Latest news with #FatTuesday
Eater
20-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
Brooklyn Heights Is the New Home of NYC's Next Cult Bakery Obsession
Brooklyn Heights is having a bakery moment with Ferrane (57 Clark Street, at Henry Street) opening Wednesday, May 21, a Swedish bakery from one of the folks behind cult-favorite Lower East Side candy store BonBon. It follows croissant-cereal destination L'Appartment 4F that's been drawing lines to the neighborhood since 2022. The bakery comes from Selim Adira, of BonBon, and Emon Maasho, former president of the fine glass companies Orrefors & Kosta Boda, who were born in Sweden — Adira to Moroccan parents and Maasho to Eritrean parents. Ferrane reflects their heritage, named after the Moroccan word for 'community oven.' The two became friends through a Swedish expat group that Maasho started, bonding over their shared love of Swedish candies, breads, and pastries. An annual tradition was born where Maasho would procure semla, the traditional Swedish treat eaten on Fat Tuesday, for Adira and other expat friends. But in March 2024, the line at the only Swedish bakery in the city was particularly long. 'I stood for over 40 minutes waiting for semla and they were sold out by the time I reached the counter,' he recalls. 'I got a parking ticket too!' When he told Adira about the troublesome semla shortage, Maasho joked that the two should open a bakery of their own. 'He said 'let's do it,'' Maasho says. 'I told him I wasn't being serious; I was just talking. But he was all in. That weekend we created the concept for Ferrane.' Just over a year later, Ferrane opens in a landmarked building on Clark Street that most recently housed a pet food store. Dark Swedish rye breads are stocked on custom white oak shelving; a curved 'croissant sofa' made by Danish design house Gubi makes it a fine setting for gathering and eating princess cake. But there's so much more to Ferrane than pretty cake for your fika. They're baking a vast menu of Swedish breads, all from Brooklyn Granary & Mil flour. Expect traditional sourdough baguettes, focaccia, and brioche alongside kavring — the dark, dense Swedish rye bread, plus several varieties of airy crispbreads, as well as sirapslimpa, a rich loaf made with molasses, and formfranska, a sliced sandwich loaf perfect for making lunch. A savory sandwich menu starts in the morning with combinations like egg and caviar — hard-boiled egg garnished with lightly smoked fish roe, on buttered rye, finished with chives. It moves on to open-faced beauties at lunch like shrimp with hard-boiled egg, dill mayonnaise, and butter lettuce. The pastry case is also full of Swedish delights. Mathilda Jacob, Ferrane's lead baker (she is the current Young World Champion in baking) has created a line of magnificently swirled buns in both cardamom and cinnamon, and a line of vegan vanilla and chocolate ones you'd never guess were made without butter. To give your croissant fix a new fave, Ferrane is laminating their own butter-heavy croissants, along with pain au chocolat stuffed with chocolate ganache after baking for a gooey warm center. There are also Swedish desserts like that princess cake served in a silver coupe, like a sundae and something called dammsugare, which translates to 'vacuum cleaner.' 'It's a fantastic way to minimize food waste and the vacuum name is because it 'vacuums' up all the leftover cake,' Maasha explains. For theirs, cake crumbs are mixed with butter, cocoa, sugar, and spiced punsch (a liqueur) into a dough-like consistency, then shaped into logs, wrapped in marzipan, and dipped in chocolate. At Ferrane, the founders want to do more than serve great cardamom buns — though they're particularly decadent: butter and glossy, fashioned into serpentine ribbons that resemble a vintage brooch. They are particularly interested in the 'community' part of the bakery's title. Ferrane partners with One Love Community Fridge, bringing pastries and bread to fill the fridge on nearby Henry Street. The founders also plan on holding after-school baking classes for tweens and teens. 'We want to help younger people to learn to cook and to learn about the importance of good ingredients that are missing from the education system here,' Massho says. They also hope to engage senior citizens at the nearby assisted living residence, the Watermark, to work with the young people and share recipes. 'Older people have so much knowledge, and we want to see if we can share that generational knowledge. That would be a dream scenario,' he says. Sign up for our newsletter.
