For those not in the know, a King Cake is a pastry traditionally served during the Mardi Gras season.

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From Randazzo's website:Link

"The Mardi Gras or Carnival season officially begins on January 6th or the "Twelfth Night," also known to Christians as the "Epiphany." Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means "to show." Jesus first showed himself to the three wisemen and to the world on this day. As a symbol of this Holy Day, a tiny plastic baby is placed inside each King Cake.

The King Cake tradition is thought to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870. A King Cake is an oval-shaped bakery delicacy, crossed between a coffee cake and a French pastry that is as rich in history as it is in flavor. It's decorated in royal colors of PURPLE which signifies "Justice," GREEN for "Faith," and GOLD for "Power." These colors were chosen to resemble a jeweled crown honoring the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany. In the past such things as coins, beans, pecans, or peas were also hidden in each King Cake."

Today, a tiny plastic baby is the common prize. At a party, the King Cake is sliced and served. Each person looks to see if their piece contains the "baby." If so, then that person is named "King" for a day and bound by custom to host the next party and provide the King Cake."


Over the years, bakeries have added to the recipe adding fillings (I'm a sucker for strawberry cream cheese) and decorations to set themselves apart. It turned into a sort of arms race to outdo the other bakeries. Some people thought it got a little out of control...

Which leads us to Larry Ragusa, purveyor of "unique" King Cake recipes.

He popped up on the scene a few years ago and I thought it was time to revisit Larry and his fine wares.

My favorite commercial was #3 but I'm adding #1 and #2. Feel free to watch them all and be part of the saga of Larry and his brother.

Cajun Pecan house king cakes are the best!

Just sent the Wife off on a road trip to visit St.Francisville, and help out the good folks down there at River bend with some wrenching, after that nasty lightning strike.

Full coolers coming back will now include a King Cake, along with Shrimp, Crayfish, Boudin, Anduille, and Crab.

It's in Cut Off?! I rarely go below New Iberia. Do they issue Cajun reeboks when you get there?

There was one in the office break room. The print was too small for me to read, but I expect it laid out the tradition OP describes.  

I had never heard of this cake or tradition before.  I was eating a small piece at my desk and I got that baby.  I am lucky I saw it before I chewed, because I would have broken a fucking tooth on it.  

How many lawsuits does this cause? The baby was not candy, it was hard plastic. 

Yep cut off, and we just go around barefooted down here lol

No law suits down here because if you tried to sue the jury would laugh at you

That is going to be one smelly cake.

My dad lives down there and mailed me one of those cakes this year.  Little suprised when I ended up with a baby in my mouth.  Way to much damn sugar.  Like eating 10k doughnuts.

I'm glad this thread is edifying as well as entertaining!

My grandma and your grand-ma were sit-tin' by the fire
My grandma told your grand-ma "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire

Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né

Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

My flag boy and your flag boy were sit-tin' by the fire
My flag boy told your flag boy "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire"

Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

See that guy all dressed in green I-ko, I-ko, un-day
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine jock-a mo fee na-né

Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né

Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né


 

My firm sent out about four dozen this year to clients around the country.  I assumed we sent two or three clients into a diabetic coma.

Dude...you almost ate Jesus!!  

You mis-spelled Meche's.  And Randazzo's.

LC

Nah, she's got two coolers, and knows not to mix the sea critters, with other stuff.

I've got about a quarter of a Randazzo's cake left on the counter. It's calling to me.

Never seen a king cake but I do know I may have to pick up some paczki.

False.  Only Meches makes king cakes.... outta donuts.  Best in the world. And for my fellow arf members wondering Meches Now ships King Cakes internationally. I suggest the creme cheese filling and an insulin shot

Here ya go boys.  

This is what diabetus is made of

I like Meche's but I've never had their king cake. I'll need to recitfy that.

Is it wrong that the salami and olive salad King cake sounds pretty good.

This reminds me, what's going on with Vincent?

Did you send any to AZ?

I've had randazzos, not as good as CPH.

Also, isn't meche's a donut?

Not really a donut but there are similar tastes and textures.  Meches also has good Kolaches wil. Go to the one on Guilbeau.  I work right down the street . Place it in microwave(after tossing the baby) for 30 seconds.  eat with cold glass of milk. Repeat until unconscious.    BTW the baby is hidden in the cake during office parties and whoever gets it has to buy the next cake.    


For those who dont want to spend 35 bucks on a cake Rouses super market makes a decent commercial grade cake

I need to give meches a try. Sounds intreresting.

Dunno. There was a hint of a reconciliation.

"I know what you want."

I meant, did Larry ever catch him?

Randazzo's in Chalmete

That's actually where I'm from, and I had multiple king cakes from Nona Randazzo's this year already. Also had a few Manny Randazzo's along with a Mad Batter, Rouse's, Dong Phuong, and HI-DO bakery king cake.  Needless to say, I had to swap to the LCP for carry, b/c my pants cannot seem to fit my g19 this month.

My wife loves the king cakes and wants to order one every year. It costs like $60 to get one shipped. I wish I could find a bakery around here that makes them, but they have no idea what I'm talking about.

Accept no substitutes. I generally don't like sweets but sumbitch these are my kryptonite. Haydel's makes a pretty good one too.

Chalmations and thier cakes

On a side not Rouses has a cake filled with fruit . Its name escapes me but it is amazing also 

LOL

Rouse's Supermarkets makes a good king cake.