Shreveport-Bossier Travel Magazine Culinary Issue | Page 9

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BY SHALISA ROLAND
While the rest of America implements New Year traditions with self-assured weight loss resolutions , Louisianans are diving headfirst into king cakes in celebration of Mardi Gras . Shreveport- Bossier is keeping the king cake folklore afloat with more than 10 established king cake bakeries . We love to blend the ideas of traditional and unorthodox king cakes , as well as experiment with king cake-inspired treats .
LOWDER BAKING COMPANY specializes in fresh-baked breads , cookies , cakes and pastries . Since king cake is mostly dough , bread lovers like to choose this king cake year after year .
A few local quirky king cake options include beer at Flying Heart Brewing & Pub , cupcakes at Candy Galore and More , dip from Skinny Louisiana , cocoa bombs from Mamacitas Sweets and Bakery , cheesecakes from Copeland ’ s of New Orleans , and more . Take your pick , but remember , if your slice of king cake has a tiny baby inside , tradition says that you ’ re king for the day and the next king cake is on you !
LILAH ’ S BAKERY offers 25 different savory and sweet king cake flavors and reopens for Mardi Gras season every year . If you want to try their treats year-round , visit their new bakery , Lilah ’ s Broadmoor Bunnery .
PREP CAKES BAKERY honors the king cake flavor while sacrificing the king cake calories . If restrictive diets interfere with your Mardi Gras , Prep Cakes is the gluten-free , sugar-free , and keto-friendly route to go !
TUBBS HARDWARE & CAJUN GIFTS gives their king cakes a bit more love through generous amounts of pastry filling . You can find X-treme king cakes and more Mardi Gras paraphernalia in this festive shop .
These four Shreveport-Bossier Mardi Gras food staples prove that the celebration is more than parties and parades , it also includes your palate . We ’ ve highlighted a few local restaurants where you can find these staples .
PO ’ BOY
OYSTERS
GUMBO
CRAWFISH
Drop in at Marilynn ’ s Place for a po ’ boy that is rich in flavor and uniqueness . Ask for a side of étouffée or gumbo for dipping !
Frozen Pirogue mastered this shelled aphrodisiac . You can order them raw , baked , or chargrilled . We highly recommend the Oyster 318 .
Locals voted on the best gumbo in Shreveport-Bossier , and the results revealed that Ralph & Kacoo ’ s 32-year-old recipe reigns . The competition was stiff .
This isn ’ t a delicate meal , but it ’ s a delicacy for Louisianans . You can eat your weight in crawfish at Larry P ’ s Boiling Pot if you want all the Cajun spice in each bite .

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