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Tuesday, December 30, 2014
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| The Mardi Gras Gumbo Cook-off occurs Feb. 14, 2015. Photo by Buzzy Gordon |
Thanks to the popularity of Cajun
cuisine, Louisiana cooking has become world famous. And as a big fan myself, I
thought I knew most of what there is to know about the food. Until I went to
Southwest Louisiana for Mardi Gras, and attended the annual Gumbo Cook-Off in
Lake Charles, that is.
This is nothing like any other BBQ
or chili cook-off you may have ever attended. More than 50 krewes and other
competing teams filled a hall of the Lake Charles Civic Center, spilling over outside
adjacent to the lakefront promenade. The noise level is astounding: krewes are
also competing to win the “spirit stick,” by engaging in raucous revelry.
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| Mardi Gras krewes vie for the coveted Spirit Stick! Photo by Buzzy Gordon |
As the smells of simmering roux
start to activate the salivary glands, you begin to wish the tasting would
commence. But the teams have been admonished not to serve until the judges have
collected their samples. Finally, lines begin to form; and one by one, krewes
begin ladling out their savory offerings. These are no measly samples:
styrofoam bowls are filled to the brim with the steaming samples.
I did my best to try them all, but
after 20 or so half-bowls, I had to call it quits. But I managed to taste a bit from each
category: traditional chicken and andouille sausage; seafood; and wild game.
Some of the latter were quite exotic -- like pheasant and elk sausage.
Alligator featured prominently, along with rabbit, and even the occasional
squirrel.
While most of these mouth-watering recipes may be available to the public to eat only once a year, you'll be glad to know that the best in the professional competition -- as awarded in two of the three categories in 2014 -- comes from the kitchen of the Jack Daniel's Bar & Grill restaurant at L'Auberge Casino Resort. Professional seafood honors went to the Krewe de Sauvage, while Krewe de Mischief danced away with the coveted Spirit Stick.
For the aspiring chefs who want to make their own gumbo, check out this "How to Make a Gumbo" video by Chef Scott Landry.
For the aspiring chefs who want to make their own gumbo, check out this "How to Make a Gumbo" video by Chef Scott Landry.
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
January 6 . . . a date known by many names. Many
churches call it Epiphany. In Mexico, it is the Day of the Holy Kings. To the
Irish, it is Little Christmas. Roman Catholics know it as Joan of Arc’s
birthday. But here in Louisiana, it’s Twelfth Night!
Twelfth Night
marks the beginning of Mardi Gras season. In Lake Charles, we celebrate with an
annual Twelfth Night Extravaganza!
At this much-anticipated event held at the Lake Charles Civic Center, the royal
courts of local krewes parade through the arena and make their exit, thus
paving the way for the new krewe kings and queens. In typical Mardi Gras
tradition, it is a night of glitz, glamour, pomp, and pageantry.
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
Balls, parades, king cakes, gumbo cook-offs, trail rides, chicken runs, giddy merriment, indulgence . . . to me, it was all new, magical, mysterious. Mardi Gras continues to be a source of curiosity, fascination, and bemusement for me.
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
Most of these krewes join the celebration at Twelfth Night Extravaganza. The costumes are colorful, sparkly, feathery, elaborate, and truly something to behold. Revelers on floats toss candy and shiny Mardi Gras beads to the enthusiastic crowd. Each person in attendance receives a small piece of King Cake. Twelve lucky winners find the “baby” in their piece of cake and win fantastic prizes.
Whether it’s a family tradition or your first time to attend, make plans to see the Lake Charles Twelfth Night Extravaganza January 6, 7 p.m.
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
Tickets are $5 in advance, $6 at the door. Children 5 and under admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at Joseph’s Electric, Gordon’s Drug Store, Party Time Store, and Moss Bluff Flower.
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
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| Photo by www.parkerbrandcreative.com |
Calling all sportsmen (and women and children, too)! On
January 9-10, 2015, the coastal town of Cameron will host its annual Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival.
This popular event has been entertaining festival-goers
since 1955 and highlights duck and goose calling, retrieval dog trials, nutria
and muskrat skinning, trap setting, skeet shooting, and oyster shucking
competitions.
