What the French eat for Mardi Gras 

Much like the rest of the world, Mardi Gras in France is an excuse to eat enough butter, sugar and deep-fried treats to make your arteries file for early retirement before Lent sets in. But what exactly do the French typically eat at Mardi Gras? 

1. Crêpes   

Because nothing screams ‘French celebration’ quite like thin, buttery pancakes drowning in Nutella, jam, or a questionable amount of Grand Marnier.   

2. Beignets   

These deep-fried dough treats covered in powdered sugar vary by region, with names like bugnes (Lyon), merveilles (Bordeaux), oreillettes (southern France) and tourtisseaux (Poitou-Charentes).  In Lyon, choose from bugnes moelleuses (soft and pillow-like) and bugnes craquantes (thin and crispy). 

3. Gaufres   

These golden waffles are made from a thick, leavened batter cooked between two hot plates to create a honeycomb pattern. Slather them in whipped cream, chocolate or fruit preserves.  

4. Pogne   

This brioche-style bread from the Rhône-Alpes is made with a rich, dense dough shaped into a crown or ring and flavoured with orange blossom water. 

5. King Cake (Gâteau des Rois)   

Yes, technically this is more of an Epiphany thing, but in some regions, they keep it going through Mardi Gras. In the north, the galette des rois is made of puff pastry with almond frangipane filling while in Provence, you’ll find the gâteau des rois, a brioche crown with candied fruit.   

6. Fritelle   

If you’re in Corsica, expect to find fritelle, deep-fried doughnuts sometimes stuffed with chestnut flour, one of the island’s main products.

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Lead photo credit : Crêpes with Nutella © Shutterstock