FORT ASHBY - Gumbo, jambalaya, muffalettas, purple, gold, and green - those were the flavors and colors of Mardi Gras that many local residents experienced for the first time at the Perky Bean Café's Fat Tuesday celebration in Fort Ashby.
Donna Class, a native of DeRidder, La., and owner of Perky Bean, wanted to introduce the culture and tastes of Mardi Gras to her customers on the last day before Lent that is known to many as the time to “fatten up.”
Debbie Moats, teller at M&T Bank in Fort Ashby, really enjoyed learning about the King Cake - which is a Danish-style dessert with a baby Jesus baked in the center. Whoever receives the piece with the baby is said to have good health and luck for the rest of the year.
“I didn't know about the King Cake,” said Moats. “I like learning about the different culture and how they celebrate.”
Moats' co-worker, Ginny Mason, ordered the Creole black-eyed peas and rice with the spicy shrimp jambalaya, which was her first taste of Cajun food.
“It was excellent. I really liked the black-eyed peas,” said Mason. “I think they should celebrate it all week, not just today. If they did we would go over there everyday.”
Mason and Moats pride the restaurant on its friendly demeanor and by the staff calling them by their first name.
Employees of another local business, Ray's Texaco, experienced the southern hospitality Tuesday as manager Crystal Barnhouse, auto mechanic David Wolford, and store clerk Richard McClary all made the trip to enjoy the festivities.
“I've had Cajun food, but I've never had muffalettas,” said Wolford. “It was very good.”
McClary, who has experienced Mardi Gras in New Orleans before, said the Cajun food at Perky Bean was not as robust in flavor as what he's accustomed to.
“As for Cajun food, I like it hot,” said McClary. “But I thought the food was very good. I had the gumbo and the jambalaya.”
Fort Ashby resident Nora Collett shared gumbo and jambalaya and muffaletta sandwiches with her friend Linda Hoey, also a town native.
“I like the festiveness of this place,” said Collett. “This is the last day we can eat like this before Lent starts. We can enjoy a good meal. This is Fat Tuesday for us.”
Keyser resident Jack Goebel agreed with Collett that this is the day to fatten up before Lent when many locals avoid meat on Fridays and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
