Celebrating Mardi Gras with International Flavors at Universal Studios
After the long shutdown in 2020 and the cancellation of so many events, we were overjoyed to attend the Mardi Gras Celebration at Universal Studios Florida. Due to social distancing, the 2021 event has been altered, but in a good way! While the theme park made the decision not to offer nightly parades as in the past, Mardi Gras is still being celebrated in full force.
The annual event, Mardi Gras, has always been a festival of color, music, performers, parades and food. At the 2021 event, almost all of these elements are still in place. In the past, the Mardi Gras activities were located mainly in the New York and Production Central areas in the park. This year, Mardi Gras has grown to cover every area of the park. The event has been so popular, that it has been extended through April 11, 2021.
Fantastic Eats and Where to Find Them at Universal Orlando 2021
Entertainment and Street Performers
As you approach the Universal Studios arch, you'll hear Zydeco music being piped in to celebrate the New Orleans Mardi Gras tradition. Dancers and stilt walking street performers continue to entertain and are available for guest selfie photos and jazz marching bands appear at various times playing N'awlins tunes.
Parade Floats
Instead of the popular nightly parades, single parade floats have been placed throughout the park and on these floats, masked performers of all types make appearances and throw beaded trinkets from the floats to the crowds who stand on social distancing markers. Occasionally, a marching jazz band will appear on the floats for more entertainment in the N'awlins style.
International Food Festival
The real star of this year's celebration is food! At stations located in every area of the park with tastings from many areas of the world! Of course, the largest selection of items is at the New Orleans kiosks. Being from New Orleans where we can get these samplings, we were delighted with the tastes of other international booths such as Germany, Italy, Canada, Brazil and more although most of these items have nothing to do with Mardi Gras.
Tasting lanyards are available for purchase. Guests can purchase a lanyard for $55 and include 10 items including adult beverages. Annual pass holders get an even better lanyard deal. If you show your annual pass, you can purchase a lanyard for $65 and includes 15 items. That's a little over $4 per item and most items cost more than that! *Some items are an extra charge.
The Tribute Store
Themed Tribute Stores at annual events have become an attraction at Universal Studios and the Mardi Gras Tribute Store doesn't disappoint. The store is made up of themed rooms featuring a swamp, cemetery and a pirate ship. Check out this video tour:
Other savory and sweet treats to sample can be found in the tribute store (try the Praline Sandwich cookie) and full service restaurants in the parks and CityWalk have added Mardi Gras menu items.
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| Pastry Wrapped Andoille Sausage from the Tribute Store |
Here's a list of items available:
Bahamas
Jerk Chicken(GF)- $7.99-Jerked marinated chicken, rice & peas, scotch bonnet salsa
Jerk Jackfruit(GF, VG)- $7.49-Jerked marinated jack fruit, rice & peas, scotch bonnet salsa
Drink Menu
Goombay Smash - $7.00-9oz Bahamian rum punch
Carib Lager - $5.00-9 oz International pilsner
Belgium
Belgium Liege Waffles(V)- $4.49-Sweet liege waffles with strawberries, whipped cream, chocolate
Brussels Frites with Roasted Garlic Veganaise(GF, VG)- $3.99-Crispy seasoned fries with 3 dipping sauces: garlic vegenaise, andalouse and joppiesaus
Drink Menu
Hoegaarden Witbier - $5.00-9oz Belgian wheat beer
St. Bernardus Abt. 12 - $9.00-9oz Belgian quadruple, Abbey ale
Lindemans Strawberry Lambic - $9.00-9oz Fruited sweet and sour ale
Brazil
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| Moqueca de Camarão - lovely light flavors |
Moqueca de Camarao(GF)- $5.49-Shrimp coconut cream stew, white rice, sweet potato curls
Stuffed Coxinha - $5.49-Crispy pulled chicken tear drop fritters
Brigadeiros(GF, V)- $4.49-Brazilian classic with condensed milk, cocoa powder, chocolate sprinkles, toasted peanuts
Drink Menu
Pineapple Caipirinha Punch - $7.00-9oz Cachaça and pineapple flavors
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| Strawberry Caipirinha Punch-very resfreshing |
Strawberry Caipirinha Punch - $7.00-9oz Cachaça and strawberry flavors
Mixed Caipirinha - $7.00-9oz blend of pineapple and strawberry caipirinhas
Canada
Beef Short Rib Poutine - $7.99-Crispy fries with short rib, cheese curds, demi glaze
