Mardi Gras will be celebrated all over the world on Feb. 16, but no one celebrates it like they do in New Orleans. When preparing for the festivity, N'awlins native Beth Bourgeois seemed the perfect choice to give party advice as she shares several recipes for Louisiana fare.

"Mardi Gras is a time of celebration," she said.

Beth's husband, Daniel, is also a New Orleans native. Beth is well-versed on Mardi Gras season that begins on Epiphany, the 12th Day of Christmas, also called Carnival Season.

Epiphany or "King's Day," marks arrival of the three wisemen in Bethlehem to honor the Christ child. In New Orleans, traditionally King Cake was eaten between 12th Night and Ash Wednesday. Beans or coins were often hidden inside the cake, but around the mid-1800s the custom changed to hide a small baby figure to represent the Holy Day.

"Now you can get King Cake all year round, but typically when I grew up you waited for King Cake. So that (Epiphany) was the first day you had King Cake," she said.

Carnival season culminates on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday as it is translated from French, with a variety of celebrations that include music, balls, parades, floats and lots of excitement.

"Mardi Gras is always the day before Ash Wednesday. You throw a huge party before you give up something for Lent," Beth said, explaining that Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, which begins on Feb. 17.

"I guess we just look for any excuse to have a party," she added with a laugh.

Typically, unless your house is near the parade route in New Orleans, you bring food and set up on the street tailgate-style nearby. "We love an excuse to eat and drink outside and visit with someone," she said.

This year for Mardi Gras, Beth shares her recipes for seafood salad and traditional New Orleans gumbo.

The gumbo is roux-based to which she adds onion, bell pepper, and celery - "The Trinity" as it's referred to in New Orleans. A variety of meats can be used depending on the type of gumbo. Andouille sausage, seafood, turkey, chicken and duck are a few variations on gumbo.

"(Gumbo is) sort of one of those things that will take anything. I guess the most traditional New Orleans would be crabmeat with shrimp and sometimes oysters," said Beth.

During Mardi Gras, get a taste of New Orleans with Beth's seafood salad or gumbo. But don't forget the most important ingredient - share it with someone.

"Our lives revolve around food a good bit and reasons to visit with friends," Beth said.