Acadiana Profile August-September 2014 by Renaissance Publishing

table des matières

In Every Issue 4 Free-lancing

by trent angers

8 Nouvelles des Villes News Briefs From Around Acadiana

by lisa leblanc-berry

12 De la Cuisine Farewell to Summer

by marcelle bienvenu

16 Les Artistes Tales from the Swamp

At an age when many artists contemplate putting down their brushes, Chauvin’s Dot Tee Ratliff is just getting started on her new career. by will kalec

20 La Maison Glass House by the Bayou

A serene poolside edifice resembles a giant mirrored bird cage in the heart of Lafourche. by lisa leblanc-berry

76 Personnes d’Acadiana Sounds for all Seasons

In more than two decades of broadcasting, UL athletics Jay Walker has pretty much seen everything…and told you all about it. by will kalec

80 A la Mode Tailgating Fashions

by krystral cooper christen

82 Sur le Menu Food for Football Season

by jan risher

86 Visiter The Best Things to See and Do

in Cajun Country compiled by judi russell

88 En Français, S’il Vous Plaît Le Congrès Mondial Acadien 2014:

20 ans déjà. by david cheramie

Features 28 A Man and his Pirogue

by ron j. berard

39 Garden to Table What to grow + 3 easy

(and delicious!) recipes by stanley dry

47 Annual Hospital Guide 25 Regional Hospitals

complied by ashley hinson

48 Toughest Cases Doctor Profiles by christopher jennings 2

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

August/September 2014 Vol. 33 No. 5 Executive Editor Trent Angers Managing Editor Sarah Ravits Art Director Sarah George Associate Editor Melanie Warner Spencer Web Editor Lauren LaBorde Editor in Chief Errol Laborde Sales Manager Rebecca Taylor (337) 298-4424 â&#x20AC;˘ (337) 235-7919 ext. 230 Rebecca@acadianaprofile.com Traffic Manager Erin Duhe Distribution/Newsstand Manager Christian Coombs Administrative Assistant Denise Dean Subscriptions Sara Kelemencky Production/Web Manager Staci McCarty Production Designers Ali Sullivan, Monique Di Pietro Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive Vice President Errol Laborde Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan

Renaissance Publishing LLC 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 â&#x20AC;˘ (877) 221-3512 128 Demanade, Suite 104, Lafayette, LA 70503 (337) 235-7919 Acadiana Profile (ISSN 0001-4397) is published bimonthly by Renaissance Publishing LLC, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 and 128 Demanade, Suite 104, Lafayette, LA 70503 (337) 235-7919. Subscription rate: One year $10; Foreign Subscriptions vary. Periodicals postage paid at Lafayette, LA, and additional mailing entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Acadiana Profile, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright 2014 Renaissance Publishing LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark Acadiana Profile is registered. Acadiana Profile is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork, even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in Acadiana Profile are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or owner.

www.acadianaprofile.com | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

freelancing

by bytrent trentangers angers

Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

A Nearly Forgotten Pearl of Wisdom I got wind of the inspirational writing called Desiderata while I was in college in the late 1960s. I found its wise-counsel encouraging and uplifting, its truth irrefutable and universal. So, sometime in the early 1970s, I acquired a poster bearing its words, and it has been in my home ever since. I read it a few times each year. When life gets burdensome I’ll sit on the floor in front of the poster and read it again and reflect on its life-giving message. For many years the public thought it was written by an unknown author sometime in the late 1600s. But, in fact, it was penned in 1927 by Max Ehrmann (1872-1945), a philosopher and poet who originally intended to be a lawyer. But his heart’s desire was to be a writer. He wanted to contribute something of lasting value to the growing body of inspiring American literature. So, at age 40, he resigned his mundane job as a factory worker in Terre Haute, Indiana, and devoted the rest of his life to writing, turning out nearly two dozen books and pamphlets along the way. In 1921, he expressed his deep-seated desire to write meaningful prose, material that would stand the test of time. “If in an hour of noble elation, I could write a bit of glorified prose that would soften the stern ways of life, and bring 4

to our fevered days some courage, dignity and poise – I should be well-content,” he wrote. He also longed to be remembered: “Even when I am dead, (I hope) some browser in libraries will come upon me, and, seeing that I was not altogether unworthy, will resurrect me from the dust of things forgotten.” Max Ehrmann got his wish. For in the 1960s his Desiderata was discovered anew by the hippies and “flower children,” whose aspirations and values were reflected in this beautiful piece of work. The popularity of Ehrmann’s writing exploded as the Desiderata was massproduced – on fliers and posters, in newspapers and magazines, even in song. Its wisdom was much-discussed on college campuses by many who understood there was more to life than football games and the blind pursuit of material wealth. Indeed, Ehrmann succeeded in what he aspired to do. For his uplifting advice and wise-counsel are as true and helpful today as when he wrote this piece 87 years ago. ap

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

questions or comments about this column can be addressed to tcangers@cox.net

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become bitter or vain, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. – Max Ehrmann

sur le web

If you can’t get enough Acadiana Profile, check out our redesigned website. With our new look, everything is easier to read on your smartphone or tablet. Flip through the issue archive, renew your subscription, or read the English translation of En Français, S’il Vous Plaît. You will also find content from all of Renaissance Publishing’s publications, including Louisiana Life and New Orleans Magazine. You can find it at AcadianaProfile.com.

For up-to-the-minute information about Acadiana events, recipes and fun photos, make sure to like Acadiana Profile on Facebook and follow @AcadianaProfile on Twitter.

Attention FestivalPlanners! Help Us Promote Your Event! Go online to AcadianaProfile. com, and click on “Submit an Event to Acadiana Profile” to let us know about festivals, shows or special events coming up in your town. Remember, the sooner we get the information, the better able we are to help you. Want to contact the Acadiana Profile staff by email? Want to see one of your events on Acadiana Profile’s Facebook page? Send feedback to Managing Editor Sarah Ravits at sarah@acadianaprofile.com.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

nouvelles des villes

by lisa leblanc-berry

NEW ADVENTURES SLATED FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau has teamed up with Split Rock, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based interpretive exhibit firm of award-winning designers, developers and artists, to begin construction on the new Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point project. Located in Sulphur (2740 Ruth St., south of the Sulphur/ Creole Nature Trail exit 20 on I-10, at the gateway of the trail’s All-American Road), Adventure Point will offer visitors interactive handson exhibits showcasing the unique estuary system of the trail. The building will also house satellite offices of the CVB. “People who experience the exhibit displays will walk away with a vivid understanding of the wildlife and landscape along the Creole Nature Trail as well as our culture and way of life in Southwest Louisiana,” says Mike Dees, chairman of the board of directors. “The facility will be a destination unto itself,” says CVB executive director Shelly Johnson. The amazing 140-mile nature

trail runs though Calcasieu and Cameron parishes and includes three National Wildlife Refuges.

lunch or a charcuterie board during dinner with purchase of entrée. Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro offers such perks as a complimentary Martini Jolie

End of Summer Foodie Fling

with the purchase of an entrée,

Through Sept. 1, if you go to any of the Eat Lafayette participating restaurants (www.eatlafayette.com), you can enter a drawing for two round-trip tickets from Lafayette to a Hard Rock Hotel resort in the Caribbean, no purchase necessary. There are numerous promotions, special deals and contests running during the final month of the 10th annual foodie event. Bread and Circus is a casual old-school Cajun meat shop by day and a farm-to-table small plates fine dining café by night. You can get complimentary "bounuts" (boudin stuffed doughnuts) during brunch, dessert during

a special four-course prix-fixe

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

while Café Vermilionville offers dinner for just $25. In Rayne, you’ll get a cup of shrimp gumbo at Chef Roy’s Frog City

of national significance, according to LYSA executive director Michael Ritch. “We hope that they [the participating athletes] will leave as great ambassadors for our food, music and culture that are second to none,” said Ben Berthelot, president and CEO of the Lafayette CVB (the folks behind Eat Lafayette).

Café upon mentioning the two magic words: “Eat Lafayette.”

