Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, a little early this year.
“It’s the earliest Mardi Gras since I’ve been born,” Louisiana native Tommy Walters said. Walters, of Furlong’s, 735 East Main Street, is leaving this weekend to pick up about 1,000 pounds of crawfish for Mardi Gras. “At this time of year it’s real early for crawfish, but the reports I’ve been getting from the fishermen and friends, they look pretty nice for this time of year,” Walters said.
The restaurant will be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday; dinner will begin at 4 p.m. Call (859) 266-9000 or visit www.furlongs.com.
Reservations are recommended for most Mardi Gras events. Here are other places to celebrate on Tuesday:
Bayou Bluegrass Catering’s 10th annual feast will feature a lavish menu prepared by Louisiana native Matt Falcone. It will be at The Red Mile Clubhouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. The cost is $14.50 for lunch and $26 for dinner. Menu items include: Cajun smoked beef brisket, crawfish pie, bayou cabbage, Southern collard greens, fried alligator, bread pudding, king cake and N’awlins pralines. Call (859) 233-0814.
Buddy’s Bar & Grill, 854 East High Street, will offer Cajun dinner specials beginning at 5 p.m. Keith Hubbard will perform. Call (859) 335-1283 or visit
www.buddysbarandgrill.com.
Good Foods Market & Café, 455 Southland Drive, is celebrating Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year together. Here’s part of the menu that will be served 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday: andouille chop suey, Szechuan tofu creole, Cajun tempura veggies, bayou miso dirty rice, and sweet and sour triad (alligator, crawfish, and chicken battered and served with spicy sweet & sour sauce). Mardi Gras entertainment will feature Keith Otterson and other blues musicians from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. The Four Seasons Kung Fu team will perform a dragon dance in celebration of the Chinese New Year at 6 p.m. Call (859) 278-1813 or visit www.goodfoods.coop.
Gumbo Ya Ya Cajun restaurants will have king cake and Mardi Gras beads along with shrimp étouffée, crawfish creole and jambalaya. A Mardi Gras party pack for $45 will feed eight to 10 and include king cake. Locations are 1080 South Broadway, (859) 252-9292, and 4101 Tates Creek Centre, (859) 273-9292. Visit www.gumboyayaky.com.
Holly Hill Inn’s fourth annual Fat Tuesday Feast begins at 6 p.m. Daytime head sous chef Lisa Laufer lends a hand in creating this dinner, which includes crawfish étouffée, jambalaya, Ouita’s boudin with creole mustard sauce, duck and andouille gumbo, and bread pudding with whiskey sauce. The cost is $40. Holly Hill Inn is at 426 North Winter Street in Midway. Call (859) 846-4732 or visit www.hollyhillinn.com.
Mulligan’s Gardenside Café, 1804 Alexandria Drive, is serving chicken gumbo, shrimp creole and Louisiana crab chowder for Fat Tuesday. Mulligan’s will be open at 11 a.m. Sunday for Super Bowl fans. Call (859) 277-0071.
Ramsey’s Diners’ four locations will have Mardi Gras beads and door prizes, plus cooked-to-order crawfish. Also on the menu Tuesday is seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, and French bread.
They make a romantic team
Montgomery Inn Bed and Breakfast, 270 Montgomery Avenue, Versailles, is teaming with Woodford Reserve Distillery for a Romantic Flavors of Woodford County dinner at 7 p.m. Friday. Innkeeper Pam Matthews will prepare dishes using bourbon. Cost is $75 a couple. Call (859) 873-4478.
Super Bowl selections
Winchell’s, 348 Southland Drive, is having a Super Bowl party Sunday. The menu features New England clam chowder, crab cakes, New York deli-style sandwiches, New York strip steak, and New York-style cheesecake. Call (859) 278-9424.
Culinary federation meeting
The Bluegrass Chapter of the American Culinary Federation will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Southside Technical Center, 1784 Harrodsburg Road. Call Debora Miller, (859) 270-0482.
Pouring at Merrick Inn
Merrick Inn, 1074 Merrick Drive, will have a wine tasting from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday featuring wines from Talon Vineyards. The cost is $25. Call (859) 269-5417.
A Surf’s Up twist
Surf’s Up Grill, 3841 Nicholasville Centre Road, has
put a new spin on classic dishes. New items are BLT salad; honey mustard chicken salad; nacho dog with fresh sweet onions, chili and nacho cheese sauce; BBQ dog with creamy cole slaw; and kitchen sink burger. The grill is behind Bella Notte on Nicholasville Road. Call (859) 273-0992 or visit www.nothingbutburgers.com.
