Food and fun on parade days

BY CHRIS JAY & SARA HEBERT

JOIN SARA HEBERT AND CHRIS JAY AS THEY GO ON DATES AND SHARE THEIR LOCAL RESTAURANT CHOICES AND ACTIVITIES.

Chris and I absolutely love Mardi Gras season. Ten years ago, we had our first, date at the Krewe of Highland parade.

I’m a native of South Louisiana, and at the time I was skeptical that Mardi Gras in the northern part of the state could feel remotely authentic. However, I quickly learned that there’s no right or wrong way to Mardi Gras as long as you’re having a good time. The Krewe of Highland parade is a great example of the “laissez faire” attitude of Mardi Gras season in Shreveport- Bossier City.

Here are a few things not to miss at the upcoming Krewe of Highland parade, rolling at 1 p.m. March 2:

1. Homemade floats. Growing up in rural southern Louisiana, I was accustomed to cowboys on horseback and families on hay trailers riding in parades. The Krewe of Highland parade captures the “do it yourself” spirit of those rural parades, with adorable dance schools and even homegrown rock bands in the line up. Families, social clubs and organizations frequently have their own floats – even if these “floats” are just simple trailers.

2. The Blanc et Noir Marching Society.Organized by the intrepid Robert Trudeau, this traditional marching society dons reveler costumes complete with masks and face paint, gloves and umbrellas. I urge you to be in that number when they pass. It’s an extraordinary experience and a highlight of my Carnival season each year.

3. The Krewe of Barbecue. The main reason Chris began taking me to the Krewe of Highland parade was because of the Krewe of Barbecue, who throw thousands of aluminum foil-covered hot dogs. My love for hot dogs knows no bounds, and you can find me each year chasing down the Krewe of Barbecue, shouting for a hot dog until my efforts are rewarded.

4. For the first time ever, the Krewe of Jaybert will roll in the 2014 parade. Chris and I will helm our own krewe in celebration of the 10th anniversary of our first date – an outing to the Krewe of Highland parade in 2004. Look for us on our own homemade float, tossing recycled beads.

– Sara Hebert

While we’re talking Mardi Gras, Sara and I have definitely developed a roster of local restaurants that we turn to on parade days. We love going to the den parties hosted by the largest local krewes, and it just so happens that one of our favorite restaurants is located next door to the Krewe of Gemini den. Kim’s Seafood and Po-Boy, a great little no-frills seafood dive located at 901 Benton Road in Bossier City, is our regular stop for dinner after the Krewe of Gemini float-loading party. Sara loves the spicy boiled shrimp; I’m a fan of the enormous po’boys, which are made with crusty, chewy Leidenheimer Baking Company bread trucked up from New Orleans. For my money, the fried shrimp po’boy at Kim’s Seafood may be the most satisfying po’boy in northern Louisiana.

Before or after the Krewe of Highland parade, we typically visit Marilynn’s Place. Home to some of the best beignets in Louisiana, Marilynn’s hosts an enormous block party immediately following the Krewe of Highland parade. That shindig, which can get a little rowdy, typically starts around 4 p.m. and involves live music, boiled crawfish and copious amounts of beer. It’s limited to ages 21 and older, and tickets are sold in advance. The best way that we’ve found to stay up-to-date on event details is by “liking” the restaurant on Facebook.

On the main parade route – the stretch of Clyde Fant Parkway and Shreveport-Barksdale Highway followed by the major parades – there are some interesting options for hungry revelers. Along the Clyde Fant Parkway stretch, families and large groups often lay claim to a large chunk of turf and host cook-outs. Once the parade turns onto Shreveport-Barksdale – historically the hardest-partying stretch of the route – things change dramatically. Yes, it’s completely insane in the Shreve City area, but there are also benefits to seeing the parade here. Food vendors line the route on both sides, offering up boiled crawfish, fried shrimp, pizzaby-the-slice and more. One of my favorites, a food booth called Bubba’s, can always be found in the parking lot of Hong Kong City, selling bloomin’ onions, fried alligator, shrimp on a stick and more. Carnival season truly is one of the most delicious times of the year in Shreveport-Bossier City.

– Chris Jay

CHRIS JAY AND SARA HEBERT

Sara Hebert is the marketing director of Moonbot Studios, and Chris Jay is the public relations and social media manager at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau. Chris and Sara have been married for five years. Email them at hello@ allyallblog.com.