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| Duck Calling Contest. Photo by www.parkerbrandcreative.com |
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| Oyster Shucking Contest. Photo by www.parkerbrandcreative.com |
In addition to the usual fair fare, food vendors also sell alligator sausage, jambalaya, boudin, gumbo,
smoked sausage, and crawfish.
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| Photo by www.parkerbrandcreative.com |
A gumbo cook-off is also a part of
the yearly festivities. Thrilling carnival rides will entertain people of all
ages. The Pageant Queen, King, and attendants of the Fur and Wildlife Festival
will be crowned on Friday evening.
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| Photo by www.parkerbrandcreative.com |
The fun continues on all day Saturday. Sign yourself up for a
morning 5K run. Stroll through the antique car show. Watch the festival parade at 1:30 p.m. Observe an alligator skinning demonstration at 4:30 p.m.
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| Photo by www.parkerbrandcreative.com |
The exciting musical
entertainment lineup includes Bag of Donuts, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp
Band, John Dale Hebert, Water’s Edge, and Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Road
Runners.
For a complete schedule of events, see the festival website, http://lafurandwildlifefestival.com.
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| Photo by www.parkerbrandcreative.com |
All
events will take place on the fairgrounds located at the former Pat’s of
Cameron (513 Marshall St.) in Downtown Cameron unless otherwise noted.
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Growing up, my father’s photography studio was located in
downtown Lake Charles in a historic building from the early 1900s. I spent many summers there helping in the
office, answering phone calls and assisting in photo shoots. My brother and I would even play hide and
seek when we were kids. Those old homes
have lots of hiding spaces!
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| The historic Locke mansion located at 929 Broad St. in Lake Charles, La. was built in 1910. Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
After my dad bought the home in the early 1980s, they did
some renovations and found some pocket doors.
In the pocket doors, they found newspaper articles stuffed within the
walls from the 1800s. I always thought
that was so cool and I think that’s what started my fascination with the
Charpentier Historic District. Charpentier
is French for carpenter, by the way!
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| Learn more about the Charpentier Historic District at www.visitlakecharles.org/historic. Photo by Marty Solis |
Recently, the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention
& Visitors Bureau developed a free Lake Charles Historic Tour App. It brings the Charpentier Historic District
to life through a guided tour of the 40-block area of homes in the National
Register of Historic Places. You can
choose a 30 Minute Tour, One Hour Tour or Ghost Stories Tour.
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| 1911 Historic City Hall has a permanent exhibit on the Great Fire of 1910 and is featured on the One Hour Tour. Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
The haunted legends tour, or Eerie Calcasieu Tour, as it is
named in the app, has some pretty crazy stories included. There’s even a video that captures some great
stories of the local ghosts. There are
also videos on the Great Fire of 1910, Lake Charles Architecture and the
History of Lake Charles.
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| The Eerie Calcasieu Tour features haunted sites throughout Lake Charles. |
The app promotes social network sharing and even allows the
user to create a post card from the district. It's available in multiple languages and Closed Captioning, which is great if you have friends from other countries who are visiting and would prefer to experience the tour in their native language.
Download the free app in your app store by searching for “Lake Charles
Historic Tour.”
Learn more about the
Charpentier Historic District at www.visitlakecharles.org/historic.
Check out this quick video about the Lake Charles Historic Tour App.
Friday, December 5, 2014
The Golden Nugget Lake Charles is officially open for
business!
“The opening of the Golden Nugget has been highly
anticipated for the region,” said Megan
M. Hartman, senior marketing manager for the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana
Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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| Corner Suite by Landry's, Inc. |
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| Double Room by Landry's, Inc. |
Foodies will be delighted to know there are nine restaurants to
choose from! Just a few of the examples
are fine dining at Vic & Anthony’s, legendary Gulf seafood from Landry’s
Seafood House, and casual 24/7 options at Claim Jumper. Their extensive,
Vegas-style buffet even offers hand dipped strawberries!
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| King Room by Landry's, Inc. |
Although Golden Nugget Lake Charles is the fifth Golden
Nugget property by Landry’s, Inc. chairman, CEO and sole owner Tilman J.
Feritta, it is really the flagship since this $700 million resort is the 1st
resort they built from the ground up.
But golfers hold tight.
