I’ve never really been one to celebrate Mardi Gras, for no particular reason, but boy have I been missing out! I mean come on, have you tasted a King Cake or beignet? Let’s not forget about the popular Hurricane daiquiri. This year I celebrated Mardi Gras weekend at Ina Mae Tavern in Wicker Park, complete with a delicious brunch menu and immense Mardi Gras decorations.
Ina Mae Tavern’s Mardi Gras Celebration
Ina Mae Tavern has been hosting a Mardi Gras pop-up all February, with an added Krewe du Ina 5 Days of Mardi Gras February 21st through Fat Tuesday. The event features great Mardi Gras decorations, a NOLA inspired menu, live music, and more. The experience was no joke. The whole placed was decked out in decorations and there was a guy singing live blues music!
A NOLA Inspired Brunch
Let’s talk about the best part; the food! Ina Mae has a NOLA inspired menu. Their brunch menu features popular items such as bbq shrimp & grits, poboys, fried chicken and pancakes, gumbo ya-ya, and more. I went with their Louisiana Grand Slam, which was delicious. Came with your choice of egg, meat, bread, and then breakfast potatoes, fruit of the day, and buttered grits. My favorite part of it was the buttered grits – so good! I also tried beignets for the first time, which were alright. Topped it off with a Hurricane daiquiri (which was super strong)!
Overall, my Mardi Gras experience was a great one. Found a new love for buttered grits and a validated love for biscuits. Ina Mae Tavern’s Krewe du Ina 5 Days of Mardi Gras is running until Fat Tuesday, on February 25th. View the event’s details here!