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
12 Festive Cocktails For A Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated annually, in remembrance of Mexico's victory in Battle of Puebla in 1862. While some may not be all that well-versed in the history when visiting their favorite local spots for celebrations on May 5, chances are they will be enjoying some delicious Mexican fare and cocktails. Breakfast Margarita at SUPERBUENO in New York City. At SUPERBUENO in New York City, (which scored second place on North America's 50 Best Bars list), this cocktail is made with mole amarillo marmalade, blanco tequila, St-Germain, lime, and salt. 'As a nod to London Legend Salvatore Calabrese's breakfast martini, we added the Breakfast Margarita to the menu this past fall. The martini version calls for orange marmalade so when adapting this for SUPERBUENO we decided to serve the margarita with a spoon of mole marmalade. For this spring, we've updated it to a mole amarillo marmalade that is made with costeño chile, yellow pepper, apricot, chayote, and raisin. This drink has a full depth of fruit, spice, and vegetal notes. It's a nice, updated version of a margarita that stays true to the classic while showcasing iconic Mexican ingredients," said Kip Moffitt, head bartender. Fat Tuesday x 818 Tequila's Kenny 'Rita At Fat Tuesday locations nationwide, the frozen cocktail brand and national bar chain is partnering with Kendall Jenner's 818 Tequila for a Cinco de Mayo takeover. At its center is the Kenny 'Rita,Fat Tuesday's strawberry margarita, now with a signature floater of 818 Reposado. "We can already tell that The Kenny' Rita is going to be a summer favorite at Fat Tuesdays and New Orleans Original Daiquiris nationwide. This new flavor is blended with our signature frozen strawberry margarita base and your choice of 818 Tequila Blanco or Reposado. Every sip is refreshing, flavorful, and perfect for enjoying all season long," said Alex Monahan, CEO of Fat Tuesday and New Orleans Original Daiquiris. Sparkling Señorita at Liam's Den & Bubble Bar inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian ... More Resort inside the Palazzo Tower, Las Vegas. At Liam's Den & Bubble Bar inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort inside the Palazzo Tower, Las Vegas this cocktail is made with tequila, orange liquor, lime juice, agave, rimmed with sprinkles and topped with prosecco. "In true Las Vegas fashion, we believe every cocktail deserves a little sparkle, especially on Cinco de Mayo. Our Sparkling Señorita cocktail takes a fiesta favorite and elevates it with a light, bubbly finish thanks to a splash of prosecco. The tequila, orange liqueur, lime and agave bring the classic flavor, while the champagne adds that crisp effervescence known for any celebration. It's bright, refreshing and a fun, elevated twist on a traditional favorite," said Gina Paul, founder. Aguachile Margarita at Tia Carmen in Indian Wells, California. At Tia Carmen in Indian Wells, California, this cocktail is made with Tromba blanco tequila, St Germain and aguachile. "When I was developing the cocktails for Tia Carmen, I could see that Chef Angelo Sosa thought my approach was generally good, but wasn't really telling the story the restaurant. Chef said, 'Let me cook for you'.' I knew he didn't just mean dinner, and I understood straight away that we are telling a story. Dinner was incredible and one of my fondest memories with Chef to date. Utilizing the same aguachile that is utilized in the restaurant's food was a way to not only create a delicious drink that incorporates classic Mexican flavor into an iconic cocktail, but tell the story of Tía Carmen. Creativity is easy with Chef Sosa because he expects that once he has briefed you on the task, that you're capable of completing it and putting up something he will be excited to taste," said Mitch Bushell, cocktail developer for Tia Carmen. Compadres at Mexican Sugar, with locations in Dallas and Houston. At Mexican Sugar, with locations in Dallas and Houston, Compadres is a cocktail made for celebration – it is served in a custom glass repurposed from a Don Julio 1942 bottle and paired with a sidecar of the iconic tequila itself. This bold take on a margarita combines Don Julio Silver, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and agave for a bright, elevated sip with a luxurious finish. Justin Beam, Director