The 18-hole championship golf course, the Country Club at the Golden
Nugget, is set to open at the end of April just in time for the start of
summer.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
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| www.nhmsc.com |
Yesterday I was standing on the shoreline of Lake Charles
right where the National Hurricane Museum & Science Center will be located
one day among elected officials, community leaders and employees of State
Farm and Entergy. It was surreal because
this dream of building a one-of-a-kind education center has been a long one in
the making.
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| Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
State Farm and Entergy each gave the National Hurricane
Museum & Science Center $500,000 and I feel with these large
corporate donations, other companies will step up to give. We are two more steps closer to the reality
of breaking ground on the center!
Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach mentioned how the center will
be a national tourist attraction. And
while it will tell the stories of how hurricanes have impacted the people, land
and economy, the educational components on hurricane preparedness and recovery
will be included, too.
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| Mayor Randy Roach. Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
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| The sign, held up by two Entergy trucks, said it all. Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
“The center represents more than just a facility,” and it can help “education, inform and inspire young people,” said Mayor Roach. “It can make them realize it’s not what happens to you that counts. It’s what you do in response.”
The center could bring in as many as 220,000 visitors a year
and provide the region with a $55 million annual economic impact.
To learn more about the National Hurricane Museum &
Science Center, log on to www.nhmsc.com.
Monday, December 1, 2014
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| Southwest Louisiana Marsh by www.monsoursphotography.net |
To me, there’s nothing more peaceful and beautiful than
watching the Southwest Louisiana sun rise in a duck blind with a cup of hot
coffee sitting next to me dad. My dad,
who is also a photographer, always told me that Southwest Louisiana has the
most gorgeous sunrises than anywhere else in the world! Who’s gonna argue with that?!?
Duck hunting has been a strong family connector in the
Monsour household. I’ve been hunting
with my dad since I was two years old.
We’d have father-daughter duck hunts at the camp in Johnson’s Bayou for
as long as I can remember.
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| A father teaches his children to call ducks. Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
My dad would always have a string of calls around his neck,
but my favorite was the old wooden Faulk’s call. It just looked more rustic than the synthetic
calls, and I’m sure it sounded better!
Faulk's Game Calls was
started by Clarence "Patin" Faulk. Patin was a local guide and a
trapper in Big Lake, Louisiana. He made duck and goose calls at his home
starting in the mid 1930s. His son Dud Faulk learned about call making from
him. In 1951, Dud created a full line of calls and started going to trade
shows. Dud won the International Duck Calling Championship once and the
World Champion Goose Calling Championship twice. He continued to grow the business
with his wife Rena at his side.
Today, Dud's wife Rena,
daughters and grandchildren assist in running the business in Lake Charles, LA.
Faulk's Game Calls is still producing quality, hand tuned calls with the same
attention to quality calls that they started with in 1951.
A Few Duck Calling Tips from Canaan Heard with Faulk’s Game
Calls:
- Don't
over call. - Call when the ducks are flying away from you or are passing in front of you.
- Don't call when they're flying at you.
Check out this video of avid outdoorsman Hal McMillin during teal season. To learn more about duck hunting in Southwest Louisiana and to find guide services, go to www.visitlakecharles.org/hunt.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Keeping it local during the Christmas season is what I’m all
about! No Black Friday crazy lines at big retail outlets or camping out for
door buster deals for me! Some of my
favorite memories Christmas shopping were with my mom going to the Cottage Shops, sniffing yummy candles and sampling the wassail at the Christian Book
Store.
I enjoy supporting our local businesses. Plus, they have all
of the Louisiana-centric gifts that my friends who live out of state enjoy so
much this time of year! You can find
locally made art and food products all over Calcasieu Parish.
Here’s a quick video of some of the unique Louisiana
products that might be great Christmas gifts ideas for some of those on your
Christmas list!
Don't forget about all of the great Christmas Events happening in the area. Click Here to check them out!
Monday, November 24, 2014
Do you and
your family have a free long weekend and you’re wondering what to do? Consider
a mini-vacation to southwest Louisiana for the perfect family getaway! Whether
you and the kids love history, science, art, or the great outdoors, the lake
area has something for everyone.
