CELEBRATE MARDI GRAS IN STYLE AT NEW ORLEANS HOTTEST SPOTS

Crawfish Boils, Mardi Gras Lunch Hours, Cocktails and More

TRINITY

Located in the French Quarter just a stone’s throw from the parades, Trinity restaurant on Lower Decatur offers the perfect respite from Mardi Gras Mayhem.  Trinity will open for special Mardi Gras Lunch during the Mardi Gras parades – February 17-19 and February 24-28 from 11AM – 2:30PM.  Diners can enjoy Executive Chef Michael Isolani’s Carnival offerings including fried oysters & pickles with sesame aioli and lemon; grilled romaine with chorizo and horseradish vinaigrette; and his signature crawfish & fontina beignets.  Also on offer are an array of sandwiches such as the lobster roll with tobiko, roasted garlic, pickled onions and yogurt; blackberry pork belly on a sesame semolina roll with cucumber dill and apple; and grilled short rib on ciabatta with brie, roasted peppers, arugula, and Dijon mustard. Pair these culinary delights with Beverage Director Lexi Winston’s King Cake Martini, which was just named semi-finalist of Where Y’at’s Rum Chata Cocktail Mix Off 2017.  This delightful martini features Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, Cathead Pecan Vodka and Rum Chata, mixed with a frothed egg white and served in a purple sugar crystal rimmed martini glass.  Trinity is located at 1117 Decatur Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Reservations can be made at www.opentable.com. Telephone: (504)325-5789; www.trinityrestaurantneworleans.com

GRAND ISLE

On Friday, February 17^th, Grand Isle will host a Krewe of Cork Crawfish Boil post-parade on the Fulton Street promenade.  From 4PM – 7PM, revelers can enjoy a festive outdoor boil featuring $6 pound of crawfish, served with all the fixins.  Guests can quench their thirst with $6 premium wines-by-the-glass, as well as $3 St. Arnold Fancy Lawnmower and Abita Strawberry brews. Other libations include new signature cocktails from Beverage Director Drew Clowney including the BBC Punch – bourbon, brandy, and cognac with vanilla bean, winter spices and fresh pineapple juice; and the Drunk Uncle – Bulleit rye whiskey, egg whites, Meyer lemon and Dumante pistachio liqueur.  Creative libations include the Albuquerque – smoky mezcal with honey, lime and a house made heirloom rainbow carrot and candied ginger shrub and Grand Isle Pimm’s Cup – Kru cucumber vodka, Pimm’s No. 1, freshly squeezed lemon juice, topped with ginger ale. Grand Isle is located at 575 Convention Center Boulevard, on the Fulton Street promenade in New Orleans. Telephone: (504) 520-8530; www.grandislerestaurant.com

ANNUNCIATION

Stop by Annunciation restaurant in the Warehouse District post-parade to quench your thirst with the special Mardi Gras cocktail, the New Orleans Lane Cake Cocktail. Inspired by the famed sweet treat created in Alabama in the late 1890’s, this liquid concoction features Cooper’s Craft Bourbon, Crème de Violet, Luxardo Cherry Liqueur, Amaretto, an egg white, triple sec, fresh lime juice and a dash of Orange Crème Citrate.  Grab a seat at the bar and enjoy new bar bites from Executive Chef Jacob Cureton including Smoke Fried Chicken, Mussels Normandy and Crispy Brabants with smoked sweet paprika and preserved lemon aioli.  Bar bites are regularly priced $6 – $12, but are ½ off Monday through Friday from 4:30 – 6:30PM. Annunciation is located at 1016 Annunciation Street in New Orleans. For reservations, please visit www.annunciationrestaurant.com or call (504) 568-0245.

COMPÈRE LAPIN

Celebrate Mardi Gras all month long at Chef Nina Compton’s New Orleans hotspot Compère Lapin, with some boozy cocktails inspired by the colorful celebration. Special cocktails for the festivities include two new daiquiris in honor of their favorite Mardi Gras Krewes, The Rolling Elvis, a chocolate, coffee and coconut banana with a bacon peanut butter dust and A Muse Bouche, a passionfruit Mai Tai with orgeat (almond and rose scented syrup) lime and rum. Sip on twists of classic libations like The Duchess Sighs, a take on a French 75 with Armagnac, Averna and Grand Poppy – a California bitter liqueur, topped off with bubbles; Louisville Slugger, a take on an Old Fashioned with locally made chicory liquor; and The Gentleman Caller, a Martini with a nutty and bracing twist. Compère Lapin is located in the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery at 535 Tchoupitoulas Street, in New Orleans’ Warehouse District. For more information or reservations, call (504) 599-2119, visit www.comperelapin.com