11-02-2025
King cake tasting party surrounded by fascinating works of art
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)- A Shreveport woman who is originally from New Orleans says Mardi Gras is in her blood.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Karen La Beau relocated to north Louisiana and made Shreveport home.
In the past, she held a yearly king cake party, where friends and people from the Highland neighborhood came together. All they had to do to attend was bring a king cake. Everyone would taste the cakes some from Shreveport, some from down south, and vote. The winner got bragging rights for having the best taste in king cakes.
Get ready to make your own traditional King Cake
The parties ended for a while when COVID came along, but she is back this year.
La Beau hosted this year's party in downtown Shreveport's Uneeda Bisquit Artists Lofts. It was the best of both worlds: a party with king cake and local art on the walls for sale.
Karen said, 'Uneeda carries art from local artists. So part of this is also to highlight the artists, all the artwork is for sale.
The winning King Cake was a King Cake-inspired bread pudding dish made by Gray Pagni. He said, 'My husband has a bread pudding recipe he likes, and we just threw some cinnamon bun filling in it. '
A unique thing about the Uneeda Lofts is that you can host your event there for free if you do not charge a fee to attend. Contact them for more information at 318-210-0828 or at their website
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