On the evening of Feb. 5, 2026, families and groups of friends traveled to Mustard Seed Creamery, near the center of the Denham Springs Antique District, to support a king cake tasting event celebrating the upcoming Mardi Gras season.
Mustard Seed Creamery, owned by Tim and Tasha Levert, has been centered on building community and supporting local activity since its beginning. The creamery regularly hosts events that benefit others, including Pokeno nights with entry fees donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and “First Friday” markets that provide exposure for small businesses and independent creators in the area.
As night descended over the district, interior lamps cast a warm glow across dozens of pinewood tables while the scent of icing and cinnamon settled over the room. Wearing Mardi Gras beads in purple, green, and gold, guests found their seats and were greeted with printed sheets detailing the bakeries participating in the event.
Each sheet served as a rating card, allowing attendees to score each king cake on dough, texture, icing, sugar, and filling, with space for written commentary.
While 10 bakeries were originally listed, only eight king cakes were available for tasting due to unforeseen complications. DuBroc Cakes and Little Cajun Bakery were unable to participate in the tasting portion of the event. Of the eight king cakes sampled, five were made by local bakeries, with the remaining three provided by nearby markets.
Each participating bakery donated two king cakes to the event. Tim Levert explained that Mustard Seed Creamery had offered to pay for all donated king cakes, but the bakeries were eager to give back to the community.
Before tasting began, Levert addressed the crowd to thank attendees for supporting Mustard Seed and the bakeries and stores involved. He also shared a brief history of the event, noting that a similar tasting held in 2025 drew about 30 people. This year’s turnout far exceeded that number, filling the space with an enthusiastic crowd.
Following Levert’s remarks, the taste testing began with samples from Les Amis Bake Shoppe and Sweet Time Bakery.
Les Amis’ submission was described as classically traditional, featuring a good crumb and texture, with pecans added to the dough for an extra crunch.
Sweet Time’s king cake, while less popular with children in attendance, stood out among adults for its almond-flavored icing, which several tasters said tasted “like a wedding cake.”
Between the first and second tasting rounds, patrons were invited to participate in Creamery Feud: Mardi Gras Edition, a local twist on the game show Family Feud. Teams formed by table, with names such as “Sweet Divas,” “Chicken Nuggies,” and “Seal Squad (S²).”
The game spanned three rounds, challenging teams to name the top king cake fillings, popular Mardi Gras associations, and common traditions involving the baby hidden inside the cake. The GlenSonChelleWattDel team ultimately claimed victory for its consistent high scores.
The second round of samples featured king cakes from Aucoin’s Bakery, Sourdoughable, and Rouses Supermarket.
Aucoin’s submission earned praise for its soft, moist dough and strawberry filling, which paired well with the Cava sparkling wine offered as part of the optional wine pairing experience.
Rouses Market took a similar approach with its strawberry-filled king cake, which one patron described as “rich,” noting that the strawberry flavor stood out more strongly than in other cream cheese blends.
Sourdoughable offered a bolder variation, with tasters describing hints of lime or lemon and a refreshingly light finish that left a subtle “green” aftertaste.
The final tasting round included submissions from Oak Point Fresh Market, Olive Sweets, and Carter’s Supermarket.
Oak Point Fresh Market’s king cake received multiple “10/10” remarks for its classic cinnamon filling, buttercream, and carefully decorated Mardi Gras icing.
Olive Sweets emerged as an unexpected fan favorite with its biscoff cookie king cake, prompting several attendees to comment that “you keep biting it and it gets better and better.”
Carter’s blueberry cream cheese king cake drew mixed reactions. Some praised the thickness and intensity of the filling, while others described the texture as closer to jam.
After the final tasting round, patrons were invited to participate in musical bingo. Before long, families and friends were singing along to “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks. When “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins played, both adults and children filled the central walkway, dancing and singing along.
As the evening concluded, attendees were offered remaining king cake slices to take home and share with their families, bringing the event to a sweet close.
