Crab and Shrimp Sauce Picante'

Of all the wonderful meals that my mother prepared for our family, this one is my favorite. One bite of this rich delicious dish and you know that you're in heaven. Ca cest' bon, cher !

 Mama's Crab and Shrimp Sauce Picante'

2 lbs. medium shrimp (peeled and deveined) 

10 gumbo crabs (cleaned)

 or 1 lb. crab meat
5 tbsp.'s butter and 5 tbsp.'s flour
1 onion and 1 bell pepper (chopped fine)
3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp. or more Tony's Creole seasoning
1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies

Salt and Tabasco to taste
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1 bunch green onions (chopped)

3 bay leaves

1 cup warm water

Season the shrimp with 1 tbsp. of the Creole seasoning. In large Dutch oven, melt the butter on med. low heat and add the flour, stirring constantly, until light brown in color. Add the onions,bell pepper, and garlic and lower heat, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 5 more minutes. Slowly add water, the Tabasco, the remaining Tony's, and the bay leaves. Stir well and add the shrimp and simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the green onions, and parsley and crabs and simmer for about 20 more minutes. Discard bay leaves and serve over cooked rice, with a fresh garden salad. Serves 6

Another Great Weekend

Well, hopefully ya'll have recouped from the Festival Acadiens and are ready to go again. There is a great festival, this coming weekend in Lafayette, at Acadian Village, on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25. Louisiana's hottest folk roots bands, along with a variety of groups from all over the country will entertain the crowds. Cajun music legend, D.L. Menard and The Terry Huval Band will kick things off on Friday, at 6:30 p.m. With Fall temperatures predicted and sunny skies, it will be a pure pleasure to be outdoors and take in all of what the area has to offer. Get out and enjoy the wonderful festival atmosphere at the 3rd Annual Blackpot Festival and Cookoff, in Lafayette, at Acadian Village

 A few of the 19 regional bands slated to perform at the Blackpot Festival are The Racines, Feufollet, Balfa Toujours, and The Pine Leaf Boys, with the Red Stick Ramblers closing out the festival on Saturday night. And don't forget about the food. The Blackpot Festival celebrates the old fashioned Cajun way of cooking with black cast ironed pots, without electricity. This cook-off challenges chefs to make their best recipe and then share it with the lucky crowd. Tent camping will be offered, again this year, for those who enjoy camping. For a complete schedule and more details, check out: www.blackpotfestival.com

An Absolute Blast !

If you were one of the thousands of people who attended Festival Acadiens et Creoles, then you know that the popular festival turned out to be even more fun than you could have imagined. A record crowd, included visitors from California, New York, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, France, and many other places. They flocked in groves to hear the highly seasoned Cajun and Creole music. Those who had never danced a two step or a waltz , caught on fast, as they danced with the locals. So much fun!!!

New this year, was a third stage, La Salle de Danse, which had an actual dance floor and a tent. When I tried to get into the tent, to take a picture for this post, it was so crowded with dancers, that I couldn't get closer than ten feet from it. The energy was electric with the spicy sounds of Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Ramblers rockin the crowd. And once everyone discovered the Bayou Food Festival, it soon became clear why the Cajun Cuisine is world famous. Oh, cest bon, sha ! I could not pass up the Crawfish Poboys from the Bon Creole booth, nor the Seafood Jambalaya from Lagneaux's.

A lady in the line, behind me, asked me "What's a Poboy?" I immediately responded with, where are you from and have you ever had crawfish? So, I explained that a poboy is a Cajun Sub usually filled with shrimp, crawfish, oysters, or maybe sausage. I let her try a few of the succulent fried crawfish, from mine, and the Quebec native quickly ordered one. I'm sure that she really enjoyed it.
Great weather+ great music+ great food+ great people = an absolute blast. This year's Festivals Acadiens et Creoles was dedicated to Zachary Richard, a champion advocate of the Cajun people and culture.

