Mardi Gras is the debauchery-filled festival in New Orleans involving beads, floats, flashing and food. Plan Check chef Ernesto Uchimura honored Mardi Gras by creating a deluxe NOLA Burger for both locations. This special burger tied together several of the Crescent City’s key ingredients and culinary traditions.

For the $14 burger, Uchimura starts with a juicy patty starring sweet shrimp. He spices the blend with Cajun seasonings like paprika, cayenne, onion powder, garlic, oregano, and thyme. Next comes a layer of crisp, smoky Andouille relish tossed with the Cajun cooking Trinity: onions, celery and bell peppers. Thin-sheathed, deep-fried okra sport a beer batter that utilizes Abita Restoration Pale Ale from Louisiana. Tangy, creamy remoulade spread is a nod to the city’s French culinary influence. Plan Check’s signature panko bun and a cast iron serving vessel complete the picture. The only negative is NOLA Burger’s limited availability, with a Fat Tuesday expiration date…unless Plan Check decides to celebrate Mardi Gras year-round.