{"id":11972,"date":"2024-02-10T21:32:29","date_gmt":"2024-02-11T03:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecorkscrewconcierge.com\/?p=11972"},"modified":"2024-02-10T21:32:30","modified_gmt":"2024-02-11T03:32:30","slug":"wines-for-all-the-mardi-gras-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecorkscrewconcierge.com\/2024\/02\/wines-for-all-the-mardi-gras-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes! There are Wines for all the Mardi Gras Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While folks are all geeked out about Valentine\u2019s Day, at our house, it\u2019s all about Mardi Gras. The house has been decorated in purple, green, and gold and we\u2019ve consumed our fair share of king cake – hello Gambino\u2019s praline king cake! Given that Mr. Corkscrew hails from southern Louisiana, which is ground central for all things Creole, Cajun, and Mardi Gras, the cuisines of the region often show up in our kitchen. And since my mantra is \u201cthere is a wine for everything\u201d I\u2019ve spent a fair amount of time figuring out the perfect wines for all the Mardi Gras foods. I\u2019ve worked my way through the likes of gumbo, red beans and rice, po-boys, and even boudin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little Mardi Gras Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Mardi Gras is a way of life where Mr. Corkscrew comes from. Like schools close for the week. I\u2019ve enjoyed hearing stories about Mardi Gras when he was growing up, particularly those related to Courir de Mardi Gras. Now this is different from the carnival type Mardi Gras many of us associate with New Orleans or Rio de Janiero. This is more of a family, communal celebration that was, and still is, practiced in rural communities and which traces its origins back to medieval France. Courir de Mardi Gras means \u201cFat Tuesday Run\u201d in Louisiana Cajun\/Creole French. As part of the Courir de Mardi Gras, members of a troop called a \u201cMardi Gras\u201d would gather ingredients to use in preparation for a community gumbo to be made later that night. Le Capitaine, who was the leader of the Mardi Gras, would ride his horse while leading a group of other masked riders or runners and go from house to house gathering ingredients for the gumbo. The procession is many times accompanied by bands playing music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In order for the homeowner to provide the group with an ingredient for the gumbo, the troop would have to perform and earn the offering. Sometimes they would sing and dance, and other times they would participate in a chicken run. As chicken is one of the most important ingredients in a chicken and sausage gumbo, it was very much a prized ingredient. To earn a chicken, the homeowner would throw the chicken (or sometimes a duck or guinea) in the air and the members of the troop would have to literally run and chase it down. So imagine a bunch of drunk folks running around trying to catch a chicken! According to my husband, when he was a young boy, he had the record for two years straight catching the most chickens. He even caught a guinea once. Makes sense to put the kids up to it as I imagine the adults were feeling pretty nice from all the liquid revelry. Once the group gathered all of the ingredients for the gumbo, the community would get together to cook and eat the gumbo in a large, booze filled celebration that ended before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lent season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gumbo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The official \u201csoup\u201d of south Louisiana, gumbo is a staple in our house. We typically make two different pots because Mr. Corkscrew only likes chicken (or duck) and sausage in his, but I like to add seafood to mine (in addition to the chicken and sausage).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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