Zachary Richard and Friends

Lassiez Les Bon Temps Rouler'

A day of great music and dancing was enjoyed by all, at Day 1 of Festival Acadiens et Creoles. Thousands enjoyed the beautiful weather , delectable cuisine, and of course, the nitty-gritty dancing and awesome music . Some of the best bands that Acadiana has to offer, thrilled the crowds with their foot stomping accordion and fiddle music. Strangers and friends, alike, shared a dance on the huge dance floor, which wasn't quite as dusty, this year. 

The Bayou Food Festival served up such delicacies as Crawfish Fettucini, Seafood Jambalaya, Alligator Bites, Crab Cakes, and Catfish Courtbouillion. And the Louisiana Crafts Fair presented over fifty fine artists and artisans. The best part is that we get to do it all again tomorrow. Come on down to Girard Park, in Lafayette, for a great time that will be long remembered. Sunday's festival kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with the unique sounds of the Magnolia Sisters. The Bluerunners take the stage at 1:30 p.m. and Wayne Toups and ZydeCajun will rock the crowd at 5:30 p.m. See ya'll there!

Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie

Time to Tailgate!

With Fall in the air and college football in full swing, it's time to plan your tailgating parties. It's all about family, friends, food, and football and having fun while making sure that everyone enjoys a feast before the big game. It's pre-game, halftime, post-game and just as popular, in homes, in front of the tube, as it is on college stadium parking lots. It's a great big celebration and tailgating has become a national obsession and it seems that there is no end to it's popularity. It has really turned into a whole industry with it's own cookbooks and catering and supply services. If you've ever been to a tailgating party in South Louisiana, you know that it's a party like no other. The top five tailgating recipes in Cajun country, for The Ragin' Cajuns and L.S.U., for the 2008 season are:

1. Hot and Spicy Barbeque Wings and Ribs
2. Cajun Jambalaya
3. Ragin' Cajun Burgers
4. South of the Border Chili
5. L.S.U. Gumbo

The secret that gives these wonderfully delicious burgers their zip is the Tabasco, horseradish, garlic blend. This combo really makes you want to drink an iced cold beer or two. Cheers, cher!

Ragin' Cajun Burgers

3 lbs. lean ground beef or turkey
2 tbs.'s Tabasco sauce
2 tbs.'s horseradish
2 tbs.'s minced garlic
2 tbs.'s Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp.'s salt
2 tsp.'s freshly ground black pepper
6 good burger buns
3 tbs.'s butter, melted

Place meat and all other ingredients in large bowl and mix gently, but thoroughly. Shape meat mixture into 6 patties and cover with foil and chill for one or more hours. (of course you can make smaller burgers if your appetite is not voracious or you do not have several young men over 6 ft. tall in your house) Preheat gas grill on medium- high heat or charcoal grill on medium- high and cook for 7 to 10 minutes on each side, for medium. Baste buns with melted butter and grill to the side for 5 minutes to toast. Garnish with lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles and enjoy, cher! Ca cest bon!!!

Click here for more tailgating delights

The Best of the Rest !

"The Best of the Rest" is a perfect descripition for the upcoming " Festivals Acadiens et Creoles", in Girard Park. Mark your calendars, Acadiana , for the ultimate Cajun Woodstock. This year's festival will be held on October 10-12, in Lafayette, Louisiana. The kick off to the popular festival will be held at Parc International, in downtown Lafayette, on Friday, October 10, 2008 and will begin at 5:30 p.m.

This special edition of Downtown Alive starts with the rockin sounds of Roddy Romero and the Hub City Allstars, at 5:30 p.m., followed by the infamous Zachary Richard, slated to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. This fabulous party is being presented by Quebec Delegation-Atlanta. Come on out and get in the festival spirit and get psyched up for the festival that celebrates everything Cajun and Creole.

The music, the food, the art, the culture, the people. This year's "Festival Acadiens et Creoles" will be held on Sat., October 11th and Sunday, October 12th, in Girard Park. It will host three different stages, providing a virtually non- stop music and dancing atmosphere. Many families set up gazebos where they barbeque and take the opportunity to visit and catch up with with old friends.

A few of the bands expected to perform at this year's festival are, Wayne Toups and ZydeCajun, The Bluerunners, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Balfa Toujours, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha-Chas, Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys, and the list goes on and on. In all, there will be 36 bands playing over the 2 day period.

