Mardi Gras is a beloved New Orleans tradition that’s celebrated around the world. The season begins on January 6 of each year, with Mardi Gras officially kicking off on “Fat Tuesday,” the day before Ash Wednesday. The entire season lasts approximately three to six weeks, depending on when Ash Wednesday falls.

During this festive time, the streets of New Orleans are packed with locals and visitors alike, throwing beads, dancing, and celebrating the season. All are welcome to enjoy a carnival-like atmosphere of music, beautiful parade floats, colorful costumes, and of course, mouthwatering traditional Mardi Gras food. 

If you’re planning an office party or catered lunch to ring in Mardi Gras season, the catering options are truly endless. Pillowy beignets with hot coffee or tea are perfect for a catered breakfast meeting, while red beans and rice, jambalaya, and handheld po’boys filled with shrimp or crab are great options for office lunches. Whatever type of Mardi Gras celebration you have in mind, here are some tasty suggestions to give you a head start on your menu. 

New Orleans red beans and rice

Red beans and rice is a classic New Orleans staple with a history dating back to the 19th century. This tasty dish was traditionally served on Monday, or laundry day, in New Orleans, when the woman of the house would let a pot of beans cook all day while they tended to the laundry. Today, red beans and rice are still a Monday favorite, but you can enjoy this hearty and satisfying Mardi Gras food any day of the week.

The traditional Louisiana red beans and rice recipe consists of red beans, rice, andouille (spicy) sausage, and various herbs and spices. It can also be prepared vegetarian-style or with light spices for people in your group with special dietary preferences. Just be sure to let your catering manager know if you need to deviate from the original recipe. 

Some popular sides often served with red beans and rice include cornbread, mixed veggies, and coleslaw. For dessert, consider a classic Southern treat such as peach cobbler or banana pudding. 

Jambalaya

For a tasty blend of French, African, and Spanish cuisines, order up some jambalaya for your next office event. While the exact roots of this traditional Mardi Gras food aren’t exactly clear, it’s believed the versatile ingredients represent the diverse cultures in New Orleans. 

Jambalaya ingredients include sausage, rice, and spices, and recipes can vary slightly depending on the caterer and/or the specific preferences of your group. Some additional ingredient options include black-eyed peas, chicken, and crawfish, and the base is typically made with tomato sauce and chicken stock. If you have vegetarians in your group, you can also request meat-free jambalaya made with vegetable stock. 

Jambalaya is hearty and filling on its own, but you may wish to order some sides and dessert for your next office event. Corn on the cob, cheddar biscuits, hush puppies, and collard greens are some classic sides to complement the big meal, and you can’t go wrong with vanilla ice cream or chocolate mousse to refresh the palate. 

Beignets and chicory coffee

Beignets are a sweet Mardi Gras staple from the 16th century, when French-Creole settlers made the Louisiana bayou their home. Similar in taste and consistency to funnel cakes or fritters, beignets are a great option if you’re looking to serve something sweet and comforting at your next breakfast meeting. 

Chicory coffee makes the perfect partner to beignets, offering a rich, dark-roasted flavor with a hint of sweetness. The difference between regular coffee and chicory coffee is the addition of roasted chicory root, which heightens the natural coffee flavor. Pair your beignets with this classic New Orleans beverage, or opt for regular coffee or tea. You can also serve these pastries with fresh fruit for some refreshing taste and texture variations.

Po’boy sandwiches

If you’re planning a Mardi Gras theme catered lunch, you’ll definitely want to include po’boy sandwiches. Not only are these sandwiches packed with delicious fillings such as shrimp, crab, and hearts of palm, they have a unique history in New Orleans. When the streetcar drivers went on strike in 1929, brothers Benny and Clovis Martin invented the po’boy to feed hungry strikers free of charge. 

Po’boys are served on soft French bread, with fixings such as pickles, mayo, lettuce, and tomatoes. Protein options include fried shrimp, crab meat, and oysters, and you can also request vegetarian po’boys with meat alternatives such as hearts of palm or tofu. Be sure to order extra napkins, as these filling sandwiches can get a little messy — but every bite is worth it. 

New Orleans gumbo

For something warm, hearty, and oh-so-traditional, consider adding New Orleans gumbo to your Mardi Gras catering menu. Since the early 1800s, gumbo has graced the dinner tables of practically every home in New Orleans while serving as one of the most famous dishes in Louisiana. 

Traditional gumbo features a thick tomato or roux base, along with a blend of rice, veggies, and meat or seafood. Gumbo must always contain a thickener such as okra or filé powder, but the other ingredients are interchangeable. In fact, ingredient variety is encouraged in many gumbo recipes. Seafood gumbo is often prepared with oysters or crab, while sausage and poultry gumbos contain spicy sausage, smoked sausage, chicken, or turkey.

If you’re looking for vegetarian options, you can also order gumbo z’herbes, a vegetarian-friendly gumbo alternative that uses different greens instead of meat protein. 

Traditional Mardi Gras king cake

And last but certainly not least, no Mardi Gras celebration is complete without the deliciously sweet traditional king cake. This flavorful cake consists of soft brioche dough and fillings such as cinnamon or chocolate. Known for its colorful, festive appearance, king cake is traditionally glazed with purple, green, and/or gold icing and topped with sprinkles in the same colors. 

King cake is enjoyed between January 6 and Fat Tuesday, with green representing faith, purple representing justice, and gold representing power. The cakes are made in Bundt cake style, and each cake has a tiny baby figurine baked right into the dough. The figurines represent the baby Jesus, and some legends say whoever finds the baby will enjoy lasting luck and prosperity. Earlier cakes were also baked with small beans, coins, or trinkets to signify good luck.

King cake makes a great dessert option for Mardi Gras-themed catered events, with regular or chicory coffee rounding out the sweetness. Be sure to let your catering manager know if you have a filling flavor preference, and your attendees should keep an eye out for a lucky figurine or trinket. 

Order Mardi Gras food catering with ezCater

Traditional Mardi Gras food is both delicious and significant, with many recipes going back hundreds of years. We have everything you need to make your event a new favorite office tradition. Visit ezCater now to get started — and learn how we can help simplify the ordering and delivery process.