Making Groceries

Those who enjoy local sports

Thibodeaux-based grocery chain, Rouses Supermarket, will open a new location in Lafayette on Johnston Street and Duhon Road this fall. Rouses is also opening its first Baton Rouge-area location at the Juban Crossing mixed-used development in Livingston Parish in 2015. The Thibodeaux chain, which started in 1923, now has 43 locations in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

with their gumbo will be glad to hear of another exciting development: The Lafayette Youth Soccer Association/ Cajun Soccer Club (LYSA) has announced that it will be hosting the 2015 President’s Cup, an annual tournament comprised of around 120 teams from 11 states. Having an asset such as Moore Park was a significant factor in procuring the bid to host such a lucrative tournament

photo courtesy visitlakecharles.org

nouvelles des villes

Youngsville focusing on its Youth Youngsville continues to see economic growth while also attracting foreign investors. Most recently, the Youngsvillebased Louisiana Valve Source, the largest independent valve repair and remanufacturing facility in the U.S., has been acquired by Pon Holdings BV, an international trading and service company based in the Netherlands. It will operate as a subsidiary of Septpoint Integrated Solutions, which is building its new $10 million headquarters on Highland Road. Pon Holdings is the parent company. Youngsville is Louisiana’s fastest-growing city

this decade, according to yearly Census Bureau estimates. The population has grown 22 percent in the last 10 years, and 143 percent since 1990. This has resulted, however, in a shortage of classroom space in Youngsville, according to officials. Green T. Linden and Ernest Gallet elementary are both overcrowded, as are other schools in the area. Hence, several major school construction projects are in the works in Lafayette Parish, and they are being funded by nearly $33 million in bond money. One of the school construction projects is around $8.9 million slated for Green T. Linden Elementary; the first phase of

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

the expansion includes 22 new classrooms that will replace the portable buildings on the campus, targeted for the fall 2014 semester (despite delays due to rain over the summer). Other projects include a $5.3 million expansion at Youngsville Middle School. The first phase involves an 11-classroom expansion for the fall; the entire project should be completed by May 2015.

It’s Festival Time in Lake Charles, Sulphur and Morgan City Check out our top picks for food lovers: The Arts and Crabs Festival, held August 16 at 900 Lakeshore Drive in Lake

Charles, showcases an extensive array of crab and beer tastings provided by area restaurants and local breweries, plus live music and art displays. The 79th Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, held in Morgan City Aug. 28-Sept. 1, is the state’s oldest chartered festival, offering delicious seafood fresh from local waters in the heart of Cajun Country on Labor Day weekend. Love those spicy boudin links? Don’t miss the Boudin Wars, held September 13 in Sulphur. Local restaurants and chefs compete for the highly coveted title of “Best Boudin in SWLA.” ap

www.acadianaprofile.com | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

de la cuisine

august/september 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

R O C K ' S F R I E D C AT F I S H & BUTTERMILK SLAW

Farewell to Summer By Marcelle Bienvenu Photographed by eugenia uhl I'll miss the languid days spent lolling in my hammock in the shade of the giant live oak trees on my property on Bayou Teche. I'll miss a quick dip in my sister's swimming pool followed by a trip, with several great nieces and nephews in tow, to get snowballs. No more late afternoon boat rides to observe the egrets and blue herons stalking along the bayou banks for their next meal. The summer vegetable gardens are finished, and my herb bed is drying up with only a few basil plants still standing, but it's not to late for a late-summer fish fry in the backyard, on a screened porch or by the pool. My go-to fish for a fish fry is catfish, preferably wild-caught in the Atchafalaya Basin. Of course, redfish or speckled trout from Vermilion Bay are quite acceptable. My sides usually include potato salad and coleslaw. Papa always said that lemon pie is the ideal dessert after a seafood meal, and I agree. Like so many of our traditional dishes in south Louisiana, there are several ways to batter the fish, but my husband Rock’s recipe is my favorite.

R o c k ' s F r i e d C at f i s h M AKES 6 - 8 SE RV I N G S

3 pounds catfish fillets, cut into 1-by-3-inch strips 1 tablespoon salt ½ teaspoon cayenne ⁄3 cup yellow mustard ⁄3 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon Tabasco or other hot sauce 1 egg, beaten 1 box (24 ounces) Zatarain's Wonderful Fish-Fri® Vegetable oil (about 4 cups) for deep-frying 1 medium-size yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced (separate into rings) Lemon wedges

1 1

Rinse the catfish in cool water and pat dry. Put catfish in a large bowl. Season with salt and cayenne. Add the mustard, milk, hot sauce, and the beaten egg. With your hands, toss catfish in the mixture to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Heat the vegetable oil to 350 degrees in a large, deep heavy pot or electric fryer. Put the Fish-Fri in a large plastic storage bag. Add catfish, several pieces at a time, and toss to coat evenly. Fry the fish until golden, turning with a metal spoon to cook evenly, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Scatter the onion rings on the fish as it comes out of the fryer and cover lightly with paper towels to keep warm. Serve with tartar sauce.

www.acadianaprofile.com | august/september 2014

de la cuisine

B U TTE R M I L K S L AW M AKES 4 TO 6 SE RV I N G S

¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon sour cream ¼ cup buttermilk 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ¼ teaspoon hot sauce Pinch or two sugar ¼ teaspoon celery salt Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 small head cabbage, finely chopped or grated 1 ⁄3 cup finely chopped red onions ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley leaves 1 tablespoon chopped green onions (green part only) In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, sugar, celery salt, salt and pepper. In a large salad bowl, toss cabbage, onions, parsley and green onions. Add the dressing mixture and toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for about one hour before serving. Let's talk about potato salad. I prefer potatoes cut into large dice and tossed with homemade mayonnaise. I don't care for what I call mashed potato salad. I am also a purist since I usually don't add sweet pickle relish, onions or celery, but hey, it's a personal thing, so you can add whatever you like to the salad. Oh, and I never chill my potato salad. I like it served at room temperature dressed at the last minute with mayonnaise.

M Y P OTATO SA L AD M AKES A B O U T 1 0 SE RV I N G S

4 pounds red potatoes, scrubbed 8 hard-boiled eggs 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Optional: 1/4 cup minced celery 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley Boil potatoes in lightly salted water until tender. Remove from heat and drain. Cool. Put the eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat, cover the saucepan and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain, cool, peel and chop.

LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Put the chopped potatoes and eggs in a large serving bowl. Mama put them in layers, i.e., a layer of potatoes, a layer of eggs, a bit of seasoning, then continued the layering until all was used. Then add mayonnaise and whatever condiments you wish and toss gently (so as not to break up the potatoes) to mix.

Ta rta r S a u c e M AKES A B O U T 1 C U P

1 cup mayonnaise (preferably homemade) 1 large pod garlic, mashed 1 large sweet pickle, minced 5 drops of Tabasco sauce 3 good shots of Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon grated onion Mix all the ingredients together and chill for about one hour before serving. Or you may prefer this classic remoulade sauce:

august/september 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

R e m o ul a d e S a u c e M AKES A B O U T 2 C U P

1 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Creole mustard 1 tablespoon yellow mustard 3 tablespoons ketchup ¼ cup finely chopped green onions 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves 2 tablespoons finely chopped celery 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish ½ teaspoon paprika Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl and whisk to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.

Q u i c k M ay o nn a i s e M AKES A B O U T 1 ¼ C U P

1 large egg 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 cup vegetable oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper Pinch of sugar Hot sauce Blend the egg and lemon juice in a food processor or electric blender for 15 seconds. With the processor or blender running, slowly pour in the oil through the feed tube. The mixture will thicken. Add the salt, pepper and hot sauce and pulse to blend. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before using. Note: Since the mayonnaise is made with a raw egg, it's best to use within 24 hours.

L E M O N M E R I N G U E P IE M AKES 6 - 8 SE RV I N G S

1 cup plus 6 tablespoons sugar ¼ cup cornstarch ¼ teaspoon salt 1 ½ cups boiling water 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind 1 ⁄3 cup fresh lemon juice 3 large eggs, separated 2 tablespoons butter 1 8 or 9-inch pie shell Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a medium-size, heavy saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar, cornstarch, and salt and mix till well blended. Gradually add the boiling water, stirring constantly and cook over medium heat until the mixture thickens, stirring. Add the lemon rind and juice, and blend. In a small bowl, beat egg yolks till foamy, add a small amount of the hot lemon mixture to them, stirring constantly, and then pour the egg mixture into the lemon mixture in the saucepan, stirring. Add butter and continue cooking, stirring, until the mixture is very thick. Pour into the baked pie shell. In a medium-size mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until thickened. Gradually add 6 tablespoons sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. With a rubber spatula, cover the pie with the meringue, being careful to seal the edges. With a spoon, make a few peaks in the meringue. Bake just until the top has browned slightly, about 10 minutes. Cool before serving. ap

www.acadianaprofile.com | august/september 2014

les artistes

august/september 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

Tales From the Swamp At an age when many artists contemplate putting down their brush, Chauvin’s Dot Tee Ratliff is just getting started on her new career. BY WILL KALEC

