and TV show, beamed live from the 1924 Liberty Theater. We
went in the afternoon to this rice farming community 40 miles
northwest of Lafayette to first visit the Prairie Acadian Cultural
Center. One of six sites comprising Jean Lafitte National
Historical Park, it is dedicated to preserving the culture of
“prairie Cajuns” who settled the inland region of southern
Louisiana and were dependent upon farming for their survival.
As something of a Cajun rendition of Grand Old Opry with a
bit of Prairie Home Companion tossed in for good measure,
“Rendez Vous des Cajuns” kept us tapping and clapping for
hours. We soon joined the crowd ourselves to boogie to the
rousing rhythms of national recording artist, Steve Riley & the
Mamou Playboys. More bon temps!
There could be no more fitting aprés-theater feast than at one
of the temples of Cajun cuisine, Prejean’s in Lafayette. Like the
cavernous dining room — decked out with Acadiana and
crowned with a huge stuffed alligator — the menu here is big
and exotic, featuring dishes such as crawfish enchiladas, grilled
alligator and smoked duck and andouille gumbo, that you won’t
find on menus beyond the borders of Louisiana.
Comfortable in the knowledge I wouldn’t be confronting any
more alligators, I gave in to the desire to try the reportedly tasty
white meat of these swamp denizens, digging into a platter of
grilled ’gator filets. Although a bit unnerving at first bite, it has
the texture of pork and, true to the old saying, tastes a bit like
chicken. Couldn’t help it but as I stabbed a second chunk my
mind flashed back to Bayou Annie: “Come on baaaabies!
Peeeete! Saaaam! Come on sweeties!”
Owner/chef Cynthia Breaux presents her specialty, crawfish pie, at the critically acclaimed
Café des Amis in Breaux Ridge
The Presbytere (1856) graces historic Church Square in St. Martinville
For further information:
Louisiana Office of Tourism
P.O. Box 94291
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(800) 283-9161
www.louisianatravel.com
Tabasco
®
Factory
Avery Island, LA
Open daily
(337) 365-8173
www.tabasco.com
34 WELLINGTON LIFESTYLES
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