Where to get "fat" for Fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, on Feb. 13, is the culmination of a season-long party that ends at midnight as Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

Can't get to New Orleans to throw beads, watch a parade, drink Hurricanes, dance to a classic Dixieland jazz band and eat seafood and chicken-andouille gumbo? 

No worries.

While hordes of tourists will be crowding the city's streets to party on, there are some Cajun-Creole-style restaurants, closer to home, that are offering Fat Tuesday celebrations.

Consider:

Cajun Kate's, 722 Philadelphia Pike, Bellefonte; (302) 416 - 5108.

This would be one of our first choices for authentic Louisiana fare. Chef/owners Kate and Don Applebaum both spent years in New Orleans working at some of the city's top-notch restaurants.

But if you were looking for duck gumbo and king cakes on Tuesday, you're a little too late. 

The Philadelphia Pike eatery/takeout celebrated Mardi Gras last week, and the shop is closed this week. No lie.

Cajun Kate's on Philadelphia Pike will reopen on Feb. 21 for its regular 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturdays hours. The flagship location at the Booth's Corner Farmers Market at 1362 Naamans Creek Road in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, reopens Feb. 23.

Kid Shelleen's Charcoal House and Saloon, 1801 W. 14th St., Wilmington, (302) 658-4600.

The Trolley Square-area restaurant is not a typical Creole-Cajun eatery, but owner Xavier Teixido has worked in New Orleans restaurants and is well-acquainted with the cuisine. Kid's has been serving a special week-long Mardi Gras menu, complete with baked oysters, Cajun shrimp and oyster po' boys. The special menu lasts through Tuesday.

Nora Lee's French Quarter Cuisine, 124 Delaware St., New Castle,  (302) 322-7675.

The party from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Old New Castle restaurant features a "Fat Tuesday Burlesque" theme.

Abita brews ($5) will be on tap, and Nora Lee's is serving New Belgium Voodoo Ranger IPA and Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA ($7 each). They'll also have Pimm's Cup, Hurricanes and Sazeracs. Soak up the booze with po'boys, muffulettas, jambalaya and gumbo.

North Quarter Creole, 837 North Union St. Wilmington, (302) 691-7890.

The restaurant in Wilmington's Little Italy neighborhood features a recently renovated first floor that celebrates New Orleans.

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Specials on Fat Tuesday includes Louisiana crawfish broiled with potatoes, corn and sausage; French dip with Cajun fries; barbecue shrimp: a muffuletta "salad wrap;" and red beans, rice and andouille sausage.

Po' Boys Creole & Fresh Catch, Del. 16 in Milton, (on the side of the Dollar General building);  (302) 684-0890. 

The Sussex County eatery is normally only open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays (with a popular Sunday "bayou brunch" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) 

But Po'Boys is swinging its doors wide open on Fat Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The eatery's menu, Creole/Cajun cuisine with some southern soul food mixed in, includes chicken and andouille gumbo, po' boys, shrimp Creole, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, fried oysters, collard greens and cornbread.

Po' Boys also serves beer, wine and makes southern cocktails. 

St. Georges Country Store and Cajun Restaurant, 1 Delaware St., St. Georges; (302) 836-8202

The eatery/music venue calls itself "Delaware's best-kept secret." Well, the secret has been out for some time, but it's definitely worth a trip if you haven't been to the restaurant located in a 200-year-old building. 

St. Georges Country Store and Cajun Restaurant has grown from its initial September 2001 beginning when it was just a country store with a limited hot foods menu.

The Fat Tuesday party will be held all day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Food includes the usual offerings of jambalaya, andouille sausage bites with Creole mustard, alligator sausage bites, muffulettas, po' boys, and shrimp or chicken Creole. 

Music begins at 6 p.m. with performances by James Day & The Fish Fry. Reservations are recommended, and when we called on Monday morning few seats remained. Give a call and you might luck out with a cancellation.

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico