Volga German immigrants brought the meat pocket, stuffed with peppery ground beef, cabbage and sometimes cheese, to Nebraska. (It’s surrounded by plenty of delicious taquerías and a few ice cream shops, too.) Usually there is one major parade each day (weather permitting); many days have several large parades. The salad bar, with its cold metal plates, was one of the first in Omaha. The Convention Center also depends on this uniquely New Orleans celebration to attract thousands of visitors who help fuel our economy, and looks forward doing what we do best - hosting live events.”, Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission. A spicy andouille sausage sandwich. Wayne’s New Skoo BBQ, 4865 Center St. We would be remiss if our Southern food tour didn’t include barbecue. Job losses a reminder of Carnival’s economic, artistic contributions to New Orleans region. This small restaurant started downtown with a local, seasonal focus and became known for its popcorn; sandwiches including the whole bird, which has an egg, a chicken thigh and crisped chicken skin; and a weekend brunch service.Â. 22. Saddle Creek Breakfast Club, 1540 N. Saddle Creek Road. I have to try that first. Jambalaya, one of mine. They mean business for tens of thousands of families in our community.". Will Sutton: Enjoy our Mardi Gras. ", "The spirit of Louisiana and Mardi Gras is alive and well in 2021," said Lt. Gov. Omaha LoCo food delivery began with a slow rollout this week and expects to sign up more eateries in the coming days. You have permission to edit this article. Owner Anne Mellen restored the beloved spot down to the smallest details, and the menu got the same treatment. Check out its sister, Howard Street Wine Merchant, which has lovely natural wines. A pork chop smothered in é touff é e over rice with macaroni and cheese, yams and a roll could be a Mardi Gras meal from Cajun Kitchen. With 92 million unique viewers annually, NOLA.com is distinctly positioned to broadcast the virtual Mardi Gras experience to a vast audience, touching every country on earth, Georges said. This article co…. Add the fried chicken, fried okra and red beans and rice, and we’re on our way. They will be good-naturedly menaced by the Northside Skull and Bones Gang, a group of rowdy skeletons. The image shows Hughie crashing into an array of costumes, leaving him draped in boas and Mardi Gras beads, which is a scene straight from The Boys Season 2, Episode 2. They will meet the Krewe of Armeinius, New Orleans’ largest gay Carnival organization. And there’s something called andouille sausage loaded fries. This week’s Takeout Tuesday puts Southern fare in plastic foam containers: At Cajun Kitchen near 30th and Maple Streets in Omaha, you can get a pork chop smothered in étouffée over rice with macaroni and cheese, yams and a roll; and a plate with a whole fried catfish, chicken and sausage jambalaya, and collard greens; and a slice of sweet potato pie. It happens to pair well with the restaurant’s menu of curries and fragrant rice dishes. Email Doug MacCash at dmaccash@theadvocate.com. It's a celebration that's owned by all of us.Â, An enormous, papier-mâché skull has sprouted from the house at 1834 Toledano St. Plus some gigantic winding snakes, tall cypress trees, and hu…, "And it's super important that people understand the economic benefit of not only Mardi Gras but all these things we do in our city ... Jazz Fest and other events. Phone: 402-444-1267. Takeout Tuesday and Mardi Gras converge: A tour of Omaha's Southern food. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Moon also is well-known for its vast list of craft and local beer; it has 60-plus options on tap each day. It’s located in the passageway, a popular walkway, and the restaurant itself oozes romance. You have permission to edit this article. Be advised: the heat scale, from 1-10, at Salween runs hot, so order a lower number if you prefer your meal to be milder. “The Convention Center is indelibly linked to Mardi Gras, annually hosting numerous activities from the very smallest tableaux to super krewes, balls and parades. 8. Blue Sushi Sake Grill, 416 S. 12th St.; 14450 Eagle Run Drive; 16939 Wright Plaza. Viewers will visit with the renowned 149-year-old parading group Rex, which crowns the king of Carnival; the wickedly satirical all-female Krewe of Muses and the famed Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. The project has support across the community, including from Mardi Gras parade captains, state and local tourism officials and the office of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Pad Thai, Pad See Ew and panang curry are among its most popular entrées. 