Parade of Desserts: H-Town’s Sweetest Mardi Gras Grub

Parade of Desserts: H-Town’s Sweetest Mardi Gras Grub

The Raspberry King Cake from Common Bond (photo by Andrew Hemmingway)

THE BIG BASHES may have been canceled, but here are the most Insta-worthy Mardi Gras treats you can enjoy at home. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

COMMON BOND There's nothing common about the King Cakes at Common Bond this year! Chef David Berg, the cult-classic bakery chain's executive pastry chef, is delighting Houstonians with two options this year. The sweet brioche cake — covered in royal icing and topped with purple, green and gold sugar and Mardi Gras beads — comes in a traditional (but decidedly not boring) cinnamon ($26) or a raspberry cream cheese ($28). Or channel some serious Fat Tuesday energy and snag both flavors for $50!

DESSERT GALLERY BAKERY & CAFE With a tagline "Calories Only Count After Mardi Gras," Upper Kirby go-to Dessert Gallery is definitely on to something. Colorful cakes and cookies are available for pre-order, and the sweet shop also has tons of adorable creations celebrating Black History Month.

MICHAEL'S COOKIE JAR Come for the cookies, stay for the King Cake at Michael's Cookie Jar! The local hotspot is accepting orders now through Feb. 13 for their larger-than-life treats that will undoubtedly help kick off the new year in style. Don't wait to order your cinnamon-roll-dough-filled cake with cookie butter, cream cheese and cinnamon.

FAT CAT CREAMERY Fat Cat and Fat Tuesday? What a match made in heaven. Head to the Houston fave, which just opened a second location in the new Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks, for your Michael's Cookie Jar King Cake slice, topped with your choice of ice cream. And here's the real scoop: Each shop has limited supply, so call ahead — or roll the dice and enjoy another Fat Cat flavor if they're out!

THREE BROTHERS BAKERY Feast your eyes on the intricate creations at Three Brothers Bakery! Full cakes start at $20, but for those looking for a bite-size treat, there are cupcakes — or dipped-and-decorated cookies and petit fours adorned with a classic fleur de lis. (P.S. They have Super Bowl sweets, too!)

Food
Wellness Pro LeBrina Jackson on Gratitude at the Holidays: It’s a ‘Reset Button for my Mind’

LeBrina Jackson

AS WE GET into the holiday season, we’re reminded of what we have, what we want and what might be lacking. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, Soak up the Sun, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you've got.” We caught up with LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, Texas, and learned how she tackles the holiday season with hope, love and most importantly, gratitude.

Keep Reading Show less

Gayla Gardner, Jacquie Baly and Julie Baker Finck

THE DOCTOR IS in! One of Houston’s most engaged civic leaders, Jacquie Baly, has a new title after earning her Doctorate in Education and Organizational Change & Leadership from USC. And some of the city’s heavy hitters turned up for a swanky reception at Tony’s to congratulate her. “Education and community leadership go hand in hand,” said Dr. Baly. “This honor fuels my continued mission to create meaningful change.”

And they weren’t alone in their admiration. Both the City of Houston and the State of Texas declared the day of the to-do “Dr. Jacquie Baly Day,” complete with official proclamations.

Keep Reading Show less
Style+Culture

Houston Arboretum

WE ALL LOVE a Rodeo, but sometimes we need options for events that have a different energy, speed — and crowd size. Check out some artsy, unique happenings around Houston in March!

Keep Reading Show less