of Operations at Mexican Sugar, says: 'Cinco de Mayo is all about sharing moments with friends, and Compadres is our toast to that spirit. From the recycled 1942 bottle glass to the sidecar of Don Julio 1942, every detail brings people together for a one-of-a-kind experience you'll only find at Mexican Sugar.' The Daisy at Scottsdale, Arizona-based The Americano. At Scottsdale, Arizona-based The Americano, the Daisy is an unexpected take on a margarita. Corrido 110 Proof and Earl Grey-infused tequila meet the warmth of Oloroso sherry, layered with housemade sunflower seed orgeat and Gran Gala, which is brightened with lemon and black pepper bitters and finished with a mint sprig and salted sunflower and sesame brittle. "The Daisy is a sunflower seed margarita meets a sherry cobbler, it's nutty, dry and refreshingly crisp. It plays with unexpected textures and flavors while staying grounded in something familiar. I wanted it to feel bright and surprising, with a savory edge that lingers just enough," said Tyler Miller, bar lead. Daytime Friends at Commons Club Dallas at Virgin Hotels Dallas. At Commons Club Dallas at Virgin Hotels Dallas, this beautiful cocktail is made with Cucumber & Jalapeño-infused Pantalones Blanco Tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde, triple sec, agave, and lime. 'Inspired by the legendary Texas artist and the classic Kenny Rogers song, Daytime Friends is a refreshing margarita with a subtle kick—perfect for sipping on a sunny Dallas afternoon or celebrating Cinco de Mayo," said Carolyn Favrot, Director of Food & Beverage. The Sierra Verde cocktail at Elsie Rooftop in New York City. The Sierra Verde cocktail at Elsie Rooftop in New York City is made with mezcal, cucumber-honeydew purée, fresh thyme, epazote bitters, amber agave, and lime. "The idea behind Sierra Verde was to create something fresh and vibrant, but still grounded in classic flavors. The honeydew and cucumber bring a bright, juicy quality, while the thyme and epazote bitters add a subtle herbal edge that plays really nicely with the smoke from the mezcal. It's festive and seasonal without feeling over the top; a refreshing take that's perfect for the holiday," said Greg Lucas, Co-Founder of Liquid Lab NYC & Beverage Partner at Elsie Rooftop. Go Mango at Spire Bar at Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. At Spire Bar at Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, the Go Mango cocktail is a refreshing mezcal-based drink inspired by the essence of the Sonoran Desert. It's made with Montelobos Mezcal for smoky depth that blends with sweet mango, tangy lime, and a subtle kick of Tajin. ."Inspired by the bold flavors of the desert, the Go Mango is a true taste of Arizona — something fresh and unique that guests can raise a glass to," said Bertrand Daluzeau, Arizona Biltmore Director of Food & Beverage. The Coconut Margarita at Tiny's Cantina in Park Slope, Brookyn. In the picturesque Park Slope area of Brooklyn, New York, Tiny's Cantina celebrates Cinco de Mayo as the unofficial start of summer with a cocktail that captures the essence of the season —with a touch of luxury. The Coconut Margarita mixes smooth silver tequila with creamy coconut milk and a splash of fresh lime juice. It's a beautiful balance of tart and tropical. ¡Ay, Paloma! at Bottagra in Hawthorne, New Jersey. At Bottagra in Hawthorne, New Jersey, this Cinco de Mayo inspired cocktail is made with Don Julio 70 Tequila, Illegal Mezcal, Dirty Pelican Organic Elderflower Paloma (grapefruit, lime, agave, elderflower) and garnished with a full grapefruit slice and fresh mint sprigs. Lead Mixologist Tony Iorio says: 'Blending tequila and mezcal brings a subtle smokiness to this cocktail that embraces Mexican culture, and so we saw Cinco de Mayo as the perfect opportunity to bring these two spirits together in a Paloma with a twist!' Jungle Bird at Americana Kitchen at Loews Coral Gables Hotel. At Americana Kitchen at Loews Coral Gables Hotel, a blend of Coconut Cartel rum, Aperol, fresh pineapple and lime juices, plus simply syrup. Loews Coral Gables Hotel Director of Food & Beverage, Tareq Shaban, says, 'Instead of the traditional margarita, we're shaking up a bold, tropical cocktail ideal for a lively Cinco de Mayo celebration. Miami-made rum blends beautifully with zesty Aperol and bright punchy citrus for a refreshing and delicious way to toast to the holiday.'
