Carnival of Savory and Sweet: H-Town’s Mardi Gras Krewe

SAVORY

Mardi Gras Brunch at B&B Butchers & Restaurant Saturday, Feb. 26, dig into a festive brunch to kick off Mardi Gras at this Wash Ave steakhouse and butchery with a popular rooftop terrace. Enjoy New Orleans-inspired dishes, specialty cocktails, face painting, dueling pianos and party swag.

SAVORY

Orleans Seafood Kitchen Cray-cray for crawfish? Orleans Seafood Kitchen is celebrating Fat Tuesday every Tuesday leading up to the big day on Tuesday, March 1. Snag happy-hour prices all day long every Tuesday, and buy four pounds of crawfish and get one pound free throughout the day ($40 for five pounds). Available for dine in and to-go.

SAVORY

Brennan’s of Houston Celebrate the glitz and gluttony of New Orleans-style carnival season at Houston’s preeminent Creole house, with a lunch special through March 1 featuring a choice of appetizer (either Brennan’s gumbo or the Jill Jackson salad), and entree (either a half shrimp po’boy or two fried oyster tacos stuffed with fried Gulf oysters and all the trimmings) for $25. And on Fat Tuesday, eat like a king! Executive Chef Jose Arevalo will prepare a three-course feast with a choice of a starter, entree and dessert ($74). No online reservations; call 713-522-9711.

SAVORY

Fat Tuesday Mardi Craw at the Rustic On March 1, the Downtown and Post Oak locations of this brunch spot and music venue are stirring up a big pot of fun. Come hungry with your krewe for a crawfish boil, chicken and sausage jambalaya, fried crawfish tails, étouffée, frozen drinks and more.

SWEET

Common Bond Bistro & Bakery All Common Bond locations are sharing the sweet flavors of the French Quarter with whole and by-the-slice king cake. The fluffy braided cakes are offered in traditional cinnamon-sugar and raspberry and cream cheese flavors until March 1 ($1 from all preorders will be donated to Sky High for Kids). Its DIY King Cake Kits are fun for the whole family, complete with icing and piping bag, sprinkles and a novelty baby to hide.

SWEET

Dessert Gallery With a tagline "Calories Only Count After Mardi Gras," Upper Kirby’s go-to dessert cafe is telling us what we love to hear (and eat). Colorful king cakes and meticulously decorated Mardi Gras butter cookies are available for pre-order until March 1.

SWEET

Red Dessert Dive Puffy, luscious, mini king cakes are popping out of the oven at this Heights dessert spot. The icing-drenched cakes laced with cinnamon and cream cheese also are available by the slice. Swing by for a taste with coffee or a glass of wine until March 1. (It’s best to pre-order whole mini cakes, by the way!)

SWEET

Three Brothers Bakery This venerable, ambitious bakery is putting on a parade of treats with delightfully decorated Mardi Gras petit fours, dipped cookies, king cakes and even towering Fat Tuesday cheesecakes! You might even get lucky — but not as lucky as finding the baby — and score some Mardi Gras products after March 1 at all three locations.