A dancer from the Mangueira samba school performs during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Felipe Dana/AP
Flingin' in the Rain. The Captain's float rolls down Orleans Avenue under rainy skies as the 2,510 members of the super krewe Endymion present a 27 float parade entitled 'Happily Ever After' on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in New Orleans. Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune/AP
The Gilles of Binche hold oranges as they parade during the carnival event in Binche on Feb. 21, 2012. The Binche carnival is now a UNESCO World Heritage event. Up to 1,000 Gilles parade in the city center, wearing a hat covered with ostrich feathers and a red, yellow, and black medieval costume adorned with bells and decorated with fluffy lace at the neck, wrists, and ankles. Francois Lenoir/Reuters
Jaqueline Mortenson watches through a window the passing Thoth parade as it reflects its 65th anniversary ride, which chose 'Streets of New Orleans' as its theme, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012 in New Orleans. A record number of 1,490 riders for the parade filled 46 of its floats. Eliot Kamenitz/The Times-Picayune/AP
The Grande Rio samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Victor R. Caivano/AP
Members of The North Side Skull and Bone Gang affix their masks on Mardi Gras day in New Orleans, Louisiana, Feb. 21, 2012. Lee Celano/Reuters
Brokers are dressed as punks on occasion of carnival at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Michael Probst/AP
Two masked revellers pose in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice on Feb. 21, 2012. Manuel Silvestri/Reuters
Foreign troops from the International Security Assistant Forces (ISAF) attend a Mardi Gras festival at a NATO base in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2012. There were feathered masks, glitter, cakes and – guns: America's most raucous holiday was feted by NATO troops and their colleagues in Kabul late on Tuesday in their heavily barricaded headquarters. Omar Sobhani/Reuters
A reveler smiles during the Banda de Ipanema carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Feb. 4, 2012. Silvia Izquierdo/AP
A reveler with the Mystic Stripers holds aloft a handful of beads for the crowds gathered on Royal Street in Mobile, Ala., Feb. 16, 2012. The pre-Lenten blowout continues along the Gulf Coast culminating in Fat Tuesday celebrations Feb. 21. Tourism leaders estimate more than a million visitors pour into the Mobile area each Mardi Gras season to watch the festivities. G.M. Andrews/Mobile Register/AP
A masked reveller poses in Saint Mark's Square during the Venetian Carnival in Venice on February 11, 2012. Stefano Rellandini/Reuters
The Ancient Krewe of Druids parade rolls down Magazine Street in New Orleans on February 15, 2012. The parade features 18 floats carrying more than 200 riders and 26 marching units. Rusty Costanza/The Times-Picayune/AP
The Mystic Krewe of Barkus Honorary Grand Marshal King (l.), Queen Maggie Teich (c.), and King Wally Dedrick, pose for a photo at Galatoire's Restaurant in New Orleans on Feb. 10, 2012. The Barkus Parade rolled through the French Quarter on Feb. 12. Rusty Costanza/The Times-Picayune/AP
Revelers with the Mystic Stripers toss trinkets to the crowds gathered on Royal Street in Mobile, Ala., Feb. 16, 2012. G.M. Andrews/Mobile Register/AP
Garrick Griffy watches from atop his father Brent's shoulders as the Krewe of Gambrinus Lights Up The Night Parade moves along the Seawall at Mardi Gras in Galveston, Texas on February 11, 2012. Kevin M. Cox//The Galveston County Daily News/AP
The Muses Mardi Gras Parade rolls through the streets of New Orleans, Feb. 16, 2012, helping to celebrate the Carnival season. This float is referencing the BP oil spill. Bill Haber/AP
A man, carrying two snakes on his head, parades during Carnival celebrations in Jacmel, Haiti, Feb. 12, 2012. Dieu Nalio Chery/AP
A Krewe du Vieux float rolls through the streets of the French Quarter celebrating the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, Feb. 4, 2012. The parade is one of the earliest parades of the Mardi Gras season and is known for its satirical themes. Jonathan Bachman/AP
A member of the Krewe du Vieux kisses a friend as he parades through the streets of the French Quarter celebrating the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans, Feb. 4, 2012. Jonathan Bachman/AP
A dog disguised as a devil is seen during the 'Blocao' dog carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Feb. 12, 2012. Silvia Izquierdo/AP
Candombe dancers wait for the start of Las Llamadas or parade of The Calls in Montevideo, Uruguay, Feb. 10, 2012. Candombe is an Afro–Uruguayan rhythmic style music based on the sound of three types of tambores or drums. Matilde Campodonico/AP
The Mystic Krewe of Aquarius 25th Annual Mardi Gras Kick-off Parade moves up Seawall Boulevard in Galveston, Texas, Feb. 11, 2012. Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News/AP
Members of the Edna Karr High School flag team perform on Gen. DeGaulle Drive during the 2012 krewe of Choctaw parade in Algiers on Feb. 11, 2012. This year's theme was 'Listen To The Music' and the parade featured 15 floats and 20 bands and marching groups. Susan Poag/The Times-Picayune/AP
Costumed participants of Berlin's Carnival Parade blow bubbles at minus six degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) in Berlin on Feb. 12, 2012. Gero Breloer/AP
Krewe members unload the goods on the crowd on Napoleon Avenue as the Pontchartrain parade with fifteen floats carrying over 170 riders rolls down the traditional Uptown New Orleans parade route with the theme 'Where is What Louisiana Festival' on Feb. 11, 2012. Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune/AP
Tori Metz of Houston gives bead throwers a target as the Krewe of Gambrinus Lights Up The Night Parade passes by on the Seawall at Mardi Gras in Galveston, Texas, Feb. 11, 2012. Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News/AP
A masquerader poses for a photo before going on stage at the annual Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society's children's carnival competition at Queen's Park Savannah in the Port of Spain, Feb. 11, 2012. Andrea De Silva/Reuters
The traditional Columbine descends from Saint Mark's tower bell on an iron cable during the Venetian Carnival in Venice on Feb. 12, 2012. Manuel Silvestri/Reuters
King Cake is a brioche dough with a ribbon of brown sugar cinnamon (or praline sugar) running through it, baked in an oval shape, glazed with royal icing, and sprinkled with Mardi Gras colors.
Happy Mardi Gras! During my recent culinary trip to New Orleans, my friend Jen who lives locally brought me, among other things, a slice of King Cake from Gambino's Bakery. There's nothing like tasting authentic king cake from a fabulous bakery during Mardi Gras season.
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