Mardi Gras eating & drinking Events

Tomorrow (Feb 24) is going to be one Fat Tuesday. In addition to these more traditional (read: gluttonous) ways to celebrate Mardi Gras here are the ways that local restaurants & bars are helping you celebrate Carnivale-style:

Big Jones
It's Mardi Gras year-round here, but in honor of the occasion, they'll be doing takes on classic dishes like duck gumbo and wild mushroom etouffee. Sazerac ($8) and Hurricane ($6) bar specials, too, of course. 11am–10pm.

Brasserie Jo
Complimentary apple beignets for all diners! Dinner hours.

Carnivale
Chef Mark Mendez's "Carnivale at Carnivale" specials include black-eyed-pea fritters; moqueca, a seafood stew of shrimp, mussels and scallops; mini dulce de leche cakes; and a tableside "Mojitos of the World" cart offering Cuban, Portugese and Mexican variations. Plus: live music from Angel Melendez and samba dancing! 5–10pm.

Dick's Last Resort
The Marina City location's pouring Hurricanes on the rocks for $2.75, playing live music by The Project and holding a costume contest. 7:30pm–11:30pm.

Dunlay's on Clark
Chef Andrew Easterday's doing Mardi Gras menu specials like jambalaya and gumbo, and they'll be pouring $3 shots of gin, rum, vodka and melon liquor. 4:30pm - 10pm.

Fifty/50
Take half off cajun-inspired apps (from 4–7pm), drink martinis and hurricanes and compete to be the lady with the most beads at the end of the night (you'll win $100). 7pm.

Jake Melnick's Corner Tap
Four stations will pair Abita beers (Abita Turbo Dog, Jackamo IPA, Abbey Ale and Purple Haze) with Cajun-inspired dishes from braised short ribs to peanut butter and jelly pudding (Wha?!). Live music from Blue Plate Special rounds out the party. Beer pairings: 6:30–9pm. Live music: 7–11pm. $30/person, 10% of proceeds go to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.

Jerry's
Bring on the po' boys: fried green tomatoes and pepper jack, fried shrimp and american cheese, fried buttermilk chicken, baked glazed ham, and homemade roastbeef varieties are all on special till Tuesday.

Kit Kat
It's a "Mardi Gras Masquerade" at Kit Kat with half-price martinis and $5.50 Cruzan Rum cocktails, like a Cruzan Banana Nana: Cruzan Banana Rum, Dark Rum and a splash of orange juice. Chef Matt Stovey's adding N'awlins specials like gumbo and jambalaya, too. 5:30pm-2am.

Marche
Marche's Creole-inspired French menu celebrates with blackened rock shrimp, red beans and rice and alligator soup specials. Dinner hours.

Rockit Bar & Grill
The week-long Chilifest starts out with buffalo meat today (Monday) and moves on to gumbo-style chili (with okra and andouille sausage, $10) for Fat Tuesday. 11am–1:30am.

Timothy O'Toole's
A complimentary buffet with gumbo, po' boys, hush puppies, and more...now that's what we're talking about. 5:30–7pm.

Zocalo
An "All-you-care-to-eat" lunch buffet is $10.95 a person, and for dinner, twenty bucks buys you an appetizer, entree and dessert off the dinner menu. All day long: $5 Myers Rum cocktails and $3 Corona Light. 11:30am-10pm.