JALAPENO-GARLIC-CHEESE GRITS WITH OPTIONAL BACON aka GENE’S FAMILY RECIPE WITH A SLIGHT MODIFICATION – My wonderful brother-in-law introduced our family to this delicacy on Thanksgiving 10 years ago, and suffice it to say, we show our gratitude to Gene and his garlic cheese grits every year and offer thanks to him for unveiling this truth: GRITS, THEY’RE NOT JUST FOR BREAKFAST ANYMORE. Pound for pound, grits are the cheapest, most delicious way to feed a herd of people, and you can modify them to be vegetarian (with eggs and dairy) though not quite kosher. So here goes:
THE MOST AWESOME AND ETHNICALLY OFFENSIVE SANDWICH IN THE UNIVERSE: MUFFALETTAS WITH WOP MIX
Ever since we introduced this item, it has become the must-have gnosh on the Krewe of Helios feedbag parade. That probably has to do with supply and demand – we supply only 48 of them. Yet more than 70 people demand them. Ergo, it’s wise to drive or ride in a parade float so you can get in the front of the line and grab one of our amazing, unforgettable, clearly incredible and sublimely edible…
KREWE OF HELIOS-ARIZONA MUFFALETTA SANDWICHES – These are Italian sandwiches that originated in New Orleans. In some parts of the country, they serve ’em cold. We like ours warm because there’s nothing like cheesy goodness melted just so with a slight crunch to your crusty bread. Now our traditional Mardi Gras recipe makes 48 slider-sized sandwiches, and I was tempted to be mean and give you the recipe for 48 because the uncanny math makes EXACTLY 48 sandwiches with nothing leftover. But I’m not that mean (just ask my husband). So here’s how you make just one… that can serve four – and please note, vegetarians and members of the Tribe, if you ditch the meat and cheese, you could survive on Wop Mix* and bread alone…
Thanks for Coming Out! Krewe of Helios-Arizona 2009 Recap
On behalf of the Krewe of Helios-Arizona – the only Mardi Gras parading organization in the Grand Canyon State – we’d like to wish a hearty “THANK YOU” to the more than 70 revelers that joined us for our seventh annual Mardi Gras parade and party: You came, you saw, you grabbed beads, you ate gumbo, you drank hurricanes, you withstood the verbal onslaught that is Stacy’s bullhorn and you lived to tell about it.
For those of you who couldn’t make it, well, there’s always next year: Mardi Gras 2010 is Tuesday, February 16. Though we’re too tired to establish an official date for KOH-2010 just yet, you can safely mark your calendars for either Saturday, February 6 or Saturday, February 13.
But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s relive some of the pageantry and excitement of Krewe of Helios 2009! (Much more after the jump – including photos! Woo-hoo!)
Continue reading Thanks for Coming Out! Krewe of Helios-Arizona 2009 Recap
YOU’RE INVITED: KREWE OF HELIOS-AZ MARDI GRAS PARTY & PARADE, PART 7
LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULEZ! It’s Mardi Gras time!
Come one, come all to the Seventh Annual Krewe of Helios-Arizona Mardi Gras Parade and Party!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
4PM – 11PM
Pat and Stacy World Headquarters
24952 N. 74th Place
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
View Larger Map“>(Google Map)
Now most of you have been to one of our six previous adventures and already have the hang of how to celebrate Mardi Gras with the professionals from Louisiana. (Rule 1: don’t take off your clothes. SERIOUSLY. Do NOT take off your clothes.) But since many of you are NOT from the Pelican State and only have drunken recollections from college friends and “Girls Gone Wild-New Orleans” videos to go by, we’ve included the following handy guidelines for how to celebrate Mardi Gras the Krewe of Helios-Arizona way, aka – how you can get fed, fill up on hurricanes, avoid choking on plastic babies, score lots of beads and survive with your liver intact (though slightly compromised). Please read on for the wholesome goodness, aka What can you bring?
Continue reading YOU’RE INVITED: KREWE OF HELIOS-AZ MARDI GRAS PARTY & PARADE, PART 7
SAVE THE DATE: Krewe of Helios-AZ Mardi Gras Parade & Party – February 21, 2009
If today is the Epiphany, then Carnival Season is upon us… and that can only mean one thing:
1) You have no idea what I’m talking about (so you can go ahead and skip this entry)
2) You’re not Catholic (and neither are we)
3) You’ve had a hankering for a hurricane for the last three days, which means…
THE 7th ANNUAL KREWE OF HELIOS-ARIZONA MARDI GRAS PARADE AND PARTY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!
Yes, it’s already been a year, so your livers and taste buds should be back in working order in time for the onslaught of olfactory pain known as Pat and Stacy’s Krewe of Helios-Arizona Gumbo, our authentic Louisiana red beans and rice, real Pat O’Brien’s Hurricanes (limit 2), true Sicilian muffalettas, and new this year, the redneck rampage known as Gene’s Garlic Cheese Grits (with jalapenos and bacon)… and who can forget the legendary Mardi Gras king cake shipped direct from New Orleans to hop your kids up on so much sugar you could have just as easily given them Red Bull with espresso chasers.
Come one, come all, come get as close as you can to the Big Easy without having to disrobe on public streets while little old ladies elbow you to grab trinkets worth less than a penny a piece. We’ll have advice on how to celebrate Mardi Gras in a later posting – for now, we just want to get on your dance card:
WHAT: KREWE OF HELIOS-ARIZONA MARDI GRAS PARADE AND PARTY
WHEN: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009 from 4 PM* to 11 PM
WHERE: PAT AND STACY WORLD HEADQUARTERS ~ 24952 N. 74th PLACE, SCOTTSDALE, 85255
WHY: Because you need to celebrate Mardi Gras with the professionals.
*The parade will step off at 4; if you miss it, you likely won’t get fed and won’t catch any beads.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Stacy and Patrick Bertinelli
Krewe of Helios-Arizona
Captains and Co-Founders