Cool products that create a Carnival vibe in your kitchen as you celebrate close to home |

Gearing up to stay close to home this Mardi Gras season

Carnival spirits

Is it a bummer that parades and parties are pretty much off-limits this year? Yes. But that doesn’t mean we can’t drink in style — and on-point — with the gorgeous Mardi Gras colors in this Venetian crystal decanter.

Roux Royale, 600 Royal St., New Orleans, (504) 565-5272, shoprouxroyale.com. Timeless decanter from the Mardi Gras Venetian Crystal Collection, $161.95.

Yardi Gras special

From Mignon Faget, this crisp cotton and linen tea towel celebrates the house-bound Carnival spirit of 2021 and the decked-out house floats springing up all around town.

Mignon Faget, 3801 Magazine St., New Orleans, (504) 891-2005, mignonfaget.com. House Floats rebirth butterfly motif tea towel with corner hanging loop, $38

Coffee + cake

If you’ve been waking up with king cake on your mind, maybe it’s time to start your day with a mug that will help you be upfront and unapologetic about your seasonal sweet tooth.

Fleurty Girl, 617 Chartres St. and 3137 Magazine St., New Orleans, (504) 301-2557, fleurtygirl.net. Nola Tawk 12-ounce ceramic King Cake Mug with gold foil king cake baby design inside, $18.

Bake it fresh

What do you do when an unusually quiet Mardi Gras season leaves you with a lot of extra time on your hands? Use them to bake your own king cake. You won’t need a mixer, but you will need to add egg, milk, butter and water.

Home Malone, 4610 Magazine St., New Orleans, (504) 766-6148, homemalonenola.com. Gracious Bakery King Cake Kit (serves 6-8 people), $14.

The need for beads

If you want to get your hands on some strands this year, think about serving them up yourself — perhaps on a festive platter that gives the flat-out illusion of beads, by design.

Mardi Gras Spot, 2812 Toulouse St., New Orleans, (504) 482-0000, mardigrasspot.com. Mardi Gras beads 16-inch oval ceramic platter, $36.95.