6 ways to celebrate Mardi Gras with food and events in the Oklahoma City metro

If you've ever been to New Orleans, you know the city will serve up the sweet smell of beignets and the soothing sounds of jazz year-round. But if you've ever been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, you know there's simply no bigger party than when the French Quarter bursts at the seams with people flooding the streets for the guarantee of fun and fantastic food and drinks.

Oklahoma City is not New Orleans, but something we share in common with the Crescent City is love of good food and the willingness to take any opportunity to have fun with our friends and family.

The Jones Assembly, 901 W Sheridan Ave., will evoke a bit of that New Orleans magic in Oklahoma City with a special Mardi Gras brunch set for Feb. 19. The brunch includes two seatings, by reservation, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and will include a show by the King Cabbage Brass Band.

The menu is being served up buffet-style and is set to include crawfish étouffée, gumbo, dirty rice, hot chicken, biscuits and red eye gravy, souffle baked eggs, candied bacon, brioche French toast, King Cake-style crullers and a bananas foster action station.

Reservations can be booked at thejonesassembly.com or by using the Resy app.

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If making a formal reservation is not your speed, don't worry, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate Fat Tuesday. From food and drinks to parades and jazz, there are plenty of ways to channel Carnival season Big Easy-style across the metro. Check out these six additional ways to let the good times roll.

1. Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails and Parlor offer special Mardi Gras themes

In addition to The Jones Assembly, a few other metro restaurants seem to have been hit with a little Carnival magic to transform for Mardi Gras.

Just down Interstate 35, Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails, 132 West Main Street in Norman, is set to offer a selection of New Orleans-inspired food and cocktails Feb. 16 -21. The Kyle Reid Trio will also perform live from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 21. No reservations are required.

Parlor, 11 NE 6th Street, will also host special Mardi Gras party Feb. 21. The night will include a shrimp and crawfish boil with Nola drink specials, live music and giveaways. Reservations are not required.

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2. Grab a King Cake to share

There are a couple options if you want to take in the time-honored tradition of the Mardi Gras King Cake. King Cake can best be thought of as a pastry that falls somewhere between coffee cake and a cinnamon roll. Often filled with fruit or cream fillings, the cakes are decorated with sugar in traditional Mardi Gras colors — green, gold and purple. The cake is representative of the three kings who visited the baby Jesus after his birth and a small baby figurine is often hidden inside the cakes. The person who finds the figure in their slice is considered blessed with luck and prosperity and is responsible for bringing the next year's cake!

Brown's Bakery, 1100 N Walker Ave., will take king cake pre-orders through Feb. 16 with payment due at the time of order. Cakes come in 8-inch rounds, quarter sheets and half sheet sizes. Cakes come with flavored filling and options include cinnamon, praline, Bavarian cream, strawberry, cherry, apple, lemon, blueberry and raspberry. Brown's will also have a limited number of extras on Mardi Gras available for walk-in purchases on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To order: Call 405-232-0363 or visit the store in-person.

St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 300 N. Air Depot Blvd. in Midwest City, continues its annual tradition of baking and selling king cakes as a fundraiser for the church's Mobile Meals program. You can purchase small or large cakes in single or double flavors. Available flavors include traditional, apple, lemon, cherry, peach, blueberry, strawberry, praline, raisin pecan, vanilla, chocolate, and cream cheese. The church also offers diabetic, vegan and organic king cake options. Chocolate, vanilla and cream cheese cakes cannot be made vegan. Cakes are available to ship nationwide for an additional cost.

To order: Visit https://www.stmatthew.org/kingcake or call Jenifer Cameron at 405-795-4530.

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3. Head to the American Banjo Museum to celebrate with Anthem Brewing

Mardi Gras at the Museum is an annual event hosted by the American Banjo Museum, 9 E Sheridan Ave. This year's event, in conjunction with Anthem Brewing, will include a night of New Orleans Jazz and great beer. From 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 18, the museum will feature its Krewe de Banjo, featuring executive director Johnny Baiere and tickets include admission and two free beers.

To order tickets: Call 405-604-2793 or go to americanbanjomuseum.com.

4. Learn to make Mardi Gras mocktails at Natural Grocers

The Colorado-based chain will host an event from 3 to 4 p.m. Feb. 19 for shoppers to taste and learn to make mocktails fit for the Carnival season at its May Avenue location, 7013 North May Ave. The health benefits of fermented foods & beverages will be discussed and samples of delicious and refreshing alcohol-free beverages will be available.

6. Catch Mardi Gras on Main Street in Norman

Going strong since 1994, downtown Norman's Mardi Gras celebration includes a parade that is set to take over the streets once again on Feb. 18. The parade will feature floats, musicians, dancers and an array characters. Under the theme of “Phoenix Rising,” organizers look to acknowledge the beloved event's return following the pandemic, as it rises from the ashes of nonexistence.

The parade route starts at The Depot, 200 S. Jones Avenue, heads north to Main Street, follows Main to S. Crawford, turns south to E. Comanche, returns to Jones Avenue and makes a second loop on the course.

Downtown businesses will be involved in the festivities, offering extended hours and specials. Beer Is Good Brewing, Lazy Circles Brewing, Bison Witches and more will likely offer specials during the parade.

Red Brick Bar, is expected to have parade night festivities and will also host a 21 and up drag show at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 21.

5. Visit a local Creole or Cajun restaurant

While we may not have the French Quarter, there's still plenty of restaurants in Oklahoma City ready to offer up the flavors of The Big Easy. The best part is, it doesn't have to be Mardi Gras to enjoy these flavors as these restaurants serve up Cajun and Creole-inspired goodies year-round. Whether it's gumbo, etouffee, a po'boy or something else that you're craving, check out these mouth-watering spots throughout the metro:

• Brielle's Bistro, 2037 S Meridian Ave., https://briellesbistro.com/

• Chef Dee's Creations, 2739 NW 36th St., https://chefdeescreations.com/

• Cajun Corner, three metro locations, https://www.cajuncornerokc.com/

• Ragin' Cajun, 200 S Oklahoma Ave., Suite 140, https://ragincajunokc.com/

• Bourbon St. Cafe, 100 E California Ave., https://www.bourbonstreetcafe.com/

• Razzoo's Cajun Cafe, 1340 W Memorial Road, https://www.razzoos.com/

• Brent's Cajun Seafood and Oyster Bar, 3005 S Broadway in Edmond, https://www.brentscajunfood.com/

• The Big Easy New Orleans Cafe, 359 E Main Street in Yukon, https://www.facebook.com/TheBigEasy66/

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Mardi Gras drinks, events and ways to celebrate in Oklahoma City