If there’s
one thing southwest Louisiana has plenty of, it’s water. And where there is
water, there are water sports. Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes are prime
destinations for fishing, boating, crabbing and alligator watching. Bring your
canoe or kayak and your fishing poles and explore the many rivers, lakes and
bayous. Or rent a pontoon boat, kayak or standup paddle board when you get there!
Air Boat or Swamp Tours
Experience
the mystery of marsh grass swamps from an airboat or eco-tour. Call Airboats & Alligators in Grand Chenier, 337-274-2395 or Grosse Savanne Eco-Tours, 337-310-4260.
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| Photo credit: www.wanderwithwonder.com |
Creole Nature Trail All-American Road is one of America’s oldest scenic
byways. This 180-mile driving tour traverses both Cameron and Calcasieu
Parishes. Through marsh grass and wildlife sanctuaries to the Gulf of Mexico
and back again, this unique loop offers fishing, crabbing, hunting, boating,
and nature photography. It’s an excellent place to look for alligators and bird
watch, especially during migration season. There's a free app for your smartphone that's like having a tour guide with you in the car!
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| Search "Creole" to download the Creole Nature Trail tour app. |
This popular
state park offers 78 camp sites for both tents and RVs. There are also eight
cozy cabins. Numerous hiking/biking trails are available, depending on your
fitness level. Boat or fish along the West Fork of the Calcasieu River. The
park is well-known for bird watching. Bald eagles have recently been spotted
there.
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| RV Camping at Sam Houston Jones State Park Photo Credit www.monsoursphotography.net |
Bord du Lac Park and other Area Parks
Southwest Louisiana boasts many parks and recreation centers, but the grandest of them
all is Bord du Lac Park on the lakefront near the Lake Charles Civic Center. Completed in
2013 after the original Millennium Park burned down, this creatively-designed
playground allows children to romp, climb, swing, slide, spin and splash.
Speaking of
splashing, in the warmer months, kids love parks with water features. In
addition to Bord du Lac Park, several other area parks, such as Prien Lake Park
and Pinederosa Park in Westlake, also have so-called “splash zones.” The most
impressive southwest Louisiana water park is at the Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) facility.
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| The SPAR Waterpark is open in the summertime for kids of all ages! |
Festivals
Southwest Louisiana
is known as the Festival Capital of the state, and with good reason. Over 75
festivals throughout the year celebrate all varieties of food, music genres, wildlife,
and more. Check out www.visitlakecharles.org for the Events Calendar.
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| DeQuincy Railroad Days Festival Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
If the
weather doesn’t cooperate for outdoor activities, don’t worry. There are plenty
of indoor activities to entertain children of all ages.
The
Children’s Museum, at 327 Broad St., offers numerous exhibits and activities
that will delight your young ones. Open
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The naval
destroyer USS Orleck served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She now serves as a
historic naval museum. Located at the north end of Enterprise Blvd. Open
Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturdays
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
If you are
interested in Southwest Louisiana history, visit the Imperial Calcasieu Museum.
They also feature the work of Louisiana artists. 204 W. Sallier St., Lake
Charles. Open 10:00 – 5:00 Tuesday – Saturday.
Affectionately
called Old City Hall, this art gallery showcases traveling art exhibitions from
around the world, as well as a permanent exhibit on the Great Fire of 1910. 1001 Ryan St. Monday
– Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Henning Cultural Center features contemporary and
local artists. The Brimstone Museum, located in the restored train station next
door, highlights the history of Sulphur. 923 Ruth St. Open
Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – noon and 1 – 5 p.m.
DeQuincy Railroad Museum
Kids love the caboose, steam engine and passenger car on display at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum. And while you're there, don't miss the DeQuincy Town Hall Museum nearby. 400 Lake Charles Ave., DeQuincy. Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Kids love the caboose, steam engine and passenger car on display at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum. And while you're there, don't miss the DeQuincy Town Hall Museum nearby. 400 Lake Charles Ave., DeQuincy. Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mardi Gras Museum
The Mardi Gras Museum is always a great one to visit to lift your spirits and prepare for the Carnival Season! 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles. Open Tuesday - Friday 1-5 p.m.
The Mardi Gras Museum is always a great one to visit to lift your spirits and prepare for the Carnival Season! 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles. Open Tuesday - Friday 1-5 p.m.
Lake Charles
has two multi-screen theaters. United Artists at 3416 Derek Dr. and Cinemark at
the Prien Lake Mall, 548 W. Prien Lake Rd.
