Carnival season officially starts January 6, 2019, with the Feast of Epiphany. That means now is the time to make your New Orleans travel plans and book a room at your favorite New Orleans Bed & Breakfast. One of the most compelling reasons to come is the food.

The Feast of Epiphany is traditionally celebrated on the twelfth day after Christmas, and marks the Biblical Magis’ visit to the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. For centuries, many cultures have celebrated the Feast of Epiphany with a King Cake, known as Galette des Rois in France. These cakes hold a treasure inside – historically a gold coin among the wealthy and a fava bean among the poor today often a ceramic or plastic charm; the lucky person who bites into the treasure has the honor of hosting the next King Cake Party. The tradition of King Cakes in New Orleans extends back to the eighteenth century, brought by the French and Spanish who settled here. Not surprisingly, New Orleans has made the King Cake its own.