27. Ika Ramen & Izakaya, 6109 Maple St.; 1114 Jones St. Ika is Omaha’s most fun, vibrant ramen shack, and you can enjoy it at two locations — the original in Benson and at Ika San downtown. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Omaha Dines: Here are the city’s 35 essential restaurants, Another tradition hit by pandemic: Omaha churches scale back fish frys, Banksy shares video of him creating his latest artwork, Movies in a Minute: "Raya and the Last Dragon", Disney CEO hints at permanent move to shortened theatrical release window, The 5 best Netflix originals coming out in March, Omaha restaurant owners join forces to launch local delivery co-op, Holy mackerel, it's Takeout Tuesday. Lo Sole Mio is known for its ample portions. Bars were allowed to open. Leave room for peach cobbler. They decorated their houses for drive-through parades. … Here's where to land some tasty seafood in Omaha. Viewers will be beguiled by the MuffALottas, a dance troupe in the guise of saucy diner waitresses. The spirit of Mardi Gras will roll on in 2021, propelled by some of New Orleans' best-loved celebrities and the wonders of technology. 30. El Basha Mediterranean Grill, 7503 Pacific St. All food at El Basha is bathed in a bright sprinkling of fresh herbs, including cilantro and parsley, and the kitchen’s careful touch runs through the whole menu. Blue & Fly Asian Kitchen, 721 S. 72nd St. "I want to give people the understanding of what Mardi Gras really is," he said. And that barely scratches the surface. A New Orleans artist/activist sees a connection, The Broad Street stingray: A mysterious rotting fish spurs a smelly search in New Orleans, The gloriously strange Chauvin Sculpture Garden is a transporting COVID-era daytrip, Watch a sneak peek of 'Mardi Gras For All Y'all,' a virtual Carnival celebration, New Orleans music fan builds LEGO Tipitina’s to honor good ol’ days before coronavirus. "That also means that Mardi Gras can be creative, innovative and interactive. And the candied yams. That's why we're excited to see new and fun alternatives to safely celebrate the Carnival season, and that includes the NOLA.com and Mardi Gras World collaboration on 'Mardi Gras For All Y'All .' It is one of the largest such festivals in the world, and the largest Pride event in Oceania. It looks innovative and fun: The soul food tacos are smoked chicken, smoked turkey, collard greens and mac and cheese in tortilla shells. Unlike its neighbor to the south, Kansas City, Omaha isn’t well-known for a thriving barbecue scene. The program, which is scheduled to be shown in three segments on Feb. 12, 13 and 14, provides an insider’s tour led by celebrities such as NBC "Today" show co-anchor Hoda Kotb, author Walter Isaacson, musician Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, actor Bryan Batt, political guru James Carville and New Orleans Saints legend Archie Manning. He offers a full menu of cooked Thai and Chinese dishes, as well as regular counter omakase service. It’s about a month or so of parties named for just one day, Fat Tuesday, the last day before Lent. Open daily for tours, this should top your list of things to do during the season. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Alabama native Chip Holland smokes ribs, burnt ends, brisket and other meats that are often sold out by the middle of the day. He brings in a vast selection of fish you won’t find anywhere else (except Umami, perhaps) and then does his work: aging, pickling, smoking and otherwise creating something totally unique to Omaha. We’re open 7 days a week, from 9:00am to 5:30pm, with our first tour beginning at 9:30am and our last tour beginning at 4:30pm. Fried catfish, one of my husband’s faves. The French onion soup is stellar. Trying to find those fabulous Mardi Gras float houses? A Taste of New Orleans, inside Ted & Wally’s, 6023 Maple St. Born of a popular food truck, Taste of New Orleans is the real deal. This seafood-focused spot is nestled in one of Omaha’s best foodie neighborhoods, South 24th Street. It wouldn’t be a proper tour of New Orleans without music, of course, and "Mardi Gras For All Y'All" viewers will be welcome to sing along with Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, groove to the ever-funky George Porter Jr. and Leo Nocentelli and wave a handkerchief along with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Universal Orlando is a great place for a family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration. Cajun food. One of the city’s most popular