OUR NYC Mardi Gras Catering

Mardi Gras in NYC: Celebrating Culture Through Food

Mardi Gras may be rooted in New Orleans, but in a city like New York, where cultures collide and celebrations evolve, it’s taken on a life of its own. From candlelit Harlem dinner parties to Midtown office lunches decked out in green, gold, and purple, NYC knows how to do Mardi Gras in its own bold way. At Susan’s Kitchen Catering and Events, we bring the spirit of the Crescent City to your table—layered with flavor, tradition, and just the right amount of flair.

We approach Mardi Gras catering with the same care we bring to every seasonal celebration. It’s more than food—it’s a moment. A mood. A memory built around warmth and spice, conversation, and connection. Whether you want king cake slices for an intimate gathering or a full-service gumbo buffet for 100, our holiday catering menus are designed to adapt to your vision, space, and guest list.

What Goes Into a Mardi Gras Catering Menu

A truly satisfying Mardi Gras menu starts with soul. Dishes like chicken and andouille gumbo, shrimp and grits, and red beans with dirty rice bring depth and comfort to the plate. Jambalaya—spicy or mild—comes packed with flavor, while mini muffulettas and catfish po’boys offer savory, bite-sized crowd-pleasers. We always recommend starting with hush puppies or okra fritters to set the tone right.

But this celebration isn’t just for meat-eaters. We build plant-based versions of our signature dishes using roasted vegetables, smoked paprika oil, and lentil-based gumbo. A popular option borrowed from our Kwanzaa catering menu includes spicy collard greens, black-eyed pea salad, and sweet potato bites—perfect complements to a Mardi Gras spread that honors tradition while embracing inclusivity.

Sample Mardi Gras Menus for NYC Events

We curate each menu to match the occasion, and New York offers every kind. For a corporate Fat Tuesday lunch, you might see blackened chicken skewers, smoky corn salad, and mini king cakes dusted with purple sugar. For a cocktail-heavy rooftop party, we’ll do gumbo shots, fried oyster sliders, beignet bites, and sweet tea served with edible flowers.

Looking to blend cultures? One client asked us to tie Mardi Gras into their global-themed celebration. We adapted our jambalaya using coconut milk and Thai basil, taking a cue from spice profiles we’ve used in our Diwali catering spreads. The fusion was seamless—and completely unforgettable.

From Backyard Parties to Rooftop Events

In New York, no two events are ever the same—and your Mardi Gras menu should match your venue. We’ve rolled out trays for brownstone backyard parties, plated dishes for private Upper West Side dinners, and done buffet-style pop-ups in Bushwick art spaces. Our menus flex with the vibe, space, and budget.

Some clients want full-service staffing with styling, while others prefer elegant drop-off packages with labeled containers and custom heat-and-eat instructions. We recently catered a candlelight Mardi Gras gathering for a nonprofit using our Good Friday catering menu as a base—adding spice, color, and New Orleans flair to a moment of community and warmth.

Decor, Drinks & Dessert Pairings

A Mardi Gras table should look just as festive as it tastes. We offer themed styling in traditional colors—deep purple, vibrant green, and gold—along with curated decor touches like metallic serving trays, beaded accents, and custom printed signage. We also love pairing savory dishes with bright, refreshing drinks. Our infused citrus water bar, hibiscus spritz mocktails, and tangy lemonade with mint make for beautiful, balanced beverage options.

On the dessert side, nothing beats the classic king cake. We serve individual slices, mini cakes, or even king cake parfaits for easy plating. And for something different? Warm beignets dusted in powdered sugar, sometimes filled with spiced chocolate or passionfruit cream. Many of these ideas were inspired by the spring palettes we developed in our Easter Sunday catering menu, where freshness and color go hand in hand.

Mardi Gras Among the Holidays We Cater

Mardi Gras is just one of the many cultural and seasonal celebrations we proudly cater. Just like our Diwali, Passover, or Kwanzaa menus, we treat this event with intention—starting with the story behind the dishes and ending with joyful, flavorful execution. In the colder months, clients often book Mardi Gras alongside Valentine’s Day or as a transition into spring—making it one of the most colorful holidays on our calendar.

We offer the same attention to detail for Fat Tuesday as we do for holiday classics. Our Christmas catering menu features cozy, comforting dishes and visual warmth—qualities we echo in our Mardi Gras menus through spice, color, and presentation. Every holiday has its soul, and we know how to find it through food.

Plan Early: Booking, Pricing, & Packages

Because Mardi Gras falls in February—alongside Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl, and early spring parties—we recommend booking at least 2–3 weeks in advance. Our base pricing starts around $18–$24 per person for buffet-style menus, with individual tray options and à la carte add-ons available. Full-service events with decor and staffing are priced based on guest count, location, and service tier.

We offer tasting sessions for custom menus, and we’re always happy to suggest ways to adapt your spread depending on venue or budget. If you’re planning a February gathering with family, friends, or colleagues, our Thanksgiving catering menu is another example of how we blend abundance with approachability—an energy that carries beautifully into Mardi Gras.

Why Mardi Gras is a Cultural Celebration, Not Just a Party

At Susan’s Kitchen, food is never just food. It’s history. It’s identity. And Mardi Gras is a reminder that celebration and culture can live on the same plate. Whether you were raised on gumbo or have never tasted a po’boy in your life, we design each event to feel welcoming, joyful, and rooted in something real.

Much like our Passover catering menu, which honors tradition with depth and flavor, our Mardi Gras menus are a tribute to cultural richness. We don’t just serve food—we tell a story with every bite. And if your story this season includes beads, brass, and a table full of New Orleans spice? We’d be honored to bring that vision to life in the heart of New York City.