It’s so much fun to go to different parts of the country—and revel in the regional differences. Our Gumbo Cove hideaway in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi is only 6 hours away from the Northwest Houston area where we live, but it seems like a whole new world in some ways.
We were in Bay St. Louis earlier this month, and the run-up to Mardi Gras was evident everywhere. Folks were lining the main street on a gloomy and very wet day to watch a parade that we were sure would be rained out. That’s how much we city slickers know about parades and Krewes and the people of Bay St. Louis and Waveland! The show did go on, and the Shoofly Magazine has the photos from Lionel Haynes, Jr. to prove it; a few of his shots are below.
Unlike these intrepid party people, we weren’t prepared for a parade in the rain, but we will be next time now that we know how this stuff works! Our mission that rainy day was to get grits at the grocery store to go with the shrimp we had picked up at Kimball’s Seafood the day before. The shrimp and grits was to be our reward for a day full of little fix-it chores that had piled up. I’ll share the recipe another time, once I’ve written it down. The Grill-Meister says I’ve perfected it, so I need to remember what I did!
So, with the grits in mind, we took the detour around the folks who were gathering for the parade and made our way to the grocery store, which is in neighboring Waveland. Claiborne Hill Supermarket had everything we needed, plus a coastal-Mississippi-right-before-Mardi-Gras culinary cultural tour. Check it out:
Mardi Gras cheese balls (puffs) – really! I wanted to buy some just to see what a cheese puff with purple and green “sprinkles” looks like 
A huge display of the fixins for a good seafood boil – potatoes, mushrooms, onions, lemons, garlic, celery, giant bottles of liquid crab boil, even brussels sprouts 
Multiple areas with seriously large containers of crab boil seasoning 
A “Cajun gift box” from the Louisiana Fish Fry Company with 8 of their most popular Cajun items 
Still more seasonings for that perfect boil, and jumbo containers of cayenne 
Spicy Cajun Crawtators from Zapp’s 
Special flavors that we don’t have in Houston: Creole Onion and Cajun-Dill 
Beautiful displays of freshly picked and freshly packed local crab 
Last but not least, Mardi Gras cakes called Royale Puffs from Little Debbie®! We are certainly not in Kansas any more, Toto!
I had such a good time taking it all in, and nice conversations with folks who wondered why I was taking pictures of the goods. One lady really got it, saying: “I know, I just moved down from Montana and it’s sure not like this there!”
It’s not that we don’t have some of these items in Houston, or that we don’t do Mardi Gras or have seafood boils, it’s just that there isn’t such a joyful focus on them. That’s why I’m sharing these photos with you. Happy Mardi Gras, and be safe!
Oh, and if you’re in the mood for a seafood boil but have never done it, we’ve gotcha covered! There’s a recipe right here in Glover Gardens.
Kim, your photography is so wonderful. Great eye for sure! We are hear in NOLA, and seeing everything you have, but your pictures are just wonderful – really loving it!
Thank you so much, Laura! I really like the ones from Lionel Haynes of the parade, too. Can’t wait to see everything you do while you’re there. As many times as I’ve been to NOLA, I’ve never been during Mardi Gras – can you believe it? I do have a few more tips, here: https://glovergardens.com/2017/11/28/request-from-a-friend-got-new-orleans-trip-advice/
I just read the entire post, that is really great and helpful Kim. You must have come a lot, because it feels so honest and helpful. Were hoping to do the paddle boat and the cemetary voodoo tour tomorrow. Well see
Thank you so much; it is very meaningful to hear this feedback. The cemeteries are wonderful, and many of the tour guides are long-time residents of the area and natural historians. It’s good to get off the beaten path, too…again, I can’t wait to hear your insights and learn from them. Also, you should come back for Jazz Fest and we could meet!
Maybe we could, not this year, but in the future
This post a) made me hungry and b) reminded me that I need to place an order with Cajun Grocer. We don’t get very many flavors of Zapps Potato Chips out here on the West Coast. We’re lucky if we can find Voodoo.
Same here, Sharon! It’s a travesty. 😂 But seriously, Zapp’s chips are junk food that is worthy, and I don’t say that lightly, being a food snob and all. Are you going back to NOLA any time soon, like maybe for Jazz Fest?
I won’t make it for Jazz Fest, unfortunately. I promise to send up a flare next time I’m going to be in NOLA, though!
Please do!
I love how y’all are Lovin’ it!
Very reminiscent of my 1st first into a place that felt like a foreign country…..with DRIVE THRU DAIQUIRIS…..and the most vibrant culture, music, food I’d encountered since living south of the border.
Claiborne also has some other crazy, wondrous items. We bought chicken feed, frog legs, crab traps and organic local mirlitons or satsumas there. Handmade soaps, candles and honey made by the owner’s extended family. They have their own farms, chickens with fresh eggs, hives…..very cool.
That location sat destroyed after Katrina for 8 or so years…..never flooded before. About 12-18 ft of water there. Y’all probably saw far more. We had at least 29-34ft at our home.
We were all thrilled when Claiborne, a local family, opened.
Happy MG & Fat Tuesday!
Wow, what a great response. I’ve learned so much just from your one paragraph. I had no idea that there were family farms, although I definitely got the family-owned business vibe. Do you cook frog legs?
I was freaked out about drive through daiquiris the first time I saw them, too. Say what???
Thanks for the color and context you add to these posts. You rock! Guest blogger?