Mardi Gras is back in Baldwin County and coastal Alabama as many locals, businesses and visitors celebrate the festive season with parades, balls, throws and, of course, good food.
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Mardi Gras is back in Baldwin County and coastal Alabama as many locals, businesses and visitors celebrate the festive season with parades, balls, throws and, of course, good food.
Whether you're committed to eating, drinking and being merry during the Carnival season, which begins Jan. 6 with Epiphany to mark the end of the Christmas season and kicks off a time of joyous revelry before Lent, or just love the flavors of sweet cinammon, savory crawfish or sugary beignets, the area is teeming with dishes ready to satisfy. Throw in the local popularity of a cold bushwacker, and you've got countless excuses to get together with friends or family.
Many restaurants are sure to be serving their own dishes, drinks and specialties to celebrate. Here are some places in Baldwin County where people can please their Mardi Gras sweet tooth leading up to Fat Tuesday, which this year is March 4.
line and fresh oysters by the gazillion, but their bushwacker remains among the top of any area list. The creamy, frozen, coconutty, chocolately, boozy drink first appeared on the Gulf Coast in the early 1970s after being first introduced to the Virgin Islands. According to Flora-Bama lore, some locals brought back the the recipe and Pat, a Flora-Bama owner, soon made his own version. For a limited time, try a king cake flavored bushwhacker.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Daisy's Donuts in Orange Beach will be serving king cake doughnuts and iced coffee for the Mardi Gras season. Doughnut fillings include plain, Bavarian and cream cheese. This specialty doughnut shop, which also iced coffee boba tea, has outdoor pet-friendly seating.
Panini Pete's is celebrating by serving a Mardi Gras edition of a signature New Orleans dessert and one of the most popular items on the iconic restaurant's menu, beignets. Available now through Joe Cain Day on March 2. For a savory bite you can find year-round, the muffuletta panini has been named one of the "100 Things to Eat Before You Die in Alabama."
Hours: Daily for breakfast 8-10:30 a.m. and lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Ed's Seafood Shed will also be serving their own bushwhacker for the Mardi Gras season. They're selling as fast as MoonPies get thrown into the crowd, so get yours to be in the know.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Boudreaux's Cajun Grill in Daphne is serving several things to celebrate Mardi Gras, including a seasonal cheesecake and king cake flavored bushwhackers and martinis. Take in views of the bay under a covered deck while celebrating the season.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 3-9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Southern Shores locations are serving specialty coffee drinks for the Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day season, including brewed bushwacker coffee, a MoonPie latte and king cake flavored coffee as well as a raspberry mocha macchiato and white chocolate rose flavored coffee.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
High Tide will be serving king cake daiquiris and bushwhackers in store or to-go.
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday-Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Market By The Bay, which recently reopened in Fairhope, will be serving desserts for the Mardi Gras season, including MoonPie cheesecake.
Black Cat Vegan Bakery in Foley is taking orders for king cakes through January and February. They are also selling special flavors and seasonal items in store. Lindsey Sholes has received sustained, exponential support from bakery and dessert lovers since opening her first brick-and-mortar in the fall of 2024 after selling at pop-ups and other bakeries in Mobile. She is serving her last couple weeks in the pink window front shop of Cheeseburger Randy's before closing temporarily to move into a larger, new location close by with indoor seating and more accommodations.
Flavors: "The basic," brown butter cinnamon, with or without cream cheese; "The favorite," pecan praline, cinnamon and chai masala, chopped pecans; "The fruity one," mixed berries and cinnamon cream cheese; and "The weird one," yuzu and orange curd and cardamom plus vanilla bean custard.
To order: Message on social media, Instagram @blackcatveganbakery__.
Hours: Friday 8 a.m.-sell out, Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-sell out until closing Feb. 23.
BuzzCatz in Orange Beach is making custom king cakes. Orders can be placed in store or over the phone. All king cakes come iced and include a baby.
Flavors: Cream cheese; cinammon sugar; strawberry; raspberry; bavarian cream; pecan praline (+$2); and Nutella (+$2)
To order: Call (251) 980-2899 or order in store
Hours: Daily 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Grab a ready-made cake or order online to get a variety of parade packages. Nationwide shipping.
Flavors: Apple; apple cream cheese; bavarian cream; cream cheese; lemon; praline; strawberry; strawberry cream cheese
To order: https://kingcakes.rouses.com/
Hours: Daily, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. in Gulf Shores; 7 a.m.-10 p.m. in Orange Beach, Daphne, Spanish Fort
Select Walmart stores are also selling king cakes through Mardi Gras.
