TidBits

small bites of local News

Nothing Bundt Cakes Opens in Central Park

By Bill Freehling

Central Park has gained a brand new, unique, and delicious bakery. Nothing Bundt Cakes recently opened at 1420 Carl D. Silver Parkway, and specializes in a variety of delectable bundt cakes.

Bundt cakes are baked in a bundt pan, providing them with a doughnut shape. Some of the items at Nothing Bundt Cakes include 8-10" decorated bundt cakes, and Bundtlets, which are individually packaged, miniature bundt cakes. You can order an Individual Bundtlet, a Bundtlet Tower, or even a Bundtlet Bundle of 12 miniature cakes.

Open 9:30am-7pm MondayFriday, and 9:30am-6pm Saturday-Sunday. Follow them on Facebook.

Fredericksburg Area Museum to Host Black History Month Walking Tour

On Saturday, February 18th, the Fredericksburg Area Museum is partnering with the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation for a Black History Month Walking Tour. Starting at 11am on the 18th, Black Businesses & Entrepreneurship in Fredericksburg, 1787 - Present will begin its tour at the HFFI Offices, at 1200 Caroline Street. In honor of Black History Month, this walking tour will uncover how Fredericksburg has contributed to such a deep layer of history, and how the stories of black citizens have continued to grow the culture of this city.

Chick-ffil-A A in Central Park Re-OOpens with Renovated Drive-TThru

Renovations are complete at the Chick-fil-A at 1698 Carl D. Silver Parkway in Fredericksburg's Central Park shopping center, and the popular restaurant has reopened for business.

The drive-through at the location was widened as part of the renovation, preparing the popular restaurant for the bustling crowds..

Fredericksburg Visitor Center Property

Now on the Market

The downtown Fredericksburg property that currently houses the City's Visitor Center and the adjacent parking lot is for sale.

Fredericksburg's Economic Development Authority (EDA) purchased the property at 700-706 Caroline Street from the City of Fredericksburg in December. The EDA is now marketing the property to prospective purchasers.

The City is leasing back the property while it plans a new Visitor Center and Economic Development and Tourism Office at 601 Caroline Street (Executive Plaza).The property includes a historic, 5,319-square-foot building and a 14-space parking lot (two separate parcels).

Rebellion Named One of Top Whisky Bars

A downtown Fredericksburg establishment has been named one of the top whisky bars in the U.S. Rebellion, which has a location at 309 William Street, is on Whisky Advocate's list of 101 top U.S. "bars, taverns, restaurants and more to delight any whisky drinker."

Green Fitness & Wellnes Purchases the Purina Tower

The Purina Tower, a historic downtown Fredericksburg landmark, was recently purchased by Green Fitness & Wellness owners Garrett and Dorothy Green. The Green's have plans for this historic property to incorporate the tower into part of their fitness center. You can follow Green Fitness & Wellness on Facebook or view their website.

Bill

Freehling, Fredericksburg's director of economic development and tourism

You don't have to live in New Orleans to celebrate the annual event known as Mardi Gras (or in English gras=fat and Mardi=Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday)

But why those names? Everyone familiar with Christian holidays will recognize the terms Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday and Lent, all of these days leading up to the festival of Easter. Some days are joyous and full of revelry, while Lent is a period of penitence and reflection starting on Ash Wednesday. The exact days of Easter fall on a different day each year, with the season of Lent preceding Easter by 40 days, symbolically the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, a period of grief and fasting. The final day of Shrove Tuesday has become associated with indulgence and merrymaking before the austerity of the Lenten season - a time to eat, drink, and be merry to excess before being historically forbidden by the Church for the following 40 days.

New Orleans is America's preeminent site of Mardi Gras, occurring this year on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 There would be no Fat Tuesday without excesses of food, New Orleans-style - you can find beignets, waffles, pancakes, crepes and the traditional King Cake, decorated in the traditional colors of green, gold and purple. Extravagant parades and floats are sponsored by the many krewes or community societies - beads, hand decorated throws, doubloons, baubles and candies are thrown to the crowds. The first parades traditionally begin on January 6th, or Twelfth Night, and this is known as the beginning of the Carnival season. The largest and most flamboyant of the krewes, Zulu, Rex and the Mardi Gras Indians are the final floats in the Mardi Gras parades. So mark Fat Tuesday on your calendar and don't forget to eat up meat, eggs and butter before the 40 days of reflection before Easter!

Being from Mississippi gives me a bit of a pull to the Coastal foods and customs. I still love dark chicory coffee, those Central Grocery muffulettas, piping hot beignets liberally dusted with confectioner's sugar, freshly made pecan pralines poured from a large copper vat, and the fun of people watching at the Cafe du Monde French Market My grandfather would often take me with him when calling on customers - I developed a lifetime love of Galatoire's Restaurant, and the Garden District favorites Pascal's Manale and Commander's Palace. And I hope the Gulfport Yacht Club, washed away in Katrina, still has their delicious recipe for gumbo!

MARDI GRAS PANCAKES

I love these dripping with a butter pecan topping. Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium high heat. Beat together 2 eggs, ½ cup melted butter, one cup whole milk buttermilk and 2 tsp. vanilla in large bowl. Set aside. Sift in separate bowl 2 cups flour, ? cup sugar, 3 tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. each baking powder and salt, then stir into liquid mixture, adding more buttermilk if needed. Scoop ? cup onto hot buttered or greased skillet, turn when bubbles form, and cook through.

BUTTER PECAN TOPPING

Finely chop ½ cup fresh pecans, then spread on a baking sheet and toast at 350F 6-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted. Mix with ½ cup melted butter and serve with pancakes, waffles or as a topping for chocolate-filled crepes.

Another delicious pre-Lenten supper is JAMBALAYA In a large Dutch oven, cook over medium heat one large diced onion, one medium diced each green and red pepper, 3 grated pods garlic, 8 ounces andouille sausage in 3 T. canola oil until vegetables are softened. Stir in one diced raw chicken breast, one cup diced ham (smoked or not), 1 T. Jambalaya seasoning (like Slap 'yo Mama or Paul Prudhomme), 1 ½ cups long grain rice, 2 ½ cups water, 2 tsp. chicken base, S&P to taste. Stir well and simmer with the top on about 25-35 minutes until the rice is done and chicken is cooked through. Turn off stovetop. Stir in 16 peeled and deveined 16-20 whole shrimp or one pound crayfish tails, 2 cups defrosted frozen okra (optional)and 3-4 green onions, sliced. Replace the lid and let the residual heat cook the seafood and okra 5-10 minutes. Stir and serve with crusty French bread and Maque Choux

MAQUE CHOUX

This vegetable dish is very easy and delicious, especially in the summer with fresh vegetables. In a large skillet, melt 4T butter. Stir in 2 cups corn - fresh is best, although frozen, roasted, or drained canned can be used - one half chopped green pepper, one half chopped red pepper, one small chopped onion. Add several tablespoons of water, S&P to taste and jalapeño to taste if desired. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, adding more liquid if needed.

Vanessa serves up yummy recipes for every season