Nutella Doughnut(V)- $6.49-Fried sweetened dough, Nutella, sugar, chopped hazelnuts
Maple Doughnut(VG)- $6.49-Fried sweetened dough, cinnamon sugar, maple syrup
Drink Menu
Sugar Shack Springtime Punch - $5.00-9oz complex Canadian whiskey punch with a base of pear juice
Labatt Blue - $5.00-9oz International pilsner
Colombia
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| Watch as the chef grills the arepas |
Carnitas Arepas(GF)- $9.25-Corn meal cake pocket filled with avocado, carnitas, mayonnaise, ketchup, culantro
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| Beef Picadillo Arepas-these were very tasty although a little greasy. |
Beef Picadillo or Pollo Arepas(GF)- $9.25-Corn meal cake filled with savory beef or shredded chicken, mayo ketchup, cilantro
Queso Arepas(GF, V)- $8.25-Corn meal cake filled with white shredded cheese, mayo ketchup, cilantro
Drink Menu
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| Coco Loco |
Coco Loco - $5.00-9oz Limonada de Coco spiked with rum and tequila
Limonada de Coco - $4.00-9oz Limeade sweetened with coconut cream (non-alcoholic)
Cuba
Cuban Sandwich - $7.99-Roasted pork, Serrano ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, pickles on Cuban bread served with plantain chips
Cuban Flan(GF, V)- $4.49-Baked vanilla custard, dark caramel
Plantain Chips(GF, VG)- $3.50
Drink Menu
Cuba Libre-9oz Rum and Coke
Choice of: Bacardí 8 Year - $7.00, Bacardí 4 Year - $6.00, Bacardí Light - $5.00
Cuban Coffee - $3.49
France
Poached Pear Crème Brulee Crepe(V)- $8.99--Red wine poached pear, vanilla pastry cream, toasted almonds, caramel, crispy sugar topping
Drink Menu
Vidal Fleury Cotes du Rhone Blanc - $6.00-3oz White wine
Notorious Pink - $6.00-3oz Slightly sweet rosé wine
Vieux Chateau Lamothe Bordeaux - $6.00-3oz Red wine
Famille Perrin Cotes du Rhone - $6.00-3oz Red wine
Germany
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| Vegan Bratwurst |
Vegan Bratwurst with Beer Braised Onions(VG)- $8.99-Vegan bratwurst, beer braised onions, spicy mustard, warm baguette
Bratwurst with Beer Braised Onions - $8.99-Bratwurst, beer braised onions, spicy mustard, warm baguette
Bavarian Pretzel(V)- $8.49-Warm pretzel, spicy mustard cheese sauce
Pork Schnitzel Slider - $5.99-Fried pork cutlet, spicy mustard, braised red cabbage, gruyere cheese
Drink Menu
Weihenstephaner Kristalweissbier - $6.00-9oz Clarified wheat beer
Weihenstephaner Vitus - $7.00-9oz Strong wheat, bock hybrid lager
Aecht Schlenkerla Marzen Rauchbier - $7.00-9oz Smoked Märzen Oktoberfest-style lager
T Schmidt Riesling Kabinett, Estate - $7.00-9oz Sweet white wine
Italy
Italian Rainbow Cookie(V)- $4.49-Colorful layers of almond cake sandwiched with raspberry jam and coated in chocolate
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| Italian Rainbow Cookie-my favorite sweet of the day |
Cannoli(V)- $4.99-Italian pastry shell, chocolate chip cannoli cream, chocolate shavings
Arancini(V)- $5.99-Fried risotto, wild mushrooms, truffle, parmesan cheese
Drink Menu
Affogato(GF, V)- $5.99-Vanilla gelato served with a double shot of espresso
Fantinel - $6.00-3oz Prosecco
Vietti Moscato d’Asti - $6.00-3oz Slightly sparkling sweet white wine
Querceto Chianti - $5.00-3oz Red wine
Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo - $5.00-3oz Red wine
New Orleans
Crawfish Boil(GF)- $10.99-Mix bag of crawfish, andouille, red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob
Shrimp Boil(GF)- $10.99-Mix bag of shrimp, andouille, red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob
Crawfish & Shrimp Boil(GF)- $12.99-Mix bag of shrimp, andouille, red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob
Jambalaya(GF)- $5.99-Mixed rice with andouille, shrimp, chicken, peppers, tomatoes
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| The Muffaletta-a tasty sandwich but not entirely authentic |
Muffaletta Sandwich - $7.99-Mortadella, salami, ham, mozzarella cheese, olive relish on a toasted bun
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| Shrimp gumbo-could use extra seasoning |
Shrimp Gumbo - $5.49-New Orleans style gumbo with Gulf shrimp, bacon, andouille sausage, okra, bell peppers
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| Étouffée-my least favorite because not one crawfish in it |
Etouffee - $5.49-New Orleans style creamy stew with crawfish, bell peppers, white rice
Beignets(V)- $5.99-Sweet fried pastry with powdered sugar
Andouille Twisted Tater(GF)- $10.99-Stuffed Cajun twisted tater, sausage. Add andouille queso for $2.00
Twisted Tater(GF, VG)- $7.99-Flavored with Cajun spices
Drink Menu
Abita Purple Haze - $5.00-9oz Raspberry fruited lager (my favorite beer!)
