Welcome to Louisiana!

 

 

Welcome to Louisiana! Or, rather, to this new column that promises all things southern, saucy, and spicy.

This column is my attempt to offer you a peek at what the state of Louisiana offers. The mission of this column is taken from New Orleans Daily Picayune writer Catharine Cole (ie: Martha R. Field) written in 1892:

“We shall never begin to truly succeed and prosper until we acquire a pride of state that can only be acquired by informing ourselves of our possessions. We are like the ignorant possessors of a priceless bit of old Delft-ware that we hide away in a sort of dishonor on a kitchen shelf until some connoisseur comes along and opens our eyes to its beauty and value. Did we but know it, we have the greatest state in the union.”

Chef Emeril reminds us that “There are 49 states; then there is Louisiana.” Few can deny that Louisiana is an enigma of all things colorful and versatile. Even fewer will deny the cultural flair and red hot cuisine that are trademarks of this state. We are a culture, a state all our own.  We are the spice that flavors this great melting pot called America. We know who we are and what we are.

I’d like to play a part in encouraging all of us to “open our eyes to its (Louisiana's) beauty and value.” In this recession, and due to the wrath of hurricanes in our area, it can be wearisome to look for the good in a state much less find it. We are discouraged, humbled, at a stalemate. 

But it’s time to pull up our bootstraps and remember who we are and what we are. We are not the bottomless end of a great nation. We are the boot!

I hope that this column will be a thing of “beauty and (most especially) value” to the people who live here. I hope it offers you a sense of “pride of state” that Catharine Cole encouraged people to have back in 1892. I hope it informs you of the possessions that are here in this state. I hope it gives you a sense of pride to say “I’m from Louisiana.”

We will explore possible “staycations” (versus “vacations”) in our home state (a popular concept taking flight due to hard-luck times and soaring gas prices); or, at least, hug the things of home when we venture outside of it. We will use books and movies featuring Louisiana as our tour guides and history text. We will follow the trail Evangeline took into Louisiana. We will “pig out” on a Cajun cochon de lait and ladle up PawPaw’s home-style BBQ sauce. We will stir the mud in these swamps to search for folklores and customs and Jean Lafitte’s hidden treasure. We will cast our nets into the Gulf while exchanging tips for crabbing, shrimping, and fishing in Louisiana. We will search old mines for things in the state that can help us survive the recession while maintaining our way of life. We will find out more about this place we call “home”; this place where we live, work, sweat, cry, marry, bear children, and celebrate as family.

Won’t you join me? This is the place for tracking our itinerary. Consider this your passport to all things that hum Louisiana, the things that create the panache that is distinctively and stylishly Louisiana. If you care to join us, please check in periodically and throw in your two doubloons worth. Trust me. It'll be worth the booty.

Bienvenue! And welcome!