This coming weekend is the annual Mardi Gras weekend in Ogunquit, Maine. Now let me go on record for saying nothing beats the real Mardi Gras in the New Orleans French Quarter. Also I will certainly have no problem at all feeding my need for dirty pictures on the internet when I type Mardi Gras into Google Images! I can hardly wait. However, before I proceed a quick history of Mardi Gras and what it really means.
Mardi Gras and the celebration are French origin. "mardi gras" translated from the french means "Tueday Fat" is the Catholic churches observance of the beginning of Lent. Fat Tuesday is the day before the first official day of Lent which is Ash Wednesday. The entire season is called Carnival.
The colors of the festival are purple, green and gold. Purple represents Justice; Green represents Faith; Gold represents Power.
Throwing from the floats began sporadically in the 1800's. These first throws, were often bon bons and other simple treats. People in the crowd, sometimes, threw small bags of flour, as a practical joke, which would burst on you or the float, when they hit.
The celebration is not about, "getting in as many sins in as possible before you have to repent and ask for forgiveness on Ash Wednesday". Mardi Gras no longer has any real religious observance. Like anything else, the holiday (it is a legal state holiday in Louisiana) consists of what you put into it.
Some people come to New Orleans and head to the French Quarter, to drink and FLASH their, "Assets", look for easy sex, and just let their fetishes hang out. It not about that and never was. Over time and because the city has a laid back attitude a lot of things that were over looked then, are just plain, "Hard to Stop", and local authorities have almost abdicated the power to put an end to it.
Ahhheeem.... Now then back to the colder climate in the great state of Maine. This weekend will be interesting at the very least. Being the diverse area that Ogunquit is I am told the parade and rest of the festival are nothing short of fun to watch! So in the spirit of Mardi Gras I have put together a list of drinks you might find down in the French Quarter.
Cajun Martini
1 1/4 oz. - Vodka
1 dash - Dry vermouth
Pickled jalapeno pepper
Shake and strain Vodka and Vermouth over ice.
Drop in the jalapeno.
1 1/4 oz. - Vodka
1 dash - Dry vermouth
Pickled jalapeno pepper
Shake and strain Vodka and Vermouth over ice.
Drop in the jalapeno.
New Orleans Martini
3 oz. - Vanilla Vodka
1/2 oz. - dry vermouth
1/2 oz. - Licorice liqueur
1 Dash - Angostura bitters
Shake over ice and strain.
Garnish with a sprig of Mint
3 oz. - Vanilla Vodka
1/2 oz. - dry vermouth
1/2 oz. - Licorice liqueur
1 Dash - Angostura bitters
Shake over ice and strain.
Garnish with a sprig of Mint
OK this one may seem incensitive but seriously this is a very big drink for this festival. Everywhere you look you will see people toting around the yard glasses of Hurricanes. So even as crass an individual I am this is in no way in any reference to Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane, New Orleans Style
1 oz. - White Rum
1 oz. - Jamaican dark rum
1 oz. - Bacardi 151 Rum
3 oz. - Orange juice
3 oz. - Pineapple juice
1/2 oz. - Grenadine
Garnish with fruit wedges (Orange, Lime, Lemon, Cherry)
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