Telegraph
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Mardi Gras and much more: Louisiana's best festivals
The Mardi Gras floats just keep coming, swathed in colour, giant flowers and flashing lights. Their themes may vary – from animals and clowns to mythological creatures – but they are unified by a spirit of boisterous exuberance. New Orleans' most famous festival is gloriously over-the-top, with several weeks of Mardi Gras parades and balls leading up to Shrove Tuesday, known locally as Fat Tuesday. While the UK rustles up a few pancakes, Louisiana embraces vibrancy, with 'krewes' in colourful costumes throwing gifts from their floats and hundred-strong marching bands blasting brass renditions of traditional classics and subverted pop hits. The Mardi Gras balls were a European tradition that came to Louisiana with French settlement in the early 18th century, but the carnival-style parades developed later. Dozens of private membership clubs and organisations formed in the 19th and 20th centuries, creating the krewes that drive the Mardi Gras festivities today. Traditions, such as the 'throws' of gifts to the crowds and Rex, the King of Carnival, emerged over time. But when the Mardi Gras floats return to their garages at the end of the celebrations, the festival scene in New Orleans and Louisiana doesn't wind down one bit. The state is home to more than 400 different festivals across the year, celebrating music, food and culture. Such events are a key part of Louisiana's character. Making music The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is the best-known of Louisiana's music festivals, and it has morphed into something more than a few jazz concerts. In the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May, massive outdoor gigs spanning the genre take place at the Fair Grounds Race Course and the temporary villages showcasing traditional Louisiana life and Native American customs play an important role too. April also plays host to the Baton Rouge Blues Festival, which embraces the seductively swampy side of the blues in the state capital. Later in the month, Lafayette opens itself to the planet at the Festival International de Louisiane. The focus for five days is on world music, although there are distinct Francophone leanings, with plenty of musicians from Canada and West Africa. Time to feast Music may be the food of love, but Louisiana firmly believes food can be the food of love, too. The lines between a food festival and a music festival are often hazy. Mudbug Madness is an excellent example of this. Taking place in late May, the musical side of things concentrates on zydeco music, a blend of Afro-Caribbean, African-American and French influences. The food is also resolutely Cajun, and while there is variety among the food stalls, most revellers come to feast on crawfish. In October, the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival embraces another Louisiana speciality – the po' boy sandwich. Oak Street in Uptown New Orleans sees numerous venues serve up a tantalising variety of fillings inside baguettes that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Shrimp and crawfish are, of course, the options with most local flavour. Cultural celebrations Louisiana's cultural festivals tend to celebrate a particular strand of local culture. The Italian Festival in the town of Tickfaw honours the waves of Italian-American immigrants that settled there. Taking place at the end of April, the festival combines pageants, parades, Italian food and live music. The ESSENCE Festival of Culture in July, meanwhile, is largely about African-American music and culture. Big-name acts play at the Superdome in New Orleans, while several venues downtown open their doors for inspirational speakers. Holiday spirit In October, Houma in the bayous of southern Louisiana, holds Rougarou Fest, which gets its name from the mythical werewolf-like creature supposedly spotted amid the swamps. The festival leans into local folklore and general spookiness, but the activities and events are family-friendly. At the end of the year, however, the place to be is in Louisiana's oldest European settlement, Natchitoches. Here, the Natchitoches Christmas Festival has become a six-week affair. 300,000 lights and more than 100 set-piece artworks line the historic centre, while the biggest set-piece event is a lighted boat procession along the Cane River.
New York Times
07-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
First, They Drink. Then They Fight Over a Ball. An English Town's Tradition.
In England, the Tuesday before lent is traditionally celebrated by eating a stack of pancakes. But in Atherstone, a small town about 100 miles northwest of London, the locals gathered for a more bloody ritual: At 3 p.m. on the town's main street, a ball was thrown out of the second-story window of a mortgage broker's office, and dozens of men roared in unison as they piled on top of it. They punched and shoved each other as they scrambled for the ball, eventually emerging from the scrum with road rash and swollen faces. One young player smiled at onlookers, revealing a mouth of bloodied braces. This is the Atherstone Ball Game, an 826-year-old tradition in this Warwickshire town, and one of a dwindling number of ancient football games played across Britain on Shrove Tuesday, known as Fat Tuesday in the United States. King John is said to have initiated the town's first match, between Leicestershire and Warwickshire, in 1199. He offered a bag of gold for the winner, the story goes, creating a frenzied competition whose spirit lives on in today's game. Locals often say there are only two rules to the game: Keep the ball on the town's main street, and don't kill anyone. In reality, there's a bit more to it than that, organizers say (and the no-killing rule is hyperbole). But at its core, the game is simple. Participants kick and carry a leather ball up and down the city's main street for two hours. In the final minutes, they fight for possession of the ball until a klaxon sounds, ending the game. The winner: whoever is holding the ball at the end. To gain an advantage, many players organize teams out of local pubs, though in the end only one person can emerge victorious. Shoving, kicking, biting, punching — most uses of force, really — are fair game, particularly in the frantic final moments, said Noel Johnston, a 57-year-old retired factory worker who served as one of the game's chief marshals, a type of volunteer referee. 