We love our members and the Louisiana communities we serve. We started this Louisiana blog to put the spotlight on all of our favorite places, things and people in the Pelican State.
Much like the city it calls home, the history of New Orleans Voodoo is fascinating. Voodoo has been ingrained in Louisiana culture for over three centuries. Don’t let Hollywood depictions fool you. Voodoo doesn’t involve sorcerers, potions, dark magic, or a doll being poked with a sewing needle. Voodoo is an authentic religion, still practiced today around the world, and …
There is a common misconception that central and northern Louisiana don’t participate in the Cajun and Creole traditions associated with south Louisiana. This misconception includes the belief that people from these areas don’t cook iconic foods such as jambalaya, boudin, and gumbo. This is simply not true. You can get a bowl of gumbo in Shreveport just as easily as …
Most people who are not from Louisiana couple the word “Cajun,” with spicy, peppery food such as gumbo. Those of us who live here know how inaccurate that is because heat is just one aspect of Cajun cuisine. Let’s explore the region of Louisiana known as “Cajun Country,” and then take a dive into Cajun Gumbo. Cajun Country, primarily located …
Tourists and the media often associate gumbo with New Orleans, although people in every corner of Louisiana enjoy the dish. There’s a lot to learn about this world-famous dish, popular in restaurants and homes in New Orleans and surrounding areas like Terrebonne Parish. But first let’s set the table with a few tidbits about this region. New Orleans is one …
Louisiana is known for savory dishes and flavorful food staples the world over. However, of all the foods found within its boot-shaped borders, gumbo may be the most renowned. It’s the perfect collision of cultures, borrowing flavors from a variety of groups to create something unique and delicious. Plus, the flexibility of its ingredients and preparation meant that almost anyone …
All images courtesy of Daniel Kottemann. If I told you that one of the longest-running and most beloved food businesses in New Orleans was a 1900s kitchen on wheels whose star employee was a mule named Miss Mae? Would you believe me? On any given day in the Crescent City, you may just stumble upon this particularly sweet tradition. First …