Bowl a few
games at Petro Bowl, 630 Petro Point Dr., Lake Charles.
Whether you
have three days to spend or a whole week, there’s plenty here to entertain you.
No one can say there’s nothing to do in Lake Charles!
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
Monday, November 17, 2014
By Elizabeth Eustis
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| Photo by Lindsey Janies Photography |
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| Photo by MonsoursPhotography.net |
There are just so many wonderful activities going on this season, including some beautiful performances like The Nutcracker (Dec. 11-14) and The Little Drummer Boy (Dec. 13); so there is no reason to sit at home. Also, stop by the Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1205 N. Lakeshore Drive, to view the entries for the annual Gingerbread House contest (Dec. 6-30). Be sure to vote for your favorite creation!Plan your Christmas fun by visiting www.visitlakecharles.org/cajunchristmas for a complete listing of holiday events throughout Southwest Louisiana.
Monday, November 10, 2014
By Angie Kay Dilmore
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
How often
have you driven down I-10 West and seen signs for Delta Downs Racetrack and
Casino? Have you been there? Recently, I went for the opening day of
Thoroughbred Season. Being newbies to Louisiana horse racing, my husband Bob
and I were excited!
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
The first
step at horse racing is to buy an Official Program. This booklet tells you all
about the races, information about the horses, their odds of winning, the names
of owners, trainers, jockeys, and lineage. There is also information about each
horse’s racing history, weight of the jockey, and more data than I can
understand or need to know!
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| Program photo by Angie Kay Dilmore |
For some,
horse racing is serious business. I saw people there who sat intently with
their pens and programs and pored over the pages, studied the stats, made notes
in the margins, and obviously put considerable thought into their betting.
How did I
pick a horse to bet on? Whichever horse had the prettiest name, of course!
Soon after
we arrived, the first race was about to start. Post time 5:55 p.m. We quickly
purchased our program and scanned the horses slated for Race 1. Horse number 8,
Lovely in Lavender, sounded like a winner to me. Never mind the odds were 15-1.
It was early in the evening and I felt lucky.
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
Minimum bet is $2.00. I’m such a
big spender; I bet $3.00 for number 8 to show (1st or 2nd
place). She came in 7th. Out of 10 horses. Maybe rooting for the
underdog isn’t the best idea in horse racing.
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| The horse and jockey were muddy after the race. Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore |
So we went
to The Lookout Restaurant for dinner. They specialize in fine dining, steaks
and seafood. The south wall is all windows and overlooks the racetrack. There
is also a balcony where you can watch the races, and a convenient betting
window, so diners don’t miss the fun and excitement of a single race.
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| Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore |
Most of our
bets resulted in similar outcomes to that first race. After two or three races,
I started considering the odds and checking “Don’s Picks” on the television
screens. He seems to have a pretty good
track record.
Eventually, I picked a favorite and bet $3.00 for the horse
to place (1st, 2nd, or 3rd). And he came in
second! Yay, I won something! I went to the betting window to cash in my ticket.
The return was $3.90. I netted .90 cents.
We weren’t
big winners that night, but it didn’t matter. Win or lose, horse racing is fun
and entertaining. There’s a certain thrill, trying to guess which horse will
win and watching him race around the track. Your eyes focus on the color of his
silk (the cloth that identifies his number). You cheer him on as he thunders by;
go, Go GO! It’s especially exciting if you watch from the fence beside the
track. You smell the horses’ sweat and adrenaline. You hear them pant, snort,
and battle it out for first place. Their hooves kick up the dust and pound out
a competitive beat; and your own heart drums a little bit faster.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel is located in the quiet town of Vinton, near the
border of Texas. Watch Thoroughbred racing every Wednesday through Saturday
evenings, October 15- March 14, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and
Christmas Day. The resort sits on 240 acres of Louisiana countryside, the perfect
setting for an evening’s entertainment, a weekend getaway, or a fun-packed
vacation.
In addition to live horse racing, they offer off-track betting, over
1,450 slots, live entertainment, modern hotel rooms and suites, an outdoor
pool, and five restaurants, from fast food to fine dining. Meeting and
convention facilities are also available. For more information, go to www.deltadowns.com.
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
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