photographs by frank aymami

Alone with her thoughts – the unforged roadmap she’ll dutifully follow until this piece is complete – Dot Tee Ratliff sits inside her MacGyvered-together studio, making up for lost time by magnificently painting lost times. The Chauvin retiree isn’t classically trained. She scribbled doodles for years – on napkins when bored, on blackboards a lot when teaching school children and those school children’s children during a three-decade career in education – but nothing on a surface that wasn’t designed to be erased or pitched in the garbage. Heck, without the persistent nudging of friend, Dennis Sipiorski, it probably would have stayed that way. Ratliff didn’t pick up a paintbrush until she was 50 years old. “And it’s wasn’t a natural thing,” she confesses. “It took me some time. I tried canvas and it didn’t feel right. I’m a very tactile person.” So instead, she ventured toward using glass – framing each plate with washedup Cypress her husband gathered from the property along Bayou Petit Caillou following violent storms. The featured characters of her pieces – pesky Tou-LouLous (fiddler crabs), majestic pelicans, grizzled shrimpers and late-night fishing

trips Dot Tee took mainly because the boys on the boats were cute – are wideranging yet all reside within this largely undisturbed enclave tucked away down Highway 56. “I don’t paint a painting. I paint a story,” Ratliff says. “When I started, I didn’t exactly know what to do, so painting about the life I lived seemed like a logical subject; the Cajun people the way they used to be from my childhood – Cajuns on a trawl boat, Cajun people working in their garden, playing in the palmettos, walking the levee, being scared by the feu follets.” A proud former tomboy, Ratliff seems to come from an upbringing lifted from the pages of a Mark Twain novel. While out with her cousins, she constructed camps and bridges out of nature’s bounty. Games were invented on the fly while playing atop the levee.

Though she had a nice roof available to sleep under, Ratliff spent many nights in a rickety tree house. Her mother placed dinner inside an Easter basket rigged up to a rope. Food was pulled up. Dirty dishes were lowered back down. Most everyone was welcome, except one of Ratliff’s cousins who had the nerve to carve a girl’s name into the treehouse floor. “Sounds mean, but he had it coming,” she jokes. “He’s the kind of guy who took you blackberry picking and left you in the woods so you couldn’t find your way back.” To further preserve and explain the subject matter, Ratliff writes a paragraph synopsis of the story captured in her paintings on the back of the frame. Despite painting for approximately 10 years, Ratliff has produced an extensive catalog of work displayed throughout southeast Louisiana. “One of my main worries when I started … I asked somebody, ‘What am I going to paint when I run out of stories?’” Ratliff remembers asking. “He said, ‘You’ll never run out.’ Thankfully, he’s right so far. But I keep looking for things to add to my collection. Every day I sit with my

www.acadianaprofile.com | august/september 2014

les artistes

Mom and her friends, and I listen to them talk in French.” Inspiration came easy for Ratliff. The genesis of her art career blossomed while she worked at the Chauvin Sculpture Gardens, an awe-inspiring and somewhat bizarre display created by recluse Kenny Hill. The bright colors of Hill’s mainly religious-themed sculptures are recognizable in almost every piece Ratliff signs. In fact, Ratliff’s first public showing took place at the Sculpture Gardens where most everything on display was sold. “Then the people of Thibodaux got interested,” Ratliff says. “There are certain areas where people like folk art. It’s not for everybody. Because with folk art, you’re painting from your heart, and it might 18

not mean the same for other people. So during my first shows, I stayed in the background while the people looked at my work. I didn’t even think I deserved to be called an artist. When I was told that, well, I cried. ‘You’re an artist.’” Much like Ratliff, who lives within a slingshot's launch of where she grew up, the premise of her artwork remains loyal to the area. She’s never flirted with different subject matters, different styles, different vibes or feels. There’s been no reason to, she figures, considering the diversity and uniqueness of all that surrounds her. Yes, it’s familiar, and Ratliff admits that certainly comes in handy when she sits down to paint, letting her brush dictate where the creative process journeys. But

august/september 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

there’s also a sense of responsibility Ratliff willingly has adopted in her work – to document all that once was. “Days after the BP oil spill, someone came into my studio, and I’ll never forget this,” she says. “They told me, ‘You know, everything you paint is now pretty much obsolete.’ And he’s right. Look at playing on a shrimp platform and going night fishing with your daddy. Those are two things they don’t have anymore. One of the stories, about the people planting Easter Lilies on their land, well, that land is a lake now. “So it’s like you’re painting history. I didn’t realize until the man in the studio said so. ‘Look at this: You’re painting history. Everything you paint is gone now.’” ap

la maison

august/september 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

Custom built to withstand hurricane winds, this seemingly fragile glassenclosed orangery was expanded from its original size into a sturdy structure that adheres to the Florida Building Code with deep pilings, additional steel interior beams and haze free, impact-resistant tapered glass. A circular peacock emblem was installed in the travertine flooring to exemplify the peafowl theme.

Glass House by the Bayou A serene poolside edifice resembles a giant mirrored bird cage in the heart of Lafourche. By Lisa leblanc–berry | Photographed by chad chenier On a sizzling hot morning, I took a drive under clear blue skies, traveling along Highway 90 toward Raceland to see Kelly and Nicole Falgout’s latest pride and joy: their newly constructed, extraordinary pool house that was built from a Victorianinspired French orangery. I had been hearing about this “glass outdoor living room” for months from various family members who were instrumental in its concept, design and sourcing from abroad. So I finally decided to bite the bait. “You’ve got to see this, it’ really beautiful,” said my daughter Simonette, a decorative painter and sculptor who fauxfinished the arched ceiling to resemble weathered copper with the assistance of sculptor Dave Whatley. I have to admit, at first glance, I was taken in with all the stories about its evolution and by its unique design and construct that transcends the typical orangery/plant-filled conservatory. The Falgouts’ discovery of a lone, handpainted tile depicting a peacock was the genesis for the building’s evolution and eventual interior decor. Nicole took the lead, got rid of the interior decorator and devised a theme per the inspirational peacock plumes. The fanciful peacock tile, discovered while shopping for antiques, is now de-

murely positioned as the centerpiece of the kitchen’s backsplash. Various features of the pool house, from statuary and tea cups to the color selected for the cast-iron exterior beams, were inspired by the vibrant shades of aqua plumage from the bird’s tail feathers that can change color with the angle of incident light. The effect of pale, sea-foam hues beneath an ethereal skylight inside a glass house is at once soothing to the soul. The new building, situated near a shallow pool “designed for the children,” (yet embellished with statuary from the Vanderbilt estate) adds to the overall allure of the grounds and bucolic setting. It’s the ideal party house near the bayou, complete with travertine flooring, a gourmet kitchen with marble counters, a full bath, combination living /dining room area, unobstructed panoramic views and a skylight-atrium that seems to ascend to the heavens on a clear day. “We can sit in here and watch the children in the pool, and it’s great for parties,” says Nicole. A similar, serendipitous mindset prevailed during the design of the Falgouts’ adjacent main house. After acquiring antiques through the years at auctions and shows, the Falgouts decided to design various rooms to accommodate

www.acadianaprofile.com | august/september 2014

la maison

their most prized pieces, such as the old Victrola in the foyer that doubles as a planter, a claw-foot Victorian sofa and the circa-1800 fireplace settee nestled in an alcove. “We designed our living room around that piece,” she says. As we walk throughout the 4,200-squarefoot, two-story hous, Kelly points out items they have stumbled upon during their travels.“We get great deals at all these auctions," he says. A contagious enthusiasm prevails among these natural raconteurs once we set foot in the pool house, where all the best times, from nap times to party times, happen within the contiguous walls of glass and mirrored exterior. You can look out, but you can’t look in. While building their new residence in 2008, Kelly and Nicole lived in the modest 1,500-square-foot house that came with the 45-acre property punctuated with commanding live oaks and the occasional local

TOP: A pair of identical putti resting on ornamental scrolls embellishes the symmetry of a walkway strewn with Italian cypress that leads from a stately courtyard down to the pool area, Italian-inspired gardens and fountain. BOTTOM: The pool house provides a splendid 360-degree view of the 45-acre property, which includes the pool area, rows of ancient oaks and a narrow levee rimmed by ponds and wildlife.

august/september 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com

www.acadianaprofile.com | august/september 2014

la maison

critter (I see a small alligator during our bumpy golf cart ride to the property’s border). Now, with three young children under age 6, their home has become utterly kidfriendly and durable. In fact, it was built to withstand “just about anything,” including major hurricanes. “We built the main house in adherence with the strict Florida hurricane building code. This included all the windows, which do not need shutters due to their strength,” explains Kelly. He also made similar specifications when it came to the customized pool house. “The glass can withstand 135-mile-an-hour winds,” he adds. “We used reflective glass on the exterior of the pool house to deflect the sun’s rays, and for that mirrored effect. We also laid a slab and added extra steel beams to fortify the center of the building, to make it stronger. It was all custom-built, and then shipped here from overseas.” Hardy board siding made of durable fiber cement was inserted between some of the glass panes to add further protection against strong winds. Viewing the grounds from the inside the cool, air-conditioned pool house, I ask about an elegiac oak tree strewn with long, knotty branches and massive moss cradling the ground. “It’s over 350 years old,” says Kelly. “And there are tombstones around it dating back to the 1800s. That came with the property, too!” The cleverly designed orangery-turned glass pool house was purchased through French Fountains/A Division of French Casting Company, when the couple visited New Orleans. “It’s actually larger than the one we ordered because of our additions,” Kelly says. “The Falgouts’ cast-iron pool house was fashioned from a 19th-century French l’orangerie of Victorian design, with arched transoms, an atrium and French doors,”

TOP: A vintage birdcage chandelier from Restoration

Hardware casts faint sparkles of sunlight through crystal prisms as it dangles from weathered marine rope beneath the skylight. The rustic dining table adds a casual element while a 19th-century marble top console transformed into a kitchen island lends an elegant touch. BOTTOM: The antique-filled living room overlooks a large front lawn strewn with live oaks.

