From fancy to dancy

How to make Fat Tuesday a Phat Tuesday: The best Cajun parties in town

If you didn't make it east of the border this weekend, fear not — there's still time to celebrate Mardi Gras right here in Houston. Get your fill of Fat Tuesday debauchery at any one of these parties around town:

Grove Park Lounge — Grove Park Lounge, located just outside the historic Houston Heights on Waugh drive, is offering all-you-can-eat crawfish, $10 domestic buckets and $3 wells, along with shot specials for a truly New Orleans-inspired evening. 6 p.m. to close.

Brennan's — As the sister restaurant to NOLA's Commander's Palace, Brennan's throws a yearly celebration that includes floats, beats, music and, of course, food — a three-course prix fixe menu ($65) of Creole classics, including turtle soup, bayou gumbo, wild shrimp remoulade, crawfish rossini and more. Beginning at 5:45 p.m.

Ragin' Cajun — An obvious Fat Tuesday choice is Ragin' Cajun, one of Houston's most loved sources for Cajun eats since 1974. Ragin Cajun's festivities include live zydeco music, beads, beer and boiled crawfish. All day.

Lewis & Maese Antiques & Auctions —If you're looking for a more sophisticated, artsy party, this art auction benefiting the Orange Show probably fits the bill. Dress in your Mardi Gras best and enjoy light bites, wine tastings and a Saint Arnold beer sampling. Starts at 6:30 p.m.

Zimm's Little Deck — Hit Zimms Martini Bar's more youthful counterpart, Zimm's Little Deck, for a live band, crawfish boil, Abita beer and a limited edition Cajun cocktail program. Plus, bocce ball! Starts at 6:30 p.m.

RA Sushi — Celebrate with some lighter fare at RA sushi's Mardi RA. Guests are encouraged to dress in Mardi Gras-themed attire to enjoy drink specials like the HuRAcane cocktail or Southern Julep and nosh on spicy Cajun-themed rolls like chili shrimp. Both locations, from 7 p.m. to close.

BB's Cafe — Join the krewe at BB's White Oak location for crawfish (complete with a temporary crawfish rig), Abita specials, Cajun pots, live music and costumed festivities. Fans who post a pic of their Fat Tuesday shenanigans by Feb. 25 can win a gift card. Music by Keyun & the Zydeco Masters starts at 5:30 p.m.

Mardi Gras Grill — With a name like Mardi Gras Grill, wouldn't you know this Durham Drive dive has a Fat Tuesday party? Drink specials include $3 Abita drafts, $4 Jager and Jim Beam, and $5 Hurricanes and Hand Grenades. Serving piping hot crawfish 'til 1 a.m. Live music featuring Pirate Radio and Bad Boyfriend starts at 5 p.m.

The Big Mamou — The Big Mamou, located in The Heights at 903 Studewood, is having a Fat Tuesday celebration with crawfish, beer, beads and beignets along with live music.

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two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q