Feb. 16, 2015
Audrey Jensen
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Clyde’s is no Bourbon Street and Colorado Springs is no New Orleans, but UCCS’ Dining and Food Services will host a Mardi Gras Celebration for students in Clyde’s on Feb. 17 from 5-9 p.m.
In 2014, OSA teamed with Sodexo to put together an event for Mardi Gras, but this year executive chef and associate director of Culinary Services Russ Saunkeah hopes to show students their gratitude for support during the transition away from Sodexo.
“We felt the need now as our own entity that it was important to give back to the campus community and provide a venue for some fun and music in a show of appreciation,” Saunkeah said in an e-mail.
Although food is not free for students, throughout the day Dining and Food Services will be serving dishes familiar to New Orleans such as jambalaya, gumbo and shrimp po’ boy sandwiches.
In addition to the food will be music and dancing. “The Pirogues,” featuring Saunkeah, will perform traditional New Orleans and Louisiana music. Saunkeah explained that a pirogue is a wooden boat used to weave around the backwaters and bayous of Louisiana.
“Mardi Gras is a worldwide celebration spanning many cultural diversities, but all rooted in the basic premise of celebrating life,” Saunkeah said.
Students are invited to wear masks and costumes. The music will begin at 5:30 p.m.
“Please come down and enjoy the food, the music and the fun atmosphere and ‘Laissez les bons temps rouler’ [Let the good times roll],” Saunkeah said.