The King of Cakes. Eddie Lin Gets a Taste of New Orleans Royalty in LA. Listen This Saturday 11AM, Jan 2, 2010 on KCRW 89.9FM or KCRW.COM.

King Cake Pic
It's the king of cakes, there is none higher...

Better get over that New Year's Eve hangover quick because in a few short days the Mardis Gras or Carnival season commences and the partyin' starts all over again — Wednesday, January 6, 2010 to be precise.

Known as Twelfth Night, Epiphany or King's Day, this kickoff to Carnival lands 12 days after Christmas and also commemorates the day when the Three Wise Men are said to have arrived in Bethlehem.

Traditionally, the king cake has been the centerpiece of the King's Day celebration. In the past, the cake was simply a ring of dough with spare decoration. Nowadays, the king cake can be presented as elaborately as anything you'd see on Ace of Cakes.

There are, however, a few musts that are incorporated into any king cake, like the ring shape (similar to a bundt cake), the traditional Mardis Gras colors of purple, green and gold, and a small trinket, typically a small plastic baby, found inside the king cake.

Symbolism is rampant in everything Mardis Gras as is such with the king cake. The cake's purple color represents justice, green equals faith, and gold means power. And, if you're the one who finds the little plastic baby (hopefully before you gag on it), you'll hereby be crowned "king of the feast" along with the honor of hosting next year's king cake party. Oh, you'll need to furnish the king cake too!

smashcake
This cake got its own bling!

Now find out how you can get this fantastic New Orleans Mardis Gras cake rarely available in Los Angeles. Listen to my interview with a couple of really sweet ladies from New Orleans Sweet Treats as we discuss the sweetness of Mardis Gras.

And beyond the king cake, I'll also introduce you to the sensational smash cake as well as the unbelievably sweet New Orleans style praline. My absolute favorite French Quarter indulgence, beignets, are also made with love and pride by these ladies.

neworleanspralines
Pralines. So toothsome you may become toothless.

Tune in Saturday, January 2, 2010 (yes, that's Twenty Ten!) at 11AM to 89.9FM KCRW in LA or KCRW.COM everywhere else. (Click here for link to podcast.)

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Comments

Simon Thibault said…
Hey Eddie,

In french-canadian communities, the tradition of epiphany cakes continues. Usually a bean (or if you were rich, a small trinket) would be placed inside the cake. There would also be a paper crown placed on top, and whoever gets the bean or trinket was king for a day!
val said…
On my first and only trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans (easier when I lived in Texas) I almost broke my tooth on the baby in the King Cake - the host neglected to mention it was in there. I think I still have the plastic baby...
Juliet said…
I'll be listening. Looking forward to getting a little education along with my food entertainment. You are good for that.
Happy New Year!