In a year where such things are sadly few and far between, a small slice of Mardi Gras appeared in Houma Friday with the launch of a new flavor of king cake.
The newest flavor of king cake at Cannata's Market, "Ti-Can Pecan," was introduced with a ceremony, and what may be the only thing resembling a Mardi Gras parade this year, at the Bayou Terrebonne Distillery in Houma.
The cake, a collaboration between the grocery and distillery, features pecans soaked in the whiskey maker's own Good Earth bourbon.
The name derives from Filhucan “Ti-can” Duplantis, who is credited with introducing Mardi Gras to Houma in 1926.
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Noah Lirette, one of the distillery's co-owners, is the great-grandson of Lily Lirette, who was the first queen of Mardi Gras in Houma. Lily was also a moonshiner, whose six-gallon copper pot still is on the premises of the distillery.
Noah Lirette said the collaboration with Cannata's for the king cake, combining his bourbon with Mardi Gras, brought history full circle.
"Our goal at Bayou Terrebonne Distillers is to always preserve the tradition of our family and the unique culture of the bayou region," Lirette said. "This really means a lot. It's more than just a king cake; it's preserving the tradition on the bayou of the Carnival season."
The launch was celebrated with the three-piece Brian Murray Traditional Jazz Band out of New Orleans. The brass band played in a small procession with some barrels of the bourbon-soaked pecans in a restored antique Ford truck and a few revelers in a second line. The procession followed a police escort from the distillery up Park Avenue to the Cannata's store there.
"It's such an odd year, just to have something crazy like this is pretty unusual," said Vince Cannata, owner of Cannata's Markets. "It's neat that the distillery is here. It's a unique local treasure, and this is going to be a great partnership."
The cake itself features the bourbon-soaked pecans on a traditional cinnamon-flavored king cake topped with a bourbon and cream cheese glaze.
"People will remember this as a special time and a special year," Cannata said. "People will use this king cake to remember the fun they've had at past (Mardi Gras). This year will be fun in its own way."
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