Where To Eat & Drink During Mardi Gras 2024

"The smartest food to eat during a parade is something you can eat with one hand and no utensils while standing up. You’ll find a lot of that at Martin’s, a grocery and liquor store near the Uptown parade route that sells really good, reasonably priced to-go sandwich combo meals. Go with the $14 bagged lunches, which get you cold-cut sandwiches smeared with Creole mustard, along with some chips and pasta salad. The charcuterie boards and salmon plates are lovely, yes, but are you really going to be forking a huge hunk of fish during the parade? While you’re there, consider buying a bottle of booze and some throwaway shot cups, so you can barter with the riders for those prized throws." - megan braden perry