push into the cake. As tradition dictates, the person who gets the slice with the baby earns good luck, plus the task of bringing the cake to the following year’s celebration and/or hosting the party.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 10:04 AM with the headline "Mardi Gras: King cakes, gumbo and jambalaya from Tacoma to Puyallup."