Mardi Gras In Lake Charles – A Cajun Canine Celebration.
The Cajun and Creole canines of Southwest Louisiana party throughout the year, and during Mardi Gras they march in their own exclusive four-legged Krewe of Barkus.
–by Ginger Warder, author of Fido’s Florida and Fido’s Virginia.
of costumed pets that culminates with the award of the “Mystical Dog” title to the most strikingly bedecked canine. Free to the public, the Krewe of Barkus Parade is one of the most popular activities dur- ing Mardi Gras; and professional costume designer, Gayle Moore, is the go-to seam- stress for canine couture. The owner of Doggy Duds, Gayle also makes human costumes for Mardi Gras revelers. (Note: the 2014 Lake Charles Krewe
of Barkus will be held March 1. The New Orleans Mystic Krewe of Barkus is on January 27, 2014). EAT LIKE A LOCAL
Lake Charles is Cajun country where alligators outnumber people 10 to one; where flavorful food and foot-tapping Zydeco music are a part of daily life; where casinos and racetracks are the big tourist attractions; and where the locals take the state motto “Laissez le bon temps roulez (let the good times roll)” to heart. This joie de vivre is also evident in
the canine community, with beautiful waterfront parks for strolling, down- home Yappy Hours at the local coffee shop, and the exclusive Krewe of Barkus, who march in the second-largest Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana. Add a bounty of pet-friendly hotels and restau- rants, a charming historic district, a warm welcome from residents; and you have a wonderful destination at any time of the year for you and your furry family to explore.
About six hours from Pensacola, this
Southwestern corner of Louisiana was devastated by Hurricane Rita. Making lemonade from lemons, the town has
48 THE NEW BARKER
rebuilt a beautiful lakeside promenade by the Civic Center, turned its neglected downtown into a thriving arts and enter- tainment district, and was recognized by Southern Living magazine for its com- prehensive Mardi Gras Museum. The gaming industry is largely responsible for the influx of visitors in recent years with the elegant L’Auberge Casino and Resort, offering not only gambling, but a golf course, spa, nine restaurants, upscale shopping and a national enter- tainment venue. THE KREWE OF BARKUS
Mardi Gras in Lake Charles is second only to the New Orleans celebration, and is designed to be family-friendly, includ- ing dogs. With more than 50 krewes, the Lake Charles celebration has two unique components: it’s the only Mardi Gras in the state where the public can view the ornate costumes from the royal courts — all in one place — at the Twelfth Night (twelve days after Christmas) evening in January. The Krewe of Barkus is a parade
From fried foods to fine dining, Cajun cooking is flavorful, leaning heavily on the holy trinity of peppers, onions and celery with hearty doses of garlic and dry spices. From po-boy sandwiches stuffed with fried shrimp to hearty gumbo, the restaurants in Lake Charles dish up authentic Louisiana cuisine. Try a pistolette (a dinner roll stuffed
with seafood and deep fried); an appetiz- er of alligator bites; traditional crawfish etouffée or the favorite local snack, boudin (pronounced boo-dan). According to the locals, Napa has
wine, New York has pizza, Wisconsin has cheese; but Southwest Louisiana is known for its boudin. This pork and rice mixture is stuffed in a sausage casing and is also served up as a fried snack called boudin balls. Known as the signature dish of Southwest Louisiana, boudin has its own culinary trail encompassing 29 loca- tions, ranging from gas stations and gro- cery stores to upscale restaurants. Famous Foods was voted number one in a recent local poll, and at the new Le Bleu’s Landing Restaurant and it’s specialty meat market, the Sausage Link, you can watch the chef making the “casserole in a casing” through a glass window.
Continued g on following page.
www.TheNewBarker.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112