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Emily Villere Dixon

Louisiana

Mardi Gras Essentials: Let Them Eat the Best King Cakes

Live Local Louisiana, Mardi Gras February 21, 2019

It’s officially Mardi Gras season, and one of the best and most traditional ways to celebrate this time of year is with some Mardi Gras King Cake! Or in my case, with quite a few King Cakes. Can’t stop, won’t stop.

I knew I wanted to do a post on the best King Cakes, but there was no way Shea and I could eat all of these cakes by ourselves. Actually, it might have been possible, but I didn’t want to test that theory out. So, I decided to throw a party for my girlfriends where we could all taste test this spread of King Cakes from all over South Louisiana.

The Best King Cakes from South Louisiana

The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon

The majority of these bakeries ship King Cakes all across the country. This is a great option if you are craving some real Louisiana King Cake and live out of town or if you want to share the love with others who don’t celebrate Mardi Gras as much as we do. Follow the links to see how to purchase!

NONNA RANDAZZO KING CAKE:

One of my all-time favorite King Cakes is by Nonna Randazzo’s out of the Northshore/New Orleans area. Their signature white icing with sprinkles might look different than a traditional King Cake, but the flavor of the actual cake is absolutely delicious! I’m not a fan of the word ‘moist’, but this cake is soft and has the perfect texture. If you live in Baton Rouge, they are delivered fresh daily to Carnival Mart during the Mardi Gras season.

The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon

NONNA RANDAZZO’S (above) | WHOLE FOODS (below left)

The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon
The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon
The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon

POUPART’S BAKERY KING CAKE:

My next favorite King Cake is a cream cheese filled cake from Poupart’s Bakery in Lafayette. Once I discovered this bakery a few years ago, I make sure to have multiple of these King Cakes during Mardi Gras. The sugar and icing create the perfect topping texture that has a sweet, but not too sweet, taste.

Another unique option from Poupart’s Bakery is the traditional French King Cake. It is made up of a round puff pastry with an almond filling (see it on the blue cake stand in the pictures below). Pop it in the oven to warm it up before serving, and oh. my. goodness!

SUCRE (below left) | ROUSES (below right)

The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon
The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon
The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon
The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon

If you don’t live in Louisiana but still want to partake in the King Cake festivities, Whole Foods Market offers their own version. I know it’s not local, but it’s at least an alternative if you don’t live anywhere that specializes in King Cakes or if you need a quick pick-up while you are already out grocery shopping. It is actually one of the prettier King Cakes I had at my party.

During the Mardi Gras season, there are also tons of other King Cake ‘inspired’ treats to choose from, and it’s fun to see people get creative with their rendition of a King Cake treat.

The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon: king cake macarons
The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon: king cake balls
The best king cakes for Mardi Gras featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon: king cake ice cream

SUCRE MARDI GRAS MACARONS | BREW HA-HA CAKE BALLS | BLUE BELL KING CAKE ICE CREAM 

There are so many different King Cakes to test in Louisiana that this list of the best king cakes could go on and on forever. My friend Leslie, creator of the blog Southern Flair, put together this King Cake bucket list, so you can eat your way through the Red Stick’s best options this Mardi Gras season.

Don’t forget that if you are lucky enough to get the baby, you have to throw the next King Cake party! Let me know if there is a King Cake that I absolutely have to try before this year’s Mardi Gras season comes to an end!

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF MY MARDI GRAS CONTENT HERE AND IN MY GUIDE TO MARDI GRAS!

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER!

 

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Ways to Escape the New Orleans Heat this Summer

Lifestyle, Live Local Louisiana, New Orleans, Summer Outfit July 19, 2018

It’s no secret that summertime in Louisiana is H-O-T! It’s the type of heat where time outside is typically reserved for later in the evening after the sun sets. Even though we knew it would be a little hot, Shea and I were married in the French Quarter in July of 2014 and spend our anniversary each summer in New Orleans. This year, with temperatures hovering in the 100’s, I knew we needed to have some cooler options when it came to planning what to do in the city.

My friends at Southern Quality Ford hooked me up with a ride to NOLA (a brand new Ford Escape!) so I can share with you my top ways to cool off and escape the New Orleans heat this summer.

new orleans summer

SHOPPING

Shopping can pretty much help fix anything, including a hot summer day. We don’t have a Saks in Baton Rouge, so I always like to stop at the Shops at Canal Place to get some shopping in before heading home. It helps that so many of my favorite stores – J. Crew, lululemon, and Anthropologie – are all located under one air-conditioned roof, so I can keep cool while I shop. I recommend shopping for pieces made with lighter fabrics that are nice and airy for these hot summer days. Also, you can never have too much color in your wardrobe during the summer!

new orleans summer
new orleans summer

new orleans summer new orleans summer

LOUNGE POOLSIDE

I seriously slacked on building up a summer glow before vacation (which is totally obvious in these pictures…yikes!), so I am in dire need of any type of pool/outside time this month. Lounging on a rooftop in a gorgeous French Quarter courtyard is exactly what I needed. We stayed at the Royal Sonesta hotel this year for our anniversary trip, because I could not pass up laying out at this stunning rooftop pool. Bring a good book or trashy magazine, sunscreen and turn off for a few hours while you relax poolside. It’s good for the soul…and also for the hot summer days!