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| Tropical Storm Punch-Quite refreshing |
Tropical Storm Punch - $6.00-9oz traditional Mardi Gras cocktail incorporating rum, orange and passionfruit flavors
King Cake Milk Punch - $6.00-9oz bourbon milk punch using our house-made King Cake syrup
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| 9 oz Bloody Mary |
Bloody Mary 9oz Wild Bloody Mary - $7.00, 24oz Wild Bloody Mary - $18.00 (not on the lanyard)
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| 24 oz. Bloody Mary |
9oz Mild Bloody Mary - $7.00, 24oz Mild Bloody Mary - $18.00 (not on the lanyard)
Vieux Carré Coffee - $4.00-Cold brew coffee, king cake syrup, lemon juice
Bourbon Street Coffee - $7.00-Jack Daniel's Whiskey, cold brew coffee, king cake syrup, lemon juice
Puerto Rico
Pernil & Mofongo (GF)- $5.99-Roasted pork, smashed plantains, onion mojo
Picadillo Empanada - $6.99-Picadillo beef filled fried pastry dough
Quesito(V)- $3.99-Guava and cream cheese filled fried pastry
Drink Menu
Piña Verde - $7.00-9oz twist on the classic piña colada incorporating green chartreuse
Spain
Paella Mixta (GF)- $5.99-Saffron yellow rice, chorizo, squid, mussels, shrimp
Charcuterie - $6.99-A traditional platter of Spanish meats and cheese, olives, grapes, lavosh
Leche Frita (V)- $5.49-Crispy fried with condensed milk, vanilla, cinnamon
Drink Menu
Pinord “La Dama” Cava - $5.00-3oz Sparkling wine
Don Olegurio Albarino - $7.00-3oz White wine
Hacienda de Arinzano Rosé - $7.00-3oz Tempranillo-based rosé wine
Hazaña Viñas Viejas Rioja - $7.00-3oz Red wine
Trinidad and Tobago
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| Pholourie-The chutney sauce was very good |
Pholourie(VG)- $5.99-Deep fried spicy split pea dough with turmeric, curry powder and a side of tamarind chutney or powdered sugar
Pineapple Trini Chow(VG)- $4.29-Grilled pineapple skewers, spices, micro cilantro
Drink Menu
Queen’s Park Swizzle - $7.00-9oz National cocktail of Trinidad and Tobago; minted dark rum grog with a light float of Angostura bitters
Carib Lager - $5.00-9oz International pilsner
My favorites:
Brazil: Moqueca de Camarão
Canada: Beef Short Rib Poutine
Columbia: Beef Picadillo Arepa
Germany: Pork Snitzel Sliders, Bratwurst
Italy: Italian Rainbow Cookie, Affogato
New Orleans: Wild Bloody Mary 24 oz, King Cake Milk Punch, Andouille Twisted Tater, Abita Purple Haze beer
Spain: Paella, Charcuterie
Least Favorites:
New Orleans: Gumbo and Étouffée
Trinidad and Tobago: Pholourie
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