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www.acadianaprofile.com | august/september 2014

la maison

says Michelle LeBlanc Fine, owner of French Fountains and its eponymous casting division. A garden element designer, Fine also furnished various fountains, urns, antique benches and statuary around the grounds, including the Vanderbilt piece near the pool and consoles from Lyon that were transformed into kitchen islands and such. “The 19th-century cast Italian marble fountain that serves as the centerpiece of the pool was originally installed in one of the Vanderbilt mansions of Newport, Rhode Island,” she says. “L’orangeries are so named because they were initially designed for protecting citrus trees from the cold weather. We custom

made the Falgouts' orangery/pool house tailored to their specific needs. Normally, the structure has four sets of French doors with atriums and tempered glass panels. This particular custom structure has three sets of French doors, its walls were fitted with mirrors to reflect the outside, and the interior walled panels were enclosed to house wiring and plumbing for its special design that includes a bathroom and kitchen,” she continues. “The design was inspired by the Musée de l’Orangerie, housed in the former orangery of the Tuileries Gardens in Paris. Typically, the French brought their citrus plants into these glass structures in the winter, thus its name.”

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Many imitations have followed since the inception of the first (circa 1617) orangery in Paris, including Europe’s largest, designed for Louis XIV’s 3,000 orange trees at Versailles. More than just a greenhouse, an orangery was a status symbol among wealthy 17th- and 18th-century aristocrats. These structures were eventually overshadowed with the development of the modern greenhouse in the 1840s, thanks to the ingenious glass architecture of Joseph Paxton, whose 1851 Crystal Palace glass house at Chatsworth was nothing short of monumental. The genre continues to evolve. Case in point: A glass house in Raceland where you can actually ride out a major hurricane. Unlike the European aristocrats who flaunted the orangery as a posh, residential status symbol, the down-to-earth Falgouts use theirs to kick back and relax with the kids, although parties are always welcome. “That’s my napping couch,” says Nicole, as she watches me sink deeply into the soft white cushions while mesmerized by the sparkling pool and trickling fountain. “It’s so peaceful in here, I just love it. It’s my favorite place to rest.” ap

TOP LEFT: A 19th-century statue that was once part of the grand collections from the Vanderbilt estates in Newport, Rhode Island was transformed into a fountain near the pool. BOTTOM LEFT: Castings from an 18th-century fruit bowl from the French Fountains Urn Collection line the walkway; one was converted into a fountain and placed on a raised pedestal with bowl in the courtyard. RIGHT: The living room was designed around this circa-1800s American sofa.

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A MAN & HIS PIROGUE introduction by errol laborde photos by ron J. berard photo Text by sarah ravits

Take away all the petroleum plants. Remove the ship-builders, the medical centers, the high-tech dreamer, the hot pepper packers, the doctors, the lawyers and all the folks in the service industries. Take away all of them and go back to the ancient days when business in Acadiana was at its simplest: man relating to the water. Back then, the hum of industry was the pounding, sawing, sanding and chiseling of the pirogue builder. If ever Acadiana forgets about the pirogues and the role the slick craft played in its in its history, it will have lost its soul. From the beginning, pirogues were the chariots of the bayou entering channels and navigating stumps where few other crafts could go. Building pirogues is a lost art, but an art nonetheless. Though the experience is endangered, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not extinct. There is hope. On these pages, Henderson resident Tony Latiolais shows how it is done. There are many bigger and more prosperous businesses in Acadiana, but none, like a vine encircling a cypress knee, so wrapped to our past. Perched on that knee a spoon billed roseate watches a pirogue silently glide by.

RIGHT: At age 62, Henderson native Tony Latiolais has been hand-crafting cypress pirogues for decades. It’s a skill, a Cajun tradition and a labor of love passed down from his father, who taught him carpentry. Tony’s late older brother, Albert, was also a skilled craftsman who participated in the boat-building exhibition at the 1984 World’s Fair. top left: The high-quality, durable bronze nails that Latiolais uses are ordered from Jamestown Distributors in Virginia. He says one pirogue will contain somewhere between 400 and 500 nails. bottom left: Here, he is pictured measuring the two pieces of cypress to a point for the bow of the boat. This requires full concentration, fine-tuning and occasionally starting over.

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Always a perfectionist, Latiolais sands the cypress wooden pirogue to get it as smooth as possible before applying a lacquer coat, which must be done early in the morning under prime conditions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; little or no breeze, so that no debris, leaves or bugs get stuck in its coating as it dries. TOP RIGHT: Latiolais meticulously shaves the cypress wood down with a planer. to even out the texture. BOTTOM RIGHT: Most of the cypress boats that Latiolais creates are collectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s items, to be displayed rather than taken on the water for daily use. Most hunters and fishers these days use pirogues made out of steel, though some of his clients take the cypress boats out for special occasions. LEFT:

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Latiolais’ pirogues are made of cypress planks from Atchafalaya Basin bayous and rivers. Pictured here is the sharp bow of the boat that can seamlessly glide through the water – often the same water from where it originated. top RIGHT: Each pirogue measures 14 or 15 feet long and takes aroundthe-clock work for about two weeks. LEFT:

bottom RIGHT:

Latiolais’ hands are one of his most prominent physical features, weathered and tough. They are also the hands of a musician – he once played in the band Beausoleil and has performed alongside numerous other Cajun artists.

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Latiolais’ grandson, Ryland Calais, steers the pirogue in a nearby bayou with his cousin, Taetan Latiolais. top RIGHT: Latiolais concentrates on the physical details of the boat, along with the mechanisms. Each boat is both fully functional and visually appealing. “I don’t build them all the time,” he says. “I used to build houses and I did this in my spare time.” BOTTOM RIGHT: Here he applies another coat of lacquer onto the pirogue. He estimates that he has built about 75 or 80 boats in his lifetime. LEFT:

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by stanley dry This is the time of year to plant photos eugenia uhl beets, carrots and potatoes

in anticipation of all the earthy flavors weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll enjoy a few months down the road. The days when beets were predictably red, carrots were always orange and potatoes were white are long gone. Now we can choose from an amazing variety of colors, varieties and shapes. Those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have space for an outdoor garden can even grow beets and carrots on a patio or balcony, since some varieties are suitable for container gardening. As with all produce that goes straight from the garden to the table, simple preparations are best.

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Beets Once known as

“blood turnips,” beets today include golden and white varieties, as well as a wide range of reds and even a candy-striped Italian heirloom. In addition to the beets themselves, the greens are delicious and can be cooked as you would chard or mustard greens. If seeds are planted close together and thinned, the baby beet greens are perfect for salads.

in the garden sun: Full / partial sun soil: Sandy, loamy ph: 5.5 – 6 water: Keep moist FERTILIZE: Every

3 – 4 weeks after they sprout Harvest: 50 – 70 days depending on variety TIP: You can plant beets successively, 3 weeks apart, so you can have multiple harvests throughout the growing season. 40 august/september 2014 | www.acadianaprofile.com 40

on the plate Beet Salad Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut greens from 1-1½ pounds beets, leaving about one inch of stem. Reserve greens for another use. Wash beets and wrap individually in aluminum foil. Place foil packets on baking sheet and bake in oven until a toothpick or the point of a small knife pierces them easily, about 30-90 minutes, depending on size of beets. Remove from oven and cool. Whisk 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon cane vinegar together to make vinaigrette. Peel beets and slice or cut into wedges, as desired. Toss beets in vinaigrette and arrange on serving plates. Season to taste with Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon snipped chives and 1 tablespoon chopped parsley. Makes 4 servings.

prep tip If possible, use beets of two or more colors for a stunning presentation. Since red beets will stain, toss beets of different colors separately in vinaigrette, red ones last.

health tip Beet roots contain folate, manganese and potassium, and the greens provide vitamin K, as well as potassium, magnesium and fiber.

