I have been greatly remiss in posting to this blog in the last month – and that on top of my promising 5 easy bites for holiday entertaining – sigh…

In my defense, I have had a steady stream of out of town visitors in the last 3 weeks. Also, in my defense, I hear that the hottest season for entertaining is just beginning in New Orleans.

That’s right – on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany, aka King’s Day and Twelfth Night, the Carnival season officially began, when many New Orleanians left up their (artificial) Christmas trees, simply switching out the Christmas ornaments for Mardi Gras decorations.

Mardi Gras Tree

That evening brought the first two (of many to come over the next 6 weeks) parades marching through the city – the Phunny Phorty Phellows, and the Krewe of Jeanne d’Arc aka The Maid of Orleans, and patron saint of our fair city, hosting a medieval style parade, which marched through the French Quarter beginning and ending very near the Maid’s gold statue situated between the French Market and Jackson Square. My friend, Dianne Honoré led her year old community of Amazons in the parade.

Dianne Honoré leading her Amazons

Thanks to WWOZ – community radio in New Orleans – you can view a pics of the parade at their Joan of Arc parade Flickr stream.

My absolutely indomitable friend, Deborah Cotton, says she just loves living in a city that’s party-centric. The wonderful Ms. Cotton will actually be riding a lead float in the Krewe deVieux parade on January 31st, if you happen to be in town.  I just hope that I can keep up with it all.

And yeah – I’m still going to bring you the last 2 of those easy bites. Maybe you will throw a Mardi Gras party, too.