new orleans summer
new orleans summer

new orleans summer new orleans summer

HANSEN’S SNO-BLIZ

A snoball from Hansen’s Sno-Bliz might be my favorite way to fight the New Orleans heat. There are plenty of delicious snoball stands in NOLA, but Hansen’s is a city classic that has been around since 1939! When it comes to flavors, I’m a classic ice cream type of gal, but Hansen’s offers beaucoup flavors. Located uptown on Tchoupitoulas Street, this family-owned snoball shop is a one-of-a kind shop with no other locations. Also, don’t let the long lines fool you. Hansen’s motto is “We believe there is no shortcut to quality”, and let me tell you, the line is totally worth it!

new orleans summer
new orleans summer

new orleans summer new orleans summer

LAGNIAPPE

While we were driving around, I might have figured out the best way to stay cool – hang in the car with the AC blasting! There is so much to do in New Orleans, and no matter how many times I have been to the city, there are countless things still on my to-do list. Here are a few other options for staying cool in New Orleans this summer.

VISIT A MUSEUM – The National WWII Museum is a must-see, and I also like the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.

ART GALLERY – My favorite art gallery is the Arthur Roger Gallery (he is a longtime family friend and has a beautiful art collection), and I would love to check out the Ashley Longshore Gallery and Studio.

COOL OFF WITH COCKTAILS – After you have parked it for the night (or day!), try some of the best drinks in town. I recommend having a cocktail on St. Charles Avenue on the front porch of The Columns hotel or in the French Quarter at the Carousel Bar and Lounge at the Hotel Monteleone.

RIDE THE STREET CAR – Hop on at multiple points throughout the city and feel the breeze as you explore New Orleans.

What are some of your favorite ways to stay cool in New Orleans? The hot temps last for the majority of the year around here, so I am always looking for ways to cool off in this Louisiana heat.

Thank you to Southern Quality Ford for partnering with me for today’s post and for letting me drive around NOLA in style. As always, all opinions are my own.

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The Traditional Mardi Gras Essentials Guide

Live Local Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mardi Gras, New Orleans February 8, 2018

It is the most wonderful time of the year – it’s Mardi Gras!

I enjoy putting together Mardi Gras content each year, because it is one of the many unique aspects of living in Louisiana and growing up surrounded by the culture here. It’s truly my favorite part of the year, and I want to share why I love it so much with all of you. This Mardi Gras essentials guide will be updated year after year to include more aspects on how to prepare for this very special holiday season. Keep reading to find links to my other Mardi Gras content on the blog, where I like to buy my favorite MG outfits and accessories, the tastiest King Cakes in South Louisiana and more!

Traditional Mardi Gras essentials Guide featured by top Louisiana blogger, Emily Villere Dixon Keep Reading

The Perfect Mardi Gras Parade Outfit

Live Local, Style Louisiana, Mardi Gras, Outfits February 6, 2018

This month’s edition of my Must-Have List is focused on tips and tricks to get you through all of the parades this Mardi Gras season, including some special outfits. I have so much fun putting together my Mardi Gras parade outfit for the weekend, especially this one! Mardi Gras is the time of year where pretty much anything goes, so I like to put a few kind of ‘out there’ outfits together. And, you don’t really get many crazy looks with whatever you are wearing… because, hey, it’s Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras Parade Outfit featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon Keep Reading

Must-Have List: Mardi Gras Essentials

Live Local, Style Louisiana, Mardi Gras, Must-Have List, Outfits February 2, 2018

Mardi Gras is my all-time, hands-down favorite time of the year!

My parents tell me that I took to the Mardi Gras beat very quickly at my first parade when I was four-years-old, and I look forward to the holiday each and every year. I’m so lucky my family is from New Orleans and that I grew up celebrating Mardi Gras, because I can’t imagine a year without it. Over the years, I have learned tips to comfortably making it through parades and balls, and my Mardi Gras style has evolved to include lots of color, sequins and costumes! Whether you are celebrating in New Orleans, Baton Rouge or anywhere else, here are a few Mardi Gras essentials to keep in mind when planning what to pack.

Mardi Gras Essentials featured by top Louisiana life and style blogger, Emily Villere Dixon Keep Reading

Live Local | A Dog-Friendly Capital City

Live Local Baton Rouge, Louisiana October 26, 2017

It is SO hard for me to leave my house when I see all three of my dogs looking at me with those literal puppy eyes. I wish I could take with me them everywhere at all hours of the day, but unfortunately that is not looked upon too highly at my office. Seriously though, when is ‘take your pet to work day’ going to become a thing?! When it comes to the weekends and days off, I want to spend as much time as I can with my three main girls, and sometimes that means they accompany Shea and me around Baton Rouge.

So, if you are like me and enjoy your pups tagging along, this post is for you! I put together some of my favorite dog-friendly places where you can eat and play with your furry friends right here in the Capital City. This is by no means an extensive list of the only places you can hang with your best four-legged friends in Baton Rouge – just some of my personal favorites and places on my list to check out. If there is a spot you love to take your pups, please let me know in the comments below so I can continue to add to this list and further Chuy, Gracie and Jones’ out of the house experiences. Thank you in advance!

 
 

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Meet Emily

emily villere dixon

A now thirty-something woman working in sports and reporting from the sidelines, who shares her love for Louisiana, getting dressed up and puppies right here.

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