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Carrots The earliest carrots are thought to have been purple, yellow and red, while the familiar orange carrot was probably developed by the Dutch in the 17th century. Today, seeds for purple, red, yellow, white and myriad shades of orange carrots in a wide variety of shapes and lengths are available to the gardener. Some short varieties are particularly suited for container gardening.

in the garden sun: Full soil: Sandy ph: 6 – 6.8 water: inch a week FERTILIZE: 5 – 6

weeks after sowing Harvest: 50 – 75

days depending on variety TIP: For carrots to have perfectly straight, long roots, your soil needs to be light, sandy and deeply tilled. If the soil is heavy clay or full of stones, the carrots will have a hard time penetrating the soil. They may end up stunted or forked.

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on the plate Glazed Carrots With Jalapeño In this preparation, the natural sweetness of carrots is juxtaposed with hot jalapeño pepper. Scrub or peel 1 – 1½ pounds carrots and cut into julienne strips about 3 inches long and about ¼-inch in diameter. Combine carrots, 2 tablespoons butter and ½ cup water in a large skillet, cover and cook on medium heat until carrots are tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover skillet, add 2 tablespoons minced jalapeño pepper, or to taste, increase heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until water evaporates and carrots glaze. Season to taste with Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper. Makes 4 servings.

prep tip A mandoline works best for cutting small strips that will absorb the flavor of butter. If you do not have a mandoline, cut the carrot into 2 or 3-inch slices. Cut a piece into 1 â &#x201E;8 strips, length-wise. Stack several slices atop one another and cut lengthwise through all layers.

health tip

In addition to beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, carrots contain many phytonutrient antioxidants, which vary depending upon the carrotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s color.

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Potatoes There was a time when the American consumer’s only choice in potatoes was either big baking potatoes or small red ones, but those days are long gone. For the home gardener today, the choices are extensive and include red, purple, blue and yellow-fleshed varieties, as well as a wide range of sizes and shapes. Even many supermarkets offer a good selection. With the easy availability of potatoes, some might wonder if growing you own is really worth the trouble. The answer to that is found in one gardening catalog: “Warning: After eating some home grown potatoes, you may never be able to eat commercial potatoes again.”

in the garden sun: Full soil: Sandy ph: 5.3 – 6 water: keep moist FERTILIZE: 5 – 6

weeks after sowing Harvest: 2 – 4

months; harvest once the tops die off TIP: New potatoes are freshly harvested young, or small, potatoes. They have paper-thin skins and lots of moisture inside, and they tend to be sweeter than older potatoes.

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on the plate Pan Roasted New Potatoes With rosemary, freshly dug new potatoes need only some butter or olive oil, salt, pepper and, at most, a fresh herb to be at their best. Combine 1 pound new potatoes, ¼ cup olive oil and 2 large sprigs fresh rosemary in a heavy skillet with a close-fitting lid. Cook, covered, on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, shaking pan occasionally to turn potatoes. Uncover and increase heat to medium. Cook, shaking pan occasionally, until potatoes are tender and nicely browned, about 15 – 25 minutes, depending on size of potatoes. Transfer potatoes to a serving dish. Cut potatoes in half, moisten with the rosemary-scented cooking oil and season to taste with Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper. Makes 4 servings.

prep tip Wash your potatoes in cold water before cooking to get rid of extra starch.

health tip Potatoes are high in vitamin C, have more potassium than bananas, and some varieties contain elevated levels of antioxidants.

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[

TAKING THE PULSE a guide to acadiana hospitals

Acadia Parish Acadia General

(formerly American Legion Hospital) 1305 Crowley Rayne Hwy., Crowley alh.org

Formerly American Legion Hospital, Acadia General Hospital serves the expanding Acadia Parish with 148 beds and has multiple specialties along with a family practice, including emergency medicine, oncology, orthopedics, gynecology, podiatry, pain management, physical medication and rehabilitation, radiology, vein therapy, wound care, hyperbaric medicine and the da Vinci Surgical System. It has also partnered with Lafayette General Medical Center to serve the newly renovated Acadiana Cancer Center, which provides chemotherapy along with treating the mind and spirit.

Allen Parish Allen Parish Hospital 108 Sixth St., Kinder allenparishhospital.com

Allen Parish Hospital is an acute and specialty care hospital that serves the tri-parish area of Allen, Beauregard and Jeff Davis parishes. It is located in Kinder, “the crossroads to everywhere.” Along with rural health clinics in Kinder, APH offers home health post-op care for orthopedic, cardiac and general surgeries and homebound individuals. It provides group and individual therapy in addition to professional counseling in its psychiatric recovery unit for mental illness and addiction. APH also works with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to provide a free Family-to-Family Education Program that covers everything from medication side effects to current research on mental illness causes.

Oakdale Community Hospital 130 Hospital Drive, Oakdale oakdalecommunityhospital.com

This 60-bed hospital houses a Siemens Somatom Sensation scanner that creates 3-D images to reduce radiation exposure and examination time for MRIs, and the American College of Radiology-certified mammography unit uses low-energy X-rays to detect abnormalities. The hospital was also recently ranked in the top 10 percent in Louisiana for heart-failure treatment and offers a variety of non-invasive heart services. It also recently ranked first in the state for pulmonary care, as well as in the top 10 percent in the state for pneumonia care and medical excellence in general surgery.

Ascension Parish St. Elizabeth Hospital

1125 West Hwy. 30, Gonzales steh.com

The faith-based, not-for-profit St. Elizabeth Hospital is one of four hospitals in the Franciscan missionaries of Our Lady Health System, and its overall patient satisfaction ranks higher than 90 percent of all hospitals evaluated by Press Ganey. It has partnered with the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center for radiation oncology and has accredited cardiopulmonary services including respiratory therapy, cardiac testing, MRI center and a telemetry unit where patients have their hearts monitored for 24 hours a day. They hospital offers three types of surgeries through their bariatric and weight loss program, including gastric bypass, vertical sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable band, and hosts a support group for grief recovery every Thursday.

compiled for Acadiana Profile by Ashley Hinson

Assumption Parish Assumption Community Hospital 135 Hwy. 402, Napoleonville (985) 369-3600

Assumption Community Hospital is a critical access hospital in Napoleonville with six beds. Assumption Community Hospital operates as a nonprofit hospital. Outpatient services includes a stop-smoking program and breast cancer screenings and mammograms. As part of their community outreach, they also provide health fairs and health screenings to Assumption Parish.

Calcasieu Parish Christus St. Patrick Hospital

524 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive, Lake Charles christusstpatrick.org

Named for the patron saint of Ireland upon the insistence of Dr. John Greene Martin, Christus St. Patrick Hospital was dedicated on St. Patrick’s Day in 1908 and joined the Christus Health system in 1999 along with the Sisters of Charity Health and the Incarnate Word health care systems. The hospital’s latest offers behavioral health services with an inpatient geriatric program and outpatient care for seniors and a pediatric unit, as well as a diabetes management center, long-term acute care in the Dubuis Hospital within Christus St. Patrick Hospital. It also houses a rehabilitation center and offers lung cancer screenings. The hospital partnered with Southwest Louisiana Imaging to provide MRI and CT services.

]

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital 1701 Oak Park Blvd., Lake Charles lcmh.com

This hospital was recently awarded with the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval recognizing its dedication to the commission’s high standards. Health care services offered at include inpatient and outpatient services, as well as a full-service trauma and emergency department. A full range of diagnostics and pathology services available include CT scanning, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, MRI, endoscopic and cardiovascular and cancer diagnostics. From pediatric to geriatric care, Memorial is a full-service health care delivery system. Specialty services included cardiovascular, cancer, family medicine, ENT, urology, surgery, psychiatry, rehabilitation, pulmonology, orthopedics and sports medicine, gynecology and obstetrics, neurosurgery, internal medicine and pediatrics.

Lake Area Medical Center

(formerly Women’s and Children’s Hospital) 4200 Nelson Road, Lake Charles women-childrens.com

Formerly Women’s and Children’s Hospital, this 88-bed hospital opened its doors in 1984 and boasts a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its 36 specialties include the Surgicare of Lake Charles, which specializes in outpatient surgery, as well as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence that offers three weight loss surgery options. It also offers services in labor and delivery, pediatrics, women’s health, urology and cardiology alongside a 24-hour emergency department.

