This Year Universal’s Mardi Gras Is Bigger and Bolder

Courtesy Jessica Battisti

Universal Orlando Resort’s biggest bead-bedazzled and beignet-filled party kicked off Saturday. Now through April 4, Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval is bringing brand-new festivities and returning favorites to the theme park, from flavorful dishes to award-winning entertainment.

This year’s menu includes more than 40 dishes from 12 different countries — offering the usual New Orleans-inspired fare and some new and recurring international dishes, from classic beignets and po’boys to sfogliatella and ceviche.

Vice President Chef of Operations Jens Dahlmann said this year’s menu was heavily inspired by “live-fire cooking” — drawing inspiration from traditional cooking methods found on the streets of Carnaval in Brazil, Jamaica and (for the first time) Chile.

“It’s all about the authenticity and the quality of the ingredients,” Dahlmann said. “We are trying to push our culinary team to execute at a higher level, create those truly memorable experiences that then transport guests back to an experience they might have had. Food, for me, is all about memories, and it transports you back to places you’ve seen or things you’ve tasted.”

Courtesy Jessica Battisti

The Food

Dishes include the Chilean fire-roasted Velrasso salmon, Brazilian picanha, Chinese Mala beef skewers, Jamaican rasta pasta, Irish fish and chips and more.

Austria is also new to the menu, taking inspiration from Dahlmann’s German heritage for the Vienna-style pork schnitzel and kaiserschmarrn — a shredded, fluffy pancake topped with powdered sugar.

Puerto Rico plays a major role on the menu — from the return of the best-selling pinchos de lechon from last season to a brand-new dessert, coconut-pineapple flancocho (seen below). Dahlmann said there is “a lot of heart” in these dishes, crediting Executive Sous Chef of Research and Development Chris Colon and his Puerto Rican heritage.

Courtesy Jessica Battisti

“That’s a great thing at Universal, there is such a rich cultural base of team members, so we try to reach in and make sure team members have the ability to authentically represent their culture,” Dahlmann said.

King Gator-inspired float, courtesy Jessica Battisti

The Festivities

As for the festivities, the celebration will also include street performances and the highly anticipated nighttime parade. Twelve hand-crafted, colorful floats will be featured, including one inspired by King Gator. Parkgoers can mesh their dining and parade viewing together with the Ride and Dine Experience, offering a three-course meal and a spot on one of the floats.

To keep the gator theme going, Prince Gator — the son of King Gator and former plush and popcorn bucket — made his Mardi Gras debut in the flesh, making appearances throughout the park. Show Director Kelly Malik said bringing the character to life was an effort across different teams.

Prince Gator makes his Mardi Gras debut, courtesy Jessica Battisti

“It’s going to be pretty incredible for our guests to be able to get his autograph and a little cuddle with him; it’s going to be so fun,” Malik said.

This year’s live entertainment includes performances from the Brass & Beads Band and Honey Banister and the Mardi Gras Indians, along with 11 live big-name concerts at the Music Plaza Stage on select nights. The lineup includes performances from Zedd, Bebe Rexha, Portugal. The Man, The All-American Rejects, a DJ set from RuPaul and more.

“You’ll notice within all of the headliners, there’s a huge variety in what we’re offering this year, and that’s to get entertainment to all demographics,” Malik said.