Southern Decadence Starts NOW; MacCash on Zabstar Zalad

FRENCH QUARTER? The so-called "Gay Mardi Gras," Southern Decadence, starts tonight with a "wet jockey shorts" contest at the Corner Pocket, at the corner of St Louis and Burgundy Streets. The contest promises "20+ DANCERS WETTED DOWN AND DANCIN' ON THE BAR" and should prove to be a relatively mild prelude to this weekend's festivities. [EaterWire]

NEW YORK CITY? Zabar's, the famous grocery in Manhattan that had that little dust-up with a New Orleans reporter over the contents of its lobster salad, has changed the name from lobster salad to "zabster zalad." To which the local reporter, Doug MacCash, responds, "As a Louisiana dude, I just don’t see what’s wrong with the title 'Crayfish Salad.'" Of course, everyone and their mother knows it's crawfish, not crayfish. [TP]

FRENCH QUARTER? Venerable French Quarter landmark, Antoine's, will apparently be offering their COOLinary menu through September 30. This is exactly one month longer than the rest of the restaurants participating in the August deal-fest, which technically ends today. See the special menu here. [EaterWire]