NOLA Voodoo Tavern

Mardi Gras in Denver

Shrimp poboys and crawfish etouffee were on our minds as Sue and I, in our purple, gold, and green beads, headed South to Denver this morning. We were checking out a restaurant I had only recently read about, in search of fried shrimp poboys and crawfish etouffee. It’s not often you find shrimp, crawfish…..and as it turns out, alligator on the menu in northern Colorado!

The north winds were wicked and the Rocky Mountains to the west were draped in their capes of snow, white and glistening in the sunlight and temperatures in the high 40s. For several days I had been receiving emergency weather alerts warning of a quick winter blast with five inches of snow overnight. The only weather event that materialized was this wind storm, 35 mph winds with 50-60 mph gusts rocking our car.

Meanwhile, parades were rolling in the Crescent City in balmier 60- and 70-degree temperatures, but sadly for the revelers, weather was less than optimal there too. Thunderstorms were pelting the city, according to my weather app, with lightening and tornado threats. Winds were also 35 mph with 60 mph gusts shaking the floats.

NOLA Voodoo Tavern is a New Orleans-inspired bar and restaurant located in the historic Cole neighborhood north of downtown. It’s the real deal, serving Creole food, with authentic Southern hospitality. It is owned and operated by Henry Batiste, a New Orleans native whose kitchen serves homemade recipes perfected by his mom and grandma.

The first thing I noticed when we walked in is the New Orleans feel with exposed brick walls, Mardi Gras masks and fleur de lis adorning the walls. The bar and tables are glossy hand-finished wood (much of it done by Henry himself) with special perks like phone charging plugs and purse hooks.

“That’s lagniappe,” Henry grins, referring to a Louisiana concept of a little something extra thrown in.

Batiste moved to Denver from New Orleans after Katrina, opening the restaurant in 2015. “I moved here because I like to ski,” he admitted.

When we sat down, we were greeted by bartender and wait staff Mike in a colorful Mardi Gras crawfish t-shirt with the Voodoo Tavern logo on the back. “Happy Mardi Gras,” he said, handing us each a long strand of beads sporting an Abita beer doubloon. We went straight to fried okra with Bloody Marys followed by Abita Amber draft. I am not a big beer drinker, but I have always been partial to Abita, especially the amber. Abita beer was Louisiana’s first craft brewery in Abita Springs north of New Orleans. Their brews are made with fresh spring water. I noticed there was an Abita root beer on the menu as well.

The okra was tasty and perfectly fried as were the shrimp on the poboy made with crusty French bread, thinly shredded cabbage, pickles, and a tangy remoulade like sauce. We savored the trio of New Orleans favorites: chicken and sausage gumbo, red beans and rice, and crawfish etouffee.

NOLA Voodoo Tavern is located at 2222 Bruce Randolph Ave. near the corner of York. It is normally open Wednesdays – Sundays for lunch and dinner, closed Mondays/Tuesdays. This week they were open on Tuesday for an all-day Mardi Gras celebration including a band at night. The tavern hosts special events and private parties and can be a happening place on football game days.

Happy Mardi Gras Ya’ll! What did YOU do for Mardi Gras today? Tell us in comments! Were you wild on the streets of New Orleans? If you are an expat New Orleanian, I bet you know what it means to miss New Or-Leans! But I’m sure you followed some tradition or cooked up something special!