We find ourselves 400 miles to the northeast of New Orleans and share statehood with Mobile, Alabama—where the Mardi Gras celebration originated. The festivities make their way into our community every year in one way or another. This year we are hosting a King Cake Workshop at The Factory and making king cakes during the Carnival season.
The king cake’s history is both intertwined with the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the festival of Mardi Gras. The three kings’ arrival in Bethlehem to visit the Christ Child is celebrated on January 6th, with Epiphany. The cake commemorates the Magi and is made from a sweet, cinnamon dough, twisted together is a circular shape, topped with an icing and covered in gold, purple, and green sugar. Different versions exist in France, Belgium, Latin America, and the Southern United States. In some king cake traditions, a plastic baby is hidden within the dough, representing baby Jesus. Those who find the baby in their piece of cake are tasked with bringing a king cake to the next Mardi Gras gathering.
The Factory Café’s King Cake Workshop is a hands-on cooking class, where participants will make, bake, and decorate their own king cakes in time for Fat Tuesday. The workshop takes place the day before on Monday, February 5th. While the king cakes bake, chef Ray Nichols will serve up a meal for participants filled with Cajun flavors.
The Factory Café is also selling made-from-scratch king cakes for Mardi Gras. You can purchase yours here or by calling 256-701-8667. The cakes are available for in-store pickup or delivery to locations in the Shoals area. Kindly place all orders by Monday, February 5th.
P.S.: New Orleans represents tomorrow at The Factory Café during Pableaux Johnson’s Red Beans Roadshow Dinner and art exhibition of Mardi Gras Indians (on display through February and during the King Cake Workshop).
P.P.S.: Don’t miss any of the other events happening at The Factory Café this year. Last week we announced our lineup for the 2018 Friends of the Café Series and will have more details soon about our brand-new Supper Club. Purchase tickets for these dinners along with other workshops and more on our Events page.