Brillat-Savarin Louisiana Story 3

Inaugural Brillat-Savarin Trip
A French Louisiana Culinary Adventure

Mardi

Mystique is a word that might be used to describe French Louisiana. We found what seemed to many of us the true meaning of the Cajun heritage during a visit to the Jean Lafitte Acadian Cultural Center, which tells the story of the Acadians who settled the prairies, bayous, and marshes of South Louisiana.

Adjacent to the center is Vermilionville. This Acadian/Creole folklife museum features authentic homes, a working blacksmith shop, a candy store, church, cooking demonstrations and tastes of foods prepared in the style of the early Acadians,. Our hungry group was welcomed to lunch at the River Oaks Conference Center, where the Granite Café provided fare representative of South Louisiana home cooking. The finishing touch on this "typical light lunch" was Gateau Syrop-syrup cake-a traditional recipe from the Acadians.

Slowly we boarded the bus for our next destination-Avery Island-where Edmund McIlhenny developed his original Tabasco sauce. We were late for our next date, but Miss Jackie promised she would wait for us at Oaklawn Manor, the plantation home of the current two-term governor. She has not missed a tour for 17 years and was full of stories about the house and the current governor.

The day's finale was a reception and dinner hosted by the Lafayette Hilton & Towers in cooperation with the Seelbach Hilton, Louisville, Kentucky. The marriage of Kentucky and Acadiana, c'était bon! From bourbon-smoked Louisiana trout to rack of lamb bathed in Steen's cane syrup with glazed smoked South Louisiana duck to chicory floating islands in Bourbon anglaise and sauce caramel, we experienced a five-star evening.

Continued . . .

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