Taste-testing Emeril's, Frank Brigtsen's king cake collabs
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It's king cake season in New Orleans, and we kickstarted the fun by taste-testing new collaborations between NOCCA and Emeril Lagasse and chef Frank Brigtsen.
Why it matters: This is a short Carnival season, so we have to make every king cake count.
Catch up quick: The NOCCA kitchen is known for its signature gluten-free cinnamon and satsuma almond cakes, but the creative arts school also collaborates for special recipes, too.
- It did that last year with the krewe of Muses, crafting the "The Goddess," a sparkling blue cake with goat cheese, candied orange and toasted walnuts. That's back for 2026.
Zoom in: The 2026 lineup features a banana cream pie king cake inspired by the iconic dessert from Lagasse's flagship restaurant, and Brigtsen's strawberry tres leches cake.
- Both are available for a limited time.
Dig in: We tasted the star chef collab cakes on Kings Day, and both featured NOCCA's signature sweet brioche.
- But the fillings are what distinguished them. Though each have custard or cream, the addition was delightfully delicate rather than gloppy, which let the individual fruit flavors gently shine.
Get yours by ordering online.
