New Orleanians have a tendency to regionalize everything, and Thanksgiving is no exception. Sure, we gather around a turkey with the whole family, but we distinguish ourselves through our side dishes, marinades, pies, and the stuffing vs. dressing debate. 

Local grocers scramble to prepare their Thanksgiving fare ahead of time, and Rouses Marketing Director Tim Acosta said what makes Louisiana special is their abundance of resources. 

Right around the time that the wait for King Cake was over, New Orleans was forced to question whether we had in fact backtracked to that pre-Christmas season of waiting called Advent instead of moving ahead to the time of pagan revelry, as we were required to keep vigil for yet another treat. The word went out to the masses that King Cake Vodka was on its way. In the early days, a few lucky players got to try the spirit,. But the rest were left to keep offering Jello shots at early Carnival parties. According to the founder of the company who produces the spirit, however, the wait will be over this week.