spots, chef-owners Paul and Jessica Urban are trained in fine dining and use that background to create epic street food, including the Croque Garcon burger, which widely known critic Alton Brown called one of his favorites in the nation. Tour is currently self-guided and a visit lasts approximately one hour. There was a problem saving your notification. It comes, as any fried chicken dinner should, with a dinner roll and a side option, including baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad. This little burger shack has become local legend: burgers are served on napkins, and lines to get in can get long. Who doesn’t enjoy a plate of cod or catfish fresh from the fryer? Betsie covers a little bit of everything for The World-Herald's Living section, including theater, religion and anything else that might need attention. Please subscribe to keep reading. It’s carried on the tradition of French cuisine in downtown Omaha, but in a more modern way, with a raw bar, excellent tartines and a weekend punch special that’s always fresh and costs just $5 a cup. When the weather allows, it has one of the busiest patios in Omaha. Quick Bites Soul Food, 105 Mission Ave. One glance at the menu, and I had one thought: Visit. Chef Ben Maides’ $55, five-course chef tasting menu is one of the best deals anywhere in Omaha, especially considering his focus on local, seasonal, creative cuisine. The Jaipur has been brewing beer in Omaha longer than most of the city's breweries, and its signature jalapeño beer is one many diners celebrate locally. Shrimp and grits. Soon. Frog legs — found frequently in Southern joints — are an occasional special here. The cold “hot noods” bowl of spicy noodles is a local favorite, as are the saucy Brussels sprouts. "Mardi Gras for All Y’all" is presented by NOLA.com and Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World. "It's an incredible cultural event; for New Orleanians it's a family event, where generations of families come together. Buy Tickets to Mardi Gras World. Mardi Gras World is a fascinating place to visit, where you can see new floats coming to life, and learn all about the traditions and customs of Mardi Gras via a guided tour that includes a video and some King Cake. We wish we were all meeting in person, but I promise these upcoming virtual events showcasing our music, culture and love of life is just what we all need to jump start this new year."Â. Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Carnaval. (Its second location? Typically Fat Tuesday sees some two million people partying in the streets Southeast Louisiana. Come for the kitschy bar and the lobby full of historic menus — take a look at those prices — and stay for the red meat and a Manhattan. Mardi Gras a few doors down: How is Mobile adapting to paradeless Carnival? Southern food. Emery’s Cafe, 2118 N. 24th St. You might have to wait until Wednesday to try this one — its online ordering website says that’s the next available time, even though the cafe listing on the web says it opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Fun fact: Dinker’s has one flat-top grill devoted entirely to buns. Diners return for the fresh fish, including poke, along with a burger that the Food Network called one of its favorites. The menu still includes favorites like pepper steak but has evolved with the times; the tasting menu is popular for many special occasion diners. Soul food. Sign up for the Omaha Dines weekly newsletter to stay up to date on the latest local restaurant and foods news and occasional offers. El Dorado is best known for both its live mariachi bands on weekends and its huge towers of seafood, which are enough for at least a few diners. The Krewe of Rex parades along St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. But that didn't stop some residents from getting into the spirit anyway. And ... 1. Stella’s Bar & Grill, 106 Galvin Road South, Bellevue. We’re open 7 days a week, from 9:00am to 5:30pm, with the first tour beginning at 9:30am and the last tour beginning at 4:30pm. 34. Le Voltaire French Restaurant, 569 N. 155th Plaza. 28. The meat, marinated in a secret recipe, gets breaded in flour with a combination of spices (cayenne pepper is one). The menu also features an assortment of po’boys, including fried oyster, not always easy to find. That’s the call to riders dispensing beads and “throws” from the elaborate floats of Mardi Gras. “We have said for months that while Mardi Gras won't be canceled, it will be different," Cantrell said. Enter Tired Texan, tucked into the corner of a hotel at the intersection of 108th and L Streets. You can also get all the smoked meats, including hot links, on nachos, which sounds awesome. "Even with the current challenges brought on by the pandemic, we are excited to bring a virtual Mardi Gras celebration to the world. Home cooking, Southern style, is the stock in trade at Cajun Kitchen on 30th and Maple Streets, one of five restaurants featured in today's Takeout Tuesday.