And you won't want to miss the wonderful variety of food, that will be for sale by many of Acadiana's award winning Cajun and Creole restaurants. For the ultimate celebration of the Cajun and Creole cultures, this is it ! Be there or be square. See ya'll there!

Cajun Fried Catfish

 Another spicy Cajun favorite, Fried Catfish is a popular dish in Southwest Louisiana. I have many fond memories of weekends spent along the Vermilion Bayou, out on the boat, first catching, then cooking the catfish. If it was a big catch, we'd invite the whole family for a fish fry. Along with the fish, hush puppies and potato salad were served and maybe a cold beer or two.


2 pounds catfish fillets,
1 /8 cup each, yellow mustard and creole mustard
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp. milk
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and Tabasco to taste
1 tbsp. Tony's Creole seasoning
1/2 cup each of cornmeal and flour
2 cups vegetable oil

Wash fish and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt.
Combine mustard, egg and milk, Tony's seasoning, few drops of Tabasco, and garlic powder. Toss fish in mustard mixture. Combine cornmeal and flour. Dredge coated fillets in cornmeal and flour mixture.
Heat vegetable oil until very hot. Fry catfish fillets, a few at a time, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serves 6. Cest bon, cher!

Cajun Supermarket :: Your One Stop Cajun Shop!

Here We Go Again !

We never thought that it would happen again, much less only 3 years later. Most people who lost everything, to the flood ravaged area during Hurricane Rita, had really just started to get back to normal. It seems that with most of Louisiana's marsh land gone, after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in 2005', that there is nothing to stop the destructive storm surge from inundating the coastal areas of Louisiana.

Anyone who has seen the pictures of the devastation in Galveston, Texas can see the power of a direct hit with the latest breed of storms that the Gulf Coast has endured, in recent years. We too, must build a seawall, new levees, and replenish our wetlands or face the possibility of flooding again, with each big storm that comes our way. To see photos of storm damage and information on the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, click here

Fun on Saturday Mornings

If you're looking for a place where you can eat a good breakfast and get a little dancing in, too, Cafe' des Amis,' in Breaux Bridge, La., is perfect. Every Saturday morning, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the popular restaurant hosts a Zydeco breakfast, featuring a Zydeco band and breakfast entrees such as Eggs Begnaud with eggs, your way, and your choice of crawfish etouffee or crawfish au gratin, and homemade biscuits. Other favorites include grilled boudin patties, beignets, and couche couche. And, of course, lots of strong Louisiana coffee, or even a little champagne or beer.

 After a good breakfast, you are asked to kindly give up your table to make room for the dancers that didn't quite get enough dancing in, on Friday night. A great way to burn off any extra calories from the rich, decadent breakfast. True to Cajun tradition, the cafe' caters to locals and visitors alike. Conveniently located right off 1-10 East, at 140 E. Bridge Street, in Breaux Bridge. For a complete schedule and menu, click here.

Hurricane News

"Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best," was the mantra in Louisiana prior to Hurricane Gustav making landfall in Houma, La. The Category 2 storm made it's presence known in the entire state of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and now Arkansas. Thank God the hurricane lost some of it's strength, along the way and was a fast mover. Until today, that is. Gustav stalled out and continues to pound several states with torrential rain and occasional tornadoes.

We were so blessed, here in Lafayette. Many homes here, did not lose power, and the hub city only had sprinkles, today. But, many of our neighbors were not so lucky and and will take a long while to repair and rebuild. But surely with neighbor helping neighbor and families helping families, they will rebuild and take the lessons learned from Hurricane Gustav and apply them.

New Orleans was spared and the levees held thanks to many brave souls who through teamwork and determination, piled on the sandbags! But, more rain is expected in the cresent city. New Iberia has many flooded areas and St. Mary parish, home to many of my ancestors, bore the brunt of the damage. As anyone living along the gulf coast knows, hurricanes are a part of life, here. But, the strong , courageous people, who call Louisiana their home wouldn't want to live anywhere else.


For a complete review of Hurricane Gustav, Fema phone lines and for the latest news on the storm, Click Here