From WLOX (by Steve Phillips, air date 1/21/2010):

PICAYUNE, MS (WLOX) – The big football game this Sunday is welcome lagniappe for south Mississippi’s premier king cake maker.

Paul’s Pastry of Picayune is already extremely busy during the Mardi Gras season. But the Saints-Vikings match-up has the popular bakery working overtime.

Mardi Gras is the equivalent of the Super Bowl for the king cake business at Paul’s Pastry.

“During Mardi Gras season from January second until Mardi Gras day, we’ll sell between 50,000 and 52,000 king cakes,” said owner Sherri Thigpen.

Add the Saints playing for a Super Bowl berth against Brett Favre no less; that’s icing on the king cake.

“Everything is going on. It’s crazy this week with the Saints winning. It’s great for the economy. We’re doing king cakes, we’re doing cakes, we’re doing deli trays and party trays. All kind of stuff. It’s wonderful,” said the owner.

You might say Paul’s is rolling in the, well, you know. And for anyone who’s ever tasted a bite of their tasty king cakes, that’s no ordinary dough or king cake.

“They’re very colorful and tasty, yes. We have a little bit of different dough, our dough is a little heavier, we have more of a sweetbread dough and because of that, it holds the filling in inside the king cake,” said Thigpen.

Mardi Gras makes it crazy busy in the giant commercial kitchen. The big football match-up prompted Paul’s pastry team to turn out some special cakes for the Who-Dats and Viking fans.

“We’re doing Saints king cakes and Viking king cakes. We want the Saints to win, but we gotta love Brett’s coming home,” said the owner.

Read full story at www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=11861654.