Homewood Gourmet owner Chris Zapalowski with a king cake. Photo by Brooke Boucek.
Traditional New Orleans king cakes are available around Homewood.
The cake is traditionally eaten forthe Feast of Epiphany in January through the Mardi Gras Day, the day before Ash Wednesday. The hollow, circular shaped cakes represent a crown and are decorated with purple, green and gold colored sugar. These classic carnival colors represent justice, faith and power.
Inside each cake, a small prize is hidden, usually a plastic baby, pecan half or a dried bean. According to tradition, the person who finds the small prize is to provide the king cake at the next party.
Homewood Gourmet sells authentic King Cakes with an older Creole tradition prize of a half pecan. The plain cakes with cinnamon brown sugar are $25, while the cream cheese cakes are $30. The cakes are 16 inches and should serve about 15 to 20 people. Call 871-1620 to place an order.
Savages Bakery sells king cakes for $17.95 that should serve 6 to 8 people. The cake comes in cream cheese or cinnamon with the baby and decorative beading on top. Call 871-4901 to place your order.
Publix on Green Springs will be selling two different sized king cakes. The large ($7.49) serves about 15 people, and the smaller cake ($5.49) should serve 8 to 10 people. For more information, call 944-1101.
The Homewood Star 