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toughest cases profile by christopher jennings

[

TRICKY CONDITIONS

]

NAME: Stanley Ray Kordisch LOCATION: Lake Charles Specialty: Gynecology EDUCATION: • USL (1972) • LSU Medical School New Orleans (1976) • Texas Tech (Lubbock) (1980)

One of stanley kordisch’s most difficult cases in his medical career involved a woman who was six months pregnant and had a rather tricky medical condition – “a blocked ureter secondary to a large fibroid,” meaning that a uterine growth was preventing the movement of urine from her kidney to her bladder. This surgery on a pregnant woman can endanger both mother and child, but Kordisch says that it “turned out real good” with a healthy mother and baby. While Kordisch no longer practices obstetrics, he works as the sole gynecologist at his practice, seeing an average of 26 patients each day. Additionally, he is a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society and the Calcasieu Medical Society. A straight shooter who doesn’t mince words, Kordisch grew up in New Orleans thinking he’d become a veterinarian like his father. It wasn’t until later that he realized he’d rather work with people. He says that he worked at Charity Hospital in Lake Charles one summer and found that he really enjoyed it. He especially found that he enjoyed working with the patients in obstetrics and, after doing preceptor work under Dr. Syd Dyer, he switched his focus in college to obstetrics and gynecology. Kordisch says his time in medical school at Louisiana State University and his

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residency at Texas Tech University “challenging,” especially the first two years. “It’s mainly like an advanced college,” he says. “After that, it’s more clinical.” He says, however, that his time in medical school taught him the important value of hard work. “You’re on call every other night when you’re an intern and senior resident,” he says. “It teaches you how to work hard even when you’re tired.” These life lessons have been valuable to him throughout his career. One major concern Kordisch has about the future of medicine is the increased involvement of the government, which he says is turning many medical practices “upside down. Nothing they run has turned out efficient, and they’re trying to control medicine. It’s going to be a disaster unless we get some changes.” In addition, he finds that changing from physical records to electronic medical records can often result in confusion and errors. In his spare time, Kordisch’s interest in boxing has led him to volunteer as a ringside physician at local boxing matches. He is also a backup physician to the high school football team. In addition, he is an avid fisher and frequently travels to Destrehan, where his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren have relocated after several years spent in California.

photograph romero & romero

West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital

Savoy Medical Center

The 109-bed West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital recently became the first community hospital in the nation to implement 128 Slice Philip Ingenuity, CT technology, computing a more accurate CAT scan. It also recently launched the area’s first specialized program for breast cancer patients, designating a single nurse or other health professional to help patients navigate the path to recovery. WCCH also has a sleep center and both cardiac rehabilitation and cardiology services, along with servicing rural health clinics in Hackberry, Vinton and Johnson Bayou. It is the first hospital in Southwest Louisiana to have computer-assisting technology for joint replacement and is home to one of the largest joint replacement programs in the region. It also provides therapeutic equestrian services through the Genesis Therapeutic Riding Center for patients with developmental disabilities or brain injuries. WCCH also participates in Shots for Tots to provide cheap or free immunization for children.

Located just outside the heart of Mamou, Savoy Medical Center possesses a number of amenities that rival large-city hospitals, including a 24-hour emergency room and critical care unit. It also offers patient diagnostic services available 24 hours a day, including mammography and bone-density testing. Savoy also offers services for inpatient and outpatient surgery, mental health for both patients and family members and social services to help with hospitalization, childbirth, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and physical, pedodontic, podiatry, plastic and reconstructive, vascular and urological surgeries.

701 East Cypress St., Sulphur wcch.com

Evangeline Parish Mercy Regional Medical Center (two locations) 3501 Hwy. 190 E., Eunice; 800 E. Main St., Ville Platte mercyregionalmedicalcenter.com

The nonprofit Mercy Regional Medical Center formed when Ville Platte Medical Center and Acadian Medical Center merged in 2010 and now serves more than 97,000 patients annually under LifePoint Hospitals. Between the two campuses, in Euince and Ville Platte, the hospital offers a 24-hour emergency room, a cardiology center, pain management, imaging, dialysis, gastroenterology, gynecology, obstetrics, oncology and more.

801 Poinciana Ave., Mamou savoymedical.com

Iberia Parish Dauterive Hospital

600 N. Lewis Ave., New Iberia dauterivehospital.com

This 103-bed full-service facility is an affiliate of The Regional Health System of Acadiana. The New Iberia facility’s services include cardiovascular, general surgery, orthopedics, emergency care, obstetrics and gynecology surgery and rehabilitations. It recently implemented the American Orthopaedic Association’s bone health quality improvement program, helping to identify, evaluate and treat patients with low bone density or osteoporosis.

Iberia Medical Center

2315 E. Main St., New Iberia iberiamedicalcenter.com

This 99-bed hospital received the 2013 Women’s Choice award for Best Patient Experience. It is a full service, acute care hospital, providing medical, surgical, obstetrical, gynecological, pediatric, and emergency services; critical care, cardiac care, gastroenterological care; and outpatient diagnostics. The facility also operates an outpatient Rehabilitation Center, an Advanced Wound Center and the Jeanerette Rural Health Clinic, and partners with Acadiana Diagnostic Imaging, Iberia Extended Care Hospital, the New Iberia Surgery Center and the Louisiana Stroke Network.

www.acadianaprofile.com | august/september 2014

toughest cases profile by christopher jennings

[

SAVING A NEWBORN

]

NAME: Ruthanne Gallagher LOCATION: Gray Specialty: Pediatrics EDUCATION: • USL (1974) • LSU School of Medicine (1978) Ruthanne Gallagher’s most challenging case was a patient who was three days old. Upon discovering that the infant had a significant fever and poor coloring, Gallagher grew suspicious. She performed a spinal tap, which showed signs of meningitis. While working with neonatologists at the hospital adjacent to her clinic, Gallagher confirmed her concerns. “He had a complicated course of a very serious form of meningitis with the development of brain swelling and seizures,” she says. She sat with the infant through the first night, and he spent the first three weeks of his life in the hospital. However, with care from medical professionals “today he is an active 9-year-old who attends fourth grade and is still a patient of mine,” Gallagher says. “Although I don’t usually care for very sick children myself, you never know what is going to come into the office or emergency room. This is one of the things that makes my job not routine and is gratifying when I see a good outcome and they come back to me.” Gallagher, who grew up in New Orleans and Lafayette, didn’t know she wanted to be a pediatrician until college – indeed, she had originally considered architecture, city planning and civil engineering as possible career paths. However, her adviser suggested that she consider medicine instead, citing her achievements in math and science. “Once I started med school the decision of pediatrics was easy as I have always loved working with children,” Gallagher says. “I came to Houma seven months pregnant with my first child and had three children in four years while establishing my practice,” Galla50

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gher says. She was initially part of a three-physician practice. She then worked solo for some time before joining with five other pediatricians to form Bayou Pediatric Associates. In her heyday, Gallagher would see as many as 60 patients in a day from a six-parish area with ages ranging from newborns to 21 years old. “Electronic records and aging of myself and my patients – teens usually take more time – has slowed me down, so I currently see 20-30 patients in a day,” she says. When it comes to the changes Gallagher has seen in her 31-year career, she says she worries about the “erosion of the doctor-patient relationship and the decrease in the position of respect and esteem that the physician holds in our society.” Between third party payers, increased regulations, and increased advertisements from drug companies, she worries about the lack of agency patients have in choosing their physician and the difficult in developing working relationships between doctors and patients. “I am optimistic that this will all work itself out, but my concern is that the career of medicine […] will become less appealing to our best and brightest,” she says. Outside of her practice, Gallagher is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Section on Adolescent Medicine, and the Terrebonne Parish Medical Society. In addition to her professional life, Gallagher has been married for 38 years and has three grown children, one of whom is a physician herself. She serves on the board of directors of TARC and enjoys traveling, gardening, and cooking in her spare time.

photograph romero & romero

Jefferson Davis Parish Jennings American Legion Hospital

1634 Elton Road, Jennings jalh.com

This hospital recently renovated a 5,000-square-foot area to house the only cardiac catheterization lab between Lake Charles and Lafayette, where Jennings American Legion Hospital can offer interventional procedures along with nuclear stress testing and echocardiograms for those who have recently undergone heart procedures. The 24,000-square-foot medical office building and 32,000-square-foot patient tower allow JALH to provide patients with an emergency room, cardiology unit, surgical care, maternity ward and radiology services as well as a web nursery for families to view newborns.

St. James Parish St. James Parish Hospital

1645 Lutcher Ave., Lutcher sjph.org

This nonprofit hospital opened its doors in 1955 and has grown to a 20-bed acute care facility that claims it is “large enough to serve, small enough to care.” The cardiopulmonary department serves every age group, and the radiology department provides ultrasounds, digital mammography, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine and bone density testing. The sleep center focuses mostly on sleep apnea, and they provide general, orthopedic, endoscopic and ophthalmological surgeries, along with wound care for ulcers, infections and skin grafts. The hospital recently welcomed its new orthopedic clinic.