'This game is for men,' he said. (Though women are not barred from competing, they rarely do.) On game day, 'friendships can be tested,' Mr. Johnston added, and 'everyone wants to be the alpha male.' Kyle Crawford, a 28-year-old who boxes in his spare time, said participating felt like the 'closest thing to getting into the ring.' Ahead of the game, thousands squeezed along Long Street, the town's main thoroughfare, to watch the action unfold. Schoolchildren, who were given the day off for the occasion, clung to storefront windows that had been boarded up to prevent any damage. Police drones buzzed overhead. They, along with a few dozen officers, were there to monitor anyone who might use the game as 'an excuse for criminal violence,' the Warwickshire Police said. As the game began and the scrum thrashed on the street, Ryan James, who oversaw first aid for the event, didn't seem worried. His company, Choice Response, brought eight medics and an ambulance. 'It looks quite brutal,' he said, but the most serious wounds he had treated by the end of the day were a minor concussion and a head gash — which he said initially made it look as if the victim 'had half of his head decapitated,' but turned out to be a minor laceration. Throughout the afternoon, the onlookers played their own game of chicken with the action, gathering around the mass of competitors, only to run and scream when the ball got too close to them. Marshals paused the game every few minutes to let children kick the ball and pose for photos. 'The day itself is a family day,' said Rob Bernard, the chairman of the event's organizing committee. In the weeks leading up to the game, the ball is paraded around town to pubs, businesses and schools to drum up excitement and raise money for charity. Folk football, as this type of game is known, began as a pagan ritual and laid the foundations for soccer and rugby, as well as American, Australian and Gaelic football, the author Desmond Morris wrote in his book 'The Soccer Tribe.' While the tradition has died out in many places, it has remained a fixture in Atherstone, passed down through generations, said Pamela Colloff, who helps run the town's heritage center. Historically, the ballgames were a way for people to blow off steam, have fun and settle scores. 'For any sort of friction, it would be quite common to say, 'We'll sort that out on ballgame day,'' Ms. Colloff said. That was particularly true during the bitter miner's strike in the 1980s, she said, when workers on opposite sides of the strike found themselves facing off in the ballgame. Mr. Johnston, the marshal, said many outsiders misunderstood the game, seeing its violence but not its boost to civic pride. The game was particularly important now, he said, as working-class English towns like Atherstone had been hollowed out. When he was younger, Atherstone was a bustling little town, he said, with a strong pub culture. 'Now, you could fire an AK-47 straight down the town at 9 o'clock on a Saturday night and shoot no one,' he said, adding an expletive. But not on ballgame day, he said while holding a pint in a pub that soon had a line flowing out the door. 'We've got to cling on to our traditions,' he said. As the clock ran down on Tuesday, the game's chaotic roots surfaced. The ball was pinned under a group of players on a sidewalk, and the men began to swarm. Occasionally, someone would try to climb across the mob to get closer to the ball, crowd surfing on their competitors while also kicking and punching them. At one point, a young man climbed onto the awning of a Costa Coffee shop to line up his next attack, but the structure buckled under his weight and he tumbled, along with a sheet of metal, onto the men below. The crowd cheered its approval. Finally, the klaxon blew. Marcus Cooper, a 31-year-old construction worker who had spent 40 minutes at the bottom of the scrum, emerged as the winner. He was 'tired, but buzzing,' he said. His prize? The ball, and the adoration of the town for the next 12 months.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mamou mourns after Mardi Gras festivities turn deadly
MAMOU, La. () — Tragedy in Mamou continues as the community mourns the loss of loved ones and many people injured during Mardi Gras festivities. Fat Tuesday was about having a good time and celebrating Mardi Gras, but the day turned deadly when gunfire rang out in the crowd. Mamou Police and other agencies are helping to investigate what happened and why. Chris Ardoin, a Zydeco musician took to social media expressing disbelief and said the shooting brought back memories of when he was shot back in 2021. In a Facebook live video, he said, 15 minutes into his performance he heard gunfire. 'It brings flashbacks. I hear the shots go off and I immediately go back to the night I got shot.' he said. During the live Ardoin goes on to say he feels reluctant to continue performing for large crowds. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'I ain't doing them no more. none. I am semi-retired,' Ardoin said. 'If it ain't set up right when I get there. I'm not playing.' Mamou mourns after Mardi Gras festivities turn deadly Mamou Police warned city about Mardi Gras safety weeks before Former Southside football coach and family injured in vehicle accident Last second shot ends JS Clark girls hoops chance at repeat GOP plows forward with government funding plan despite Democratic opposition Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
