Festival Weekend Blow-Out ! - Day 4

On Saturday, after a wonderful breakfast of crawfish omelettes, fresh fruit, beignets, and bloody mary's, we headed downtown to the festival for Day 4! After four days, you become ONE with this glorious festival, and being there feels normal and whatever your previous life was, LBTF, (life before the festival), seems a distant memory. My dear bloggie friend, Joanne @ Whole Latte Life said it best, in a comment on my last post, "You have a veritable marathon of food, music, and fun going on"! And cher, believe me when I tell you that she's right! We started off at the Marche de Arts and Crafts Market and did a little shopping. I just couldn't resist this wonderful Fleur de Lis lamp (on right) for a hallway in my home. And a "WHO-DAT" t-shirt from the Alexander Art Studio booth.

We made the trek over to Scene Bacardi, just in time to catch "The Bluerunners Band" reunion show and they were really getting down, cher! Their fabulous Cajun-Zydeco-Punk-Rock- Gutbucket Blues style is off the charts! The crowd really enjoyed this rare performance. We sure miss you guys! This one's for you, Robert!

The Bluerunners

After all that dancing , I was ready for a nice frozen drink. I spotted the Fat Tuesday booth, (New Orleans Daiquiris) and had to make a decision about what to order. I made a new friend, while waiting in line. She was from Florida and ordered a Pina Colada and I got the Strawberry Daiquiri ! This was just heavenly, along with a beautiful breeze blowing in. We had such beautiful weather, for this year's festival, and it was really a pleasure be outdoors, so much. Especially to dance to live music, outdoors! So much FUN!!!




Then, it was time for a little Cajun cuisine, before the next show that I was really excited about seeing. The Pavilion de Cuisine was mobbed and there were long lines to wait in. But I knew what I wanted and that was a plus, and it gave me a chance to make a few phone calls, so I didn't mind waiting. This little guy, (on left) was handling the serving for his family's booth, at the Antler's Restaurant food booth. From left to right, that's crawfish etouffee, rice, and corn mache choux! Oh divine, cher! And a crawfish poboy from Bon Creole booth was excellent, too!

Then, we were ready to head back to Scene Bacardi, to see the legendary, Grammy nominated, "Henry Gray and the Cats". This band is one of the best New Orleans Blues bands in history, and they were really rockin' and rollin' the crowd!! Henry is 84 years young and has performed all over the country and the world for the last 30 years, and has been instrumental in "keeping the blues alive! Crank it up, cher!

Henry Gray and The Cats

After this great show, I left my friends , to walk over to the TV5 Monde Stage, where one of my dear daughter's, favorite bands were scheduled to play. I figured that I would find her there and sure enough , I did. A large part of this area was shady and many were taking a little siesta, before the band came on.

A short while later, Radio Radio, a half/ electro and half/ hip-hop group, from Quebec, took the stage and had the 20 somethings really dancing and wanting to tymer, all night long! My phone rang and it was mon cher amis calling to let me know that they were at the old Stan's Downtown, chillin' on the patio, and listening to a fantastic Cajun-Rock band.

So, I high-tailed it over there, and joined them! This fine group was playing on Stan's Downtown's patio and they were really kickin'! We had a round of cold drinks while we absorbed their eclectic style. Didn't get their name, but they sure were good! Let the good times roll, cher!

To be continued..........

Lots more to come! Stayed tuned for Day 5!
Merci for coming by, cher amis! Hope ya'll have a wonderful week!

Another Great Cajun Weekend !

It was a glorious fall weekend, in Cajun Country. Blue skies, sunny, and warm! We kicked off the weekend, on Friday, at the Bach Lunch in Parc Sans Souci, in downtown Lafayette. The Lost Bayou Ramblers entertained the crowd with their high spirited, traditional/eclectic Cajun tunes.

It's been such a pleasure to be outdoors with the beautiful weather that we've been having for over a week, now. Here is a clip of the Lost Bayou Ramblers playing to a front row of fans from the next generation of Cajun music lovers. The children are students from St. Cecilia Elementary School and they were on a field trip.

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The Giant Omelette Festival

Then on Saturday and Sunday, it was on to the Omelette Festival in Abbeville. The Giant Omelette Celebration was a blast with lots of good Cajun music and food! Abbeville really knows how to party! (click to enlarge)

Downtown Abbeville was packed with a rowdy crowd, and they went wild when the chefs started to saute "the trinity". ( 50 lbs of chopped onions, 85 bell peppers, and 100 stalks of celery) Add to this 50 lbs. of butter and crawfish! It was fabulous!

The arts and craft show in Magdalen Square
was one of the best that I've ever seen. !

These cheese stuffed, bacon-wrapped jalapenos from Azul Tequila Mexican Restaurant, were my faves. Cest bon!

Here's a clip I took of the chefs pouring in the 5,000 eggs and the members of the Tabasco Dance Troop, adding the hot sauce. Let the good times roll, cher!

Hope that ya'll had a fun weekend, too! Merci beaucoup for stopping by and for all of your great comments! I'll be back soon to share some of my favorite Cajun Thanksgiving recipes. Have a wonderful week, everyone!!

Spicy Crab and Shrimp Jambalaya + Weekend Lagniappe'

Here is one of the most sinfully delicious Cajun recipes of all time! With crabs in season, right now is the perfect time to make a big pot of this fabulous Louisiana favorite. It can easily stand on it's own as an entree with a big tossed salad and french bread, or it can be a delectable side dish to accompany another seafood dish. Oh cest bon, cher! One bite of this divine jambalaya will send you into orbit! This is a real guest pleaser and you will be asked for the recipe, I guarantee it! Enjoy! Le bon, manger, cher!

Spicy Crab and Shrimp Jambalaya

2 tbs.'s olive oil

1 lb. or more of medium shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1 lb. lump crab meat
1 cup, each, of "the trinity", (onions, celery, and bell peppers), chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups seafood or vegetable stock
1 large can crushed tomatoes w/ juice
 1 small can tomato sauce
2 cups uncooked rice
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. each, paprika and garlic powder
Tabasco to taste

In a large heavy pot, saute the shrimp, garlic and salt in the olive oil, for 5 minutes. Add the spices and the trinity and saute, while stirring, for 5 more minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add the crab meat and tomatoes w/juice, stir and bring to a boil. Lower heat, and add the rice, stir and simmer for 5 minutes, uncovered. Then add stock, tomato sauce, and Tabasco. Bring to a second boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring once, half way through. Add parsley during the last ten minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir gently before serving.
Serves 6 Bon Appetit!

Here's a little Festival Lagniappe' that I thought ya'll might enjoy with your jambalaya!
Let the Good Times Roll, Cher!

Cajun Jam w/ Roddie Romero and Friends

Keith Frank and the Soileau Family Band