St. John the Baptist Parish River Parishes Hospital

500 Rue de Sante, LaPlace riverparisheshospital.com

River Parishes Hospital offers a full range of services for surgeries and treatments. The cardiac center has a comprehensive program, including echocardiography, an exercise testing vascular laboratory and nuclear studies. The gastroenterology de-

partment treats gastroenterological organs and also treats liver diseases, including Hepatitis B and C. It also provides services out of an occupational medical center in LaPlace to treat work injuries and illnesses. Surgical specialties include procedures for the head, neck, neurology, gynecology and breast cancer.

Lafayette Parish Heart Hospital of Lafayette 1105 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette hearthospitallaf.net

The Heart Hospital of Lafayette is faith-based and entirely focused on and designed for the cardiovascular health of its patients and was named one of the top 50 cardiovascular hospitals in the country by Thomson Reuters. Along with a 24/7 heart emergency center, it boasts a 64-slice Aquilion CT scanner in the Chest Pain Center, where patients are taught to recognize and react to the early symptoms of heart attacks. The Heartsaver CT scans the heart while beating to uncover heart disease at its earliest stages, and the HEARTVantage free wellness program is the only free nationally accredited specialized care facility that focuses on heart health for patients.

Lafayette General Medical Center

1214 Coolidge St., Lafayette lafayettegeneral.com

Lafayette General is the largest full-service hospital in Acadiana with 343 new spaces and a team of more than 25 physicians. It was the first telemedicine clinic in the area, and has recently received the HealthGrades’ General Surgery Excellence Award and Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award. It has also received accolades for neurosurgery, vascular surgery, carotid surgery, prostatectomy, orthopedic services and surgeries, and was the first hospital in Acadiana to perform an open-heart surgery and a craniotomy. The Pavilion center for women and children boasts a Level III NICU, and the hospital also houses centers for cancer, bariatric surgery, chronic care, neurology, strokes and orthopedics.

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Lafayette General Surgical Hospital

1000 W. Pinhook Road, Suite 100, Lafayette lgsh.us

This 60,000-square-foot shortstay hospital is a joint venture with Lafayette General Medical Center and holds four operating rooms along with radiology, EKG and lab services. Owned in part by physicians who work there, their specialties include urology, orthopedics, ENT, ophthalmology, cosmetic surgery, gynecology and pain management.

Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital

1101 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette lafayettesurgical.com

Built in 2004, Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital is physicianowned and cares for 8,000 cases annually and was named Hospital of the Year by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation for four consecutive years and named by WomenCertified.com as one of the top 100 hospitals for patient experience. Specialties include neurosurgery, as well as orthopedic, ENT, general, urological, gynocological and plastic and reconstructive surgeries, along with pain management, and radiological and magnetic resonance imaging.

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center

4801 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Lafayette lourdesrmc.com

Founded by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady in 1949, Our Lady of Lourdes employs more than 400 physicians and moved to its new main campus on Ambassador Caffery Parkway last year, which was the largest building project in the history of Lafayette. Lourdes houses the region’s only burn center for comprehensive burn care from chemical and electrical burns to less serious injuries. Other services include a cancer center, one of five stroke centers of excellence in the state, a chronic kidney disease clinic, wound care center and after-hours clinics in Lafayette, Breaux Bridge and Carencro.

Park Place Surgical Hospital 901 Wilson St., Lafayette parkplacesurgery.com

What started as the Ambulatory Surgery Center in 1999 has grown to the physician-owned Park Place Surgical Hospital, after joining with Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in 2003. Park Place boasts 36 doctors who perform colon, rectal, ENT/otolaryngology, general, OB/GYN, plastic, vascular and orthopedic surgeries, along with occupational and speech therapies. It is the official surgical provider for Ragin’ Cajun Athletics.

Regional Medical Center of Acadiana

2810 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Lafayette medicalcenterofacadiana.com

Regional Medical Center of Acadiana is the first in Acadiana to be accredited a Cycle III Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, and was recently a Top 100 hospital for coronary bypass surgery and major cardiac surgery, and treats patients for a variety of heart conditions. The hospital also specializes in geriatric services with a range of services specially designed for the aging through inpatient, rehabilitation and nursing home programs. Other services include emergency services, hemodialysis, laser surgery, neurology, orthopedics, radiology and medical and surgical intensive care units. It was most recently honored by eQHealth Solutions for its improvements to quality and care.

University Hospital

2390 W. Congress St., Lafayette lsuhospitals.org/hospitals/umc/umc.htm

Lafayette General Medical Center recently took over the 117-bed acute care University Medical Center, renaming it University Hospital. With the new management comes program expansion, starting with a newly opened orthopedic clinic. It has switched from paper to electronic medical records, while continuing to be the medical destination for the unand underinsured. Other services include interventional radiology, orthopedics, ENT, physical therapy, general surgery, infectious disease and OB/GYN.

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Women’s & Children’s Hospital

4600 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Lafayette womens-childrens.com

Women’s and Children’s is a campus of the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana that specializes in women’s and children’s health care. It began as strictly a birthing hospital, and has expanded to become the second-largest birthing hospital in the state. Among its children’s services are the kidsonly, 24-hour emergency department in Acadiana, Shots for Tots; and specialty centers for asthma, cancer, diabetes, flu and nutrition. The women’s center includes a American College of Radiologydesignated Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

Lafourche Parish Lady of the Sea General Hospital 200 W. 134th Place, Cut Off losgh.org

Lady of the Sea General Hospital caters to patients in South Lafourche through the main campus and medical clinics in Larose, Golden Meadow and Cut Off. Through a partnership with the Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Lady of the Sea provides cardiology and cardiopulmonary services to the area. Other services include diabetes support, home health, an ICU, a renal dialysis center and wound care.

Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital 4608 Hwy. 1, Raceland ochsner.org/locations/st _ anne _ general

One of the Ochsner hospitals scattered across Southeast Louisiana, St. Anne General Hospital recently renovated its maternity suites for state-of-the-art monitoring and boasts many women’s services, including digital mammography, four-dimensional ultrasounds and OB/GYN. The specialty clinic serves Cut Off, Raceland and Lockport and offers cardiology, neurology, urology general surgery and pediatric services as well as a blood donor center.

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center

602 N. Acadia Road, Thibodaux thibodaux.com

Thibodaux Regional Medical Center recently received a Grade “A” by Hospital Safety Score and was awarded the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award; in 2012, it was the only hospital in the state to earn the the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Award for outstanding inpatient and outpatient experiences. It’s also the only full-service hospital to receive the Press Ganey Summit Award (seven times) for patient satisfaction. In 2009, TRMC expanded its cancer center and doubled the size of its medical oncology suite and chemotherapy infusion area. TRMC also performs the most heart and vascular surgeries in the region.

St. Charles Parish St. Charles Parish Hospital

1057 Paul Maillard Road, Luling stch.net

A 20-minute drive from New Orleans, St. Charles Parish Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and also operates the Eastbank Medical Office in Destrehan to provide specialties for allergies, asthma, ENT, internal medicine and orthopedics. Other services include an ICU, angiography and vascular procedures, adult behavioral health unit, dialysis and physical, occupational and speech rehabilitation.

St. Landry Parish Opelousas General Health System

539 E. Prudhomme Lane, Opelousas opelousasgeneral.com

Opelousas General was recently awarded with the Path to Excellence Award by the National Research Corporation. This 207-bed acute care two-campus hospital serves patients in St. Landry Parish and has a complete cancer center to administer radiation and chemotherapy, and recently introduced the da Vinci Surgical System to perform minimally invasive surgery, resulting in less pain, blood loss, scarring and recovery time. The Dr. Gerald E. Posner Center for Women’s Health special-

izes in breast health, the cardiopulmonary diagnostic lab utilizes the world’s first full-volume imaging system for cardiology and the hospital has partnered with area employers to control health care costs through their Wellness Works program.

St. Mary Parish Franklin Foundation Hospital 1097 Northwest Blvd., Franklin franklinfoundation.org

Serving the western St. Mary Parish, Franklin Foundation Hospital offers multiple clinics including Women’s Health, Medical Specialties and a Family Care Center in Baldwin. It provides a 22-bed critical access hospital and became the first in the area to offer the LightSpeed 16 CT system. Among its other services, FFH offers maternity services and a newborn nursery and an online medical dictionary, a drug encyclopedia and a physician directory accessible through the website.

Teche Regional Medical Center

1125 Marguerite St., Morgan City techeregional.com

This tobacco-free hospital on the east side of Acadiana serves St. Mary Parish with 157 beds and a 24-hour emergency department. It utilizes a state-of-the-art heart catheterization lab that uses minimally invasive procedures, seven birthing suites and digital mammograms, along with inpatient rehabilitation, bone desitometry, an ICU, a behavioral health unit and a cardiopulmonary department.