Â, The fried catfish with chicken and sausage jambalaya and collard greens at Cajun Kitchen.Â, Cajun Kitchen at 30th and Maple Streets serves Southern food such pecan or sweet potato pie, red beans and rice and ribs.Â. Get a room. The onion rings are a customer favorite, too. 21. Salween Thai, 1102 Northwest Radial; 6553 Ames Ave.; 7425 Pacific St. Omaha has plenty of Thai offerings; Salween, which does brisk delivery service all over the city, is one of the most reliable. New Orleans officials canceled all the Mardi Gras parades this year. Stella’s is also known for its gigantic Stellanator burger. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Featuring 90 individual segments, including 51 features and 20 performances, "Mardi Gras For All Y'All" promises to be a fast-paced online experience for a global audience. 11. El Dorado Mexican Restaurant, 5134 S. 24th St. Find some of Omaha’s favorite falafel, served in a wrap with hummus and pickles, as well as Lebanese specialties like lentil soup, baba ganoush, shwarma and kabobs. An Omaha staple since it opened in the 1970s, V. Mertz is also a staple of the historic Old Market neighborhood. They will give viewers an introduction to the many moving parts that make Mardi Gras the inclusive experience it is. Kern sees the production as an opportunity to tell the story of Mardi Gras accurately to locals as well as the wider world. You can’t come to Nebraska or be a Nebraskan without trying a Runza at least once. We hope this will serve as a reminder of why this season is so special to us — and the world. Ham and bean soup that sounds like the thick concoction my mom used to make. Rex provides $1 million to New Orleans schools, despite parade cancellation, ‘Schitt$ Streets’ and other fab float houses rescue Mardi Gras from coronavirus blues, Burlesque star’s ‘S#!t Show’ Mardi Gras float house pokes fun at sewerage catastrophe, ‘Mardi Gras For All Y'All’ online extravaganza to focus on the float house phenom, 'Mardi Gras for All Y'all' digs into what New Orleans food brings to the party. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Mardi Gras World is closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and Mardi Gras Day. Social media foodies rave about this place. 20. La Casa Pizzaria, 4432 Leavenworth St.; 8216 Grover St.; 610 S. 168th St. Perhaps one of Omaha’s most “love-it-or-hate-it” restaurants, La Casa has a devoted army of passionate followers. Owner Gary Wrenn moves catfish filets from the cornmeal dredge to the fryers at Cajun Kitchen on Monday. During the episode, "Proper Preparation and Planning," Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) finds her long-lost Supe brother, Kenji (Abraham Lim), in a costume … It will begin offering takeout on Tuesday. ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD Cajun Kitchen, 2819 N. 30th St. This year’s Mardi Gras will be unusually sedate across the South. This one — serving a combo of Cajun and soul food — sounds like a gem. The Drover isn’t as old as the other steakhouse on this list, but it’s just as treasured; known most for its large bone-in ribeye, diners can get their steak dunked in the restaurant’s secret whiskey marinade. But if you have time to linger, the wait is worth it: The restaurant even serves its own blend of coffee, made locally by Amateur Coffee Co. 23. Dario’s Brasserie, 4920 Underwood Ave. Belgian beer, mussels and crêpes, plus a popular brunch menu and weekly beer specials in the back bar keep people coming back to this spot, where chef Dario Schicke has created a devoted following. Stay away from us. