There’s never a wrong time to indulge in Cajun food, but there’s perhaps no better time than Mardi Gras, which is Feb. 17. Seafood lovers, meat fans and veggie aficionados alike have dining options for Fat Tuesday. This week’s column is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are previews of some of the flavors you’ll find around the Fort.
Since I just know you also came to this article wanting a history lesson on the origins of Mardi Gras, I’ll fill you in. Mardi Gras is the American iteration of Carnival, a Catholic festival celebrated around the world to mark the final days before Lent.
According to an article from History.com, Carnival was early Christianity’s rebranded version of Roman and pagan traditions celebrating the vernal or spring equinox. Carnival allegedly also drew inspiration from the Roman celebrations of Saturnalia, which honored the Roman god Saturn during the winter solstice, and Lupercalia, a fertility festival.
See? Learning is fun. Now, let’s talk about food.
Crawfish season is on at Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe
Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe restaurant announced on its social media pages that crawfish season is here, meaning customers can dig into crawfish boils and order the crustaceans by the pound.
“Fresh boils, bold seasoning, and all the Cajun flavor you’ve been waiting for are hitting tables daily,” according to the eatery’s Instagram post.
Crawfish also appears on their menu in etouffee with dark roux sauce and a Cajun cheese fondue –– with garlic toast for dipping –– while other dishes include stuffed flounder, fried shrimp, Zydeco Pasta Chicken, and catfish with jalapeno. The fondue can also be prepared with chicken or shrimp, while Zydeco Pasta also comes in a shrimp version.
The Cajun cuisine chain was in the news recently after being acquired by M Crowd Restaurant Group, the parent company behind Mi Cocina and the Dallas fine dining spot The Mercury.
Razzoo’s has several locations in Fort Worth and across Tarrant County.
318 Main St., Fort Worth; 817-429-7009;
2950 Texas Sage Trail, Fort Worth; 817-750-0011
Meatless sausage gumbo and more at Spiral Diner
Spiral Diner, the vegan restaurant on Magnolia Avenue, is bringing Mardi Gras flavor with their latest Blue Plate special. While Cajun food frequently features seafood, chicken and sausage, the flavors at the foundation of Cajun cuisine –– what’s sometimes known as the “holy trinity” of Cajun and Creole cooking –– are celery, onion and bell pepper. There’s a meatless sausage-based dish also on offer.
Grilled red bell peppers and onions appear on Spiral’s Big Easy Zucchini Po’ Boy alongside breaded zucchini, lettuce, pickles and house tartar on a ciabatta hoagie with a side of potato chips.
A vegan sausage gumbo studded with okra, carrots and celery is served over rice, its Creole roux flavored with “hints of cayenne and sassafras,” according to their menu. For “a coastal taste,” there are Hearts-of-Palm Crab Cakes seasoned with Old Bay and served with tartar sauce.
1314 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth; 817-332-8834
The Mardi Gras Madam at The Bearded Lady
There’s a surf and turf burger of the month at The Bearded Lady on South Main Street and judging by the photo the eatery shared on Instagram, it looks huge. The Mardi Gras Madam sees garlic-butter grilled shrimp and a beef patty stacked with alfredo sauce and Caesar-dressed romaine lettuce, according to the post.
The online menu shows many burgers ranging from $12 to $16, including smash burgers, spicy and Impossible patty varieties. One of the most gravity-defying options is the Spicy AF Burger, a half-pound beef patty with pepper jack cheese, fried Fresno peppers, grilled jalapenos, lettuce, onion and habanero mayo.
Another option is The Big Dill, which also features a half-pound of beef as well as Best Maid Martin House dill queso, fried pickles, Salty Lady pickles, bacon and dill ranch on a brioche bun.
Other menu items are salads, soups, sandwiches and many beers and cocktails.
300 S. Main St., Fort Worth; 817-349-9832
We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to erin.ratigan@fortworthreport.org.
Erin Ratigan is a freelance journalist and writer specializing in narrative news features. You can find her on X @erinratigan.
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