Ellington

When Mardi Gras, which is Tuesday, Feb. 17, this year, falls around Valentine's Day, it makes both holidays more special. If you don't want to cook for Valentine's Day or fight the crowds in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, local restaurants and food shops have you covered.

CAET Wine Bar

(3100 N. State St., Suite 102, 601-321-9169)

CAET will serve up a four-course Valentine's Day dinner with optional wine pairings. The restaurant will take reservations but will have a roped-off section of the restaurant just for couples wanting to come in for a drink. All items on the menu will be available a la carte and menu details are pending. Some regular menu items will be available. The dinner starts at 5 p.m. and is $65 per person.

Campbell's Bakery

(3013 N. State St., 601-362-4628)

Campbell's will have heart-shaped iced teacakes by the dozen, petit fours and caramel blondies in a jar for Valentine's Day, and King cake for Fat Tuesday.

La Brioche

(2906 N. State St., 601-988-2299)

For Valentine's Day, La Brioche will have Valentine-themed raspberry, chocolate and coffee macarons, as well as special Valentine chocolates. For Mardi Gras, try the mini Sophia cake, made with white chocolate ganache, vanilla mouse, black currant gelee and chocolate cake. The patisserie also has Mardi Gras-themed lemon macarons in purple and green colors.

Nandy's Candy

(1220 E. Northside Drive, 601-362-9553)

For Valentine's Day, Nandy's Candy offers chocolate hearts in white, dark or milk chocolate. Order yours by Feb. 12. The shop also has other Valentine's Day-themed treats including chocolate-covered strawberries, jelly beans and lollipops. For more information, find Nandy's Candy on Facebook.

Saltine Oyster Bar

(622 Duling Ave., 601-982-2899)

This Valentine's Day, Saltine will have a special menu that includes dishes such as lobster cavateli, poached oysters, Sara's S'mores Cake and a lovers shellfish tower. You don't have to make a reservation, but it's first come, first served.

Broad Street Baking Company

(4465 Interstate 55 N., Suite 101, 601-362-2900)

For Valentine's Day, Broad Street Baking Company offers a chocolate-covered strawberry Valentine's Day King cake. The bakery will only have 200, so it's best to pre-order yours.

For Mardi Gras, Broad Street will offer its famous almond- and cream-cheese King cake along with a specialty crawfish and jalapeno-cheddar-brioche King cake with cream cheese. The bakery will also have Mardi Gras-themed sugar cookies shaped like masks, fleur-de-lis and crowns.

Sal & Mookie's Pizza & Ice Cream Joint

(565 Taylor St., 601-368-1919)

Sal & Mookie's is hosting its annual Lundi Gras Beer Dinner with Bayou Teche Brewing Monday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. The dinner is $65 per person. The pizzeria will have a NOLA-inspired menu paired with Bayou Teche brews.

The menu includes grilled chuck burger sliders with smoked Gouda cheese, honey-pepper bacon and chipotle barbecue sauce, paired with Loup Garou; pizza topped with fried crawfish tails, ricotta, mozzarella, andouille sausage, green onions and Creole seasoning paired with Saison D' Ecrevisses; and Broad Street Baking Company's King cake paired with Persimmon Sour. For more information, visit salandmookies.com.

Shucker's on the Rez

(116 Conestoga Road, Ridgeland, 601-853-0105)

On Feb. 17, Shucker's will host a Fat Tuesday featuring free beads, masks and King cake. Plenty of Cajun cooking will be on the menu, including red beans and rice, jambalaya, muffalettas, grilled oysters, shrimp Creole and seafood gumbo. Snazz will perform on the main stage starting at 7 p.m., and Brewer & Herd will be on the deck. No cover charge required to attend.

Underground 119

(119 S. President St., 601-352-2322)

Jesse Robinson and His Legendary Friends will perform at Underground 119 Feb. 17 for the Mardi Gras Bash. Underground 119 will be giving out free King cake to all attendees. The evening will also honor two local musicians—Bruce Howard and Bob Pieczyk—for everything they've done for Jackson's music scene. For more information, visit underground119.com.