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people attend the "greatest free show on earth" in person and online via NOLA.com. On weekends, the Urbans flex their muscles, creating high-end specials at the dinner hour. A three-night, 4½-hour online spectacular called "Mardi Gras For All Y'All " will bring New Orleans' signature celebration to the world. The wine, particularly the Oregon pinot noir, is another draw. And the stuffed salmon. The bierock, as it’s traditionally known, is at the heart of what the Runza chain serves. For directions, visit our Getting Here page > Have a good time. 31. Twisted Cork Bistro, 10730 Pacific St. With its focus on the staples (and the wine) of the Pacific Northwest, plus a dash of Hawaiian cuisine, Twisted Cork is one of Omaha’s more distinctive restaurants. Pitch has a lively (OK, sometimes noisy) atmosphere, coal-fired pizzas, a great burger and a solid list of house wines made in collaboration with a California vineyard. For a city that's far away from the ocean, Omaha has a fair amount of fish and seafood restaurants. The menu of rolls includes classics like the crunchy Blue roll. You can get Southern food for a Mardi Gras feast at Cajun Kitchen on 30th and Maple Streets in Omaha. Regardless of when you can get there, social media ratings say you won’t be sorry. The city was not locked down as tightly as New Orleans. Check its menu for a wide variety of Runzas, plus seasonally rotating specials. 24. Pitch Pizzeria, 5021 Underwood Ave.; 17808 Burke St. Mardi Gras World: Stop by Mardi Gras World to get a behind-the-scenes look at float building and decorating process that brings much of the season to life. Enjoy King Cake, costumes, films, and more! Masks will be required and social distancing protocols enforced. The menu here has the usual brisket, pork and chicken and a few twists, including Carolina-style sauce and sides such as dirty rice and fried cabbage with bacon. It’s still packed on Sundays, when its broad happy hour specials last all day. Parts of the French Quarter will be blocked off. The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney Mardi Gras, or Mardi Gras, is an annual LGBT pride parade and festival in Sydney, Australia, attended by hundreds of thousands of people from around Australia and overseas. Buy Tickets Now! A pork chop smothered in étouffée over rice with macaroni and cheese, yams and a roll could be a Mardi Gras meal from Cajun Kitchen. 15. This Irish Channel couple has produced a float house devoted to the ‘Jeopardy’ game show. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval runs February 6th through March 28th.During this special event, experience an international food fest with cuisine and entertainment inspired by international Carnaval celebrations, spectacular floats on display, street entertainment, music, beads, and … The festival of Mardi Gras comes before the Roman Catholic season of Lent. Omahans will argue about where to find the city’s best burger, and Dinker’s has a lot of passionate fans. Brooklyn.) For an adventure, check out the lit menu board on the wall; staff is happy to translate or further explain the specials. Dante’s fresh, seasonal and modern take on Italian food makes this a west Omaha favorite. He opened Umami, and instantly began serving some of the city’s best sushi out of a former Godfather’s Pizza location. If it's legit Chinese you're after, Blue & Fly is your place. Challengers get 45 minutes to devour six burger patties, six fried eggs, six pieces of cheese, a dozen slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, fried onions, pickles, jalapeños, peanut butter, a bun and an order of fries. Moskowitz has created citywide favorites with her mac and shews, made with cashew cream; excellent pies and milkshakes; and a periodic vegan Reuben special made with tempeh. Even after a fire in 2016 destroyed the original M’s, the Old Market classic is back; if you hadn’t heard about the fire, you wouldn’t know it happened when you’re dining there. King Rex J. Storey Charbonnet waves to the crowd as the Krewe of Rex parades along St. Charles Avenue on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. No one does Carnival like the Crescent City. Or a spicy seafood boil?Â. And they will be mystified by the indefinable allure of the 610 Stompers, who call themselves “ordinary men with extraordinary moves.”. Quaid's photo is seemingly a snapshot from an on-set monitor during Season 2. To the east, Mobile, Alabama, which boasts the nation’s oldest Mardi Gras celebrations, had also canceled parades. Get your tickets to one of New Orleans must-see attractions! Au Courant is one of those restaurants that can please locals and visitors alike, a rare, pleasurable feat. Editor's note: This is one of a series of stories Gambit is running on how Carnival plans are changing due to the coronavirus. A must-view during Mardi Gras -- but also fascinating the rest of the year -- this webcam gives viewers a live glimpse into the life of one of the most exciting cities in the United States: New Orleans! Omaha’s only fully vegan restaurant, run by widely known chef and cookbook author Isa Chandra Moskowitz, recently moved into a bigger, brighter location.