Terrebonne Parish

Terrebonne General Medical Center

8166 Main St., Houma tgmc.com

Terrebonne General Medical Center is a public, nonprofit health care system that opened in 1954 and has since grown to house 321 beds and employ 150 physicians. It boasts a women’s center with a breast center, as well as the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and in- and outpatient rehabilitation services as well as emergency care. It is home to one of the state’s few accredited stroke programs and was recently reissued its accreditation from the Joint Commission and the Neonatal ICU.

Vermilion Parish Abbeville General Hospital

118 N. Hospital Drive, Abbeville abbgen.net

Abbeville General Hospital has provided care for 47 years and boasts 60 beds, an ICU, interventional pain therapy for pain in the lower back and extremities, a labor and delivery unit and surgical services. AGH also has a cancer center through a partnership with Lafayette General, as well as an off-site imaging center accredited by the American College of Radiology and a rural health clinic in Erath. The hospital, clinics and laboratory recently earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for its commitment to quality and safety.

FIN

Physicians Medical Center

218 Corporate Drive, Houma physicianshouma.com

More than 100 physicians work out of Physicians Medical Center, which opened in 1996. Surgery is their specialty, performing more than 5,000 procedures a year. Its Medicare patient satisfaction rating is among the top 50 in the country. This 30-bed acute care hopsital is the only hospital in Terrebonne Parish to offer weight-loss surgery, performing lap band, gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgeries. PMC is also home to a gastrointestinal laboratory focused on diagnosing colon cancer.

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personnes d’acadiana

Sounds for All Seasons In more than two decades of broadcasting UL athletics, Jay Walker has pretty much seen everything…and told you all about it

by wilL kalec

There’s a twisted romance found in the life of the nomadic narrator, a sort of masochistic joy that only becomes crystal clear when you turn the radio off and stop listening to Jay Walker. The game is over. The lights are off. Noise is a muzzled whisper, at best. The dark stadium sits hauntingly at rest, empty but for the gluttonous mosquitos. Traffic has cleared. Gas receipts, a plastic motel key and a wrinkled press pass – none of which he’ll keep – clutter Walker’s pockets. If he’s hungry, the only food left open this left will be served on Styrofoam. For someone whose “office” is filled with thousands of screaming people, stadiums and arenas morph into incredibly lonely and reflective scenes once the clock

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expires. Such is life on the road. Walker wouldn’t want it any other way. Because, as he gleefully admits, it’s a cool job. Like, really cool. Probably cooler than yours. Since 1991, the New-Englander-by-birth, Cajun-by-choice has been the familiar radio voice of UL sports, broadcasting football, men’s basketball and baseball in addition to his Monday-Friday sports talk hosting duties on KPEL 1420 AM in Lafayette. He always wanted to do sports – a dream position he chased for years, back when his hair was long and the rock wasn’t yet labeled “classic,” spinning records at various music stations. But it’s still a job, and it’s still a grind. That’s why this year has been so special. The recent rebirth of UL athletics fully matured during the 2013-2014 school calendar as the Cajuns were one of two teams to win a football bowl game, make the men’s basketball NCAA Tournament and host a NCAA baseball super regional (University of Louisville being the other). Not surprisingly, the voice of the Cajuns has something to say about it: mainly, that UL’s collection of current coaches refuses to settle, each believing their team can not only compete against but topple programs with quadruple the athletic budgets. “What’s happened this year – football, basketball, baseball – is kind of like being paid back for all of the common years,” Walker says with a slight laugh. “You know, I’ve broadcast a lot of bad football but now I’m seeing good football. There had been quite a dry spell in basketball. Baseball has always been pretty good, but nothing like this. “It’s like OK, ‘You’ve gone through this. We’re going to let you have this,’” Walker continues. “I’ve become somewhat weathered through all this, that a lot of stuff doesn’t hit me personally. But there were some times in that ballpark where it gave me chills. The fans took it to another level.” So did Walker, as his soundtrack to these seasons-unlike-any-others offered plenty of opportune moments to paint a picture with words. Baseball’s three-day whirlwind

p h o t o g r a p h s b y t r av i s g a u t h i e r

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personnes d’acadiana

in the regional round left Walker pretty much spent. The Cajuns basketball team mustered up two big defensive stops in the semifinal and finals of the Sun Belt Tournament. And then of course there’s Walker’s call of Tulane’s missed field goal attempt at the end of the New Orleans Bowl, the veteran play-by-play man noting that while Green Wave kicker Cairo Santos might have won the Lou Groza Award, he’s no Brett Baer (the UL kicker who nailed a 50-yard game winner in the 2011 New Orleans Bowl.) “I felt bad later, because it almost sounded like I tried to disparage him, but it just came out!” Walker says. “There are a couple times where I’ve thought about it, ‘If we win what am I going to say?’ But those have been few and far between. “You don’t know they’re coming, so you don’t have time to think, ‘Gee, what am I going to say right here.’ You know, Baer kicks the field goal and all I could say was CAJUNS WIN! And I said it over and over and over. You don’t get a chance to rehearse because the performance is different every single night.” 78

Because schedules overlap – the latter weeks of football clash with the beginning of basketball while baseball starts in the middle of basketball’s conference schedule – Walker is forced to shift playby-play styles from one day to the next. For instance, on football broadcasts Walker is flanked by a color analyst and a sideline reporter, limiting him to simply recite what he sees – score, time, down and distance, IDing players making catches or tackles – instead of breaking down what just happened. Compare that to basketball, where Walker is left on his own courtside, frantically keeping up with the action like a caffeinated auctioneer. “You don’t have time to be inaccurate,” Walker says. “If I call out the wrong name, I can’t take it back. The good news is you only have 10 people on the court at one time, so that makes it a little easier, but it’s so fast paced.” Then, there’s baseball, which Walker explains, “is toootally different. It’s almost therapeutic. You can let the crowd talk for you. Even if you don’t say anything, you can hear the crowd every pitch – cheers,

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pissed off at an umpire, a foul off a bat. There’s time to say what you see. Like, they serve beer at the ballpark, and if I see a guy with one in each hand I’ll say, ‘There’s a fan double-fisting.’ It’s relaxing… relaxing to an extent.” That’s because the climate surrounding intercollegiate athletics has exponentially intensified during the last decade or so, creating a sense of immediate gratification within fan bases, and vile outbursts when that thirst isn’t repeatedly quenched. It’s become much more cut-throat, much nastier thanks to the cloak of anonymity offered in online forums and comments sections. As best he can, Walker tries to counter that carnage on his daily talk show, approaching topics with the calm of a high school guidance counselor. “Every win is euphoric. Every loss is tragic,” Walker says. “Unfortunately, some of those people are the most vocal … A lot of the criticism I get is from the angry fans because I don’t come across as angry, like I’m trying to protect somebody. I’m not. I just go about it differently.” ap

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Ă&#x20AC; la mode

6 2 3

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photographs by romero & romero

Tailgating Fashions by krystral cooper christen Tailgating is more than a party; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tradition, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no reason to be less than stylish while repping your favorite team. 1. Dazzle your fellow fans with this sporty yet femininine jeweled Tigers cap. Louisiana Hot Stuff, 4409 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Lafayette, 70508, (337) 981-3132, louisianahotstuff.com 2. Show you bleed purple and gold in this stripped braided racer back tank, also from Louisiana Hot Stuff. 3. Add some shine to your feet while still staying true to your team with flashy flip flops. Available in a variety of styles for tiger and Ragin Cajun fans, available from Louisiana Hot Stuff. 4. You can show your team spirit while looking college-casual in this fitted blue and gold baseball cap. McNeese Bookstore, 325 Beauregard St., Lake Charles, (337) 4755494, mcneesecowboystore.com. 5. This basic blue and gold T-shirt from the McNeese Bookstore is a comfy way to show your school spirit. 6. Shield yourself from the gameday sun in this flirty Cajuns cowgirl hat. Available at Louisiana Hot Stuff. 7 & 8. Your little Cajuns can show their team spirit in this classic jersey and adorable chevron print dress. Louisiana Hot Stuff ap

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sur le menu

h o u s e p o tat o , s t e a m b o a t b i l l’ s

Food for Football Season By Jan Risher Even though the heat is still on in South Louisiana, fall is on its way. And with fall comes football. And with football comes tailgating. And with tailgating comes food that can only be found in Acadiana. It almost always comes back to food, doesn’t it? While many gridiron fans prefer to pull out their own grills or cookpots, there is a tailgating contingency that takes the easy (and respectable) way out. They order their tailgating feasts. 82

If you’re planning a tailgating event in the not-so-distant future, enjoy the compilation of old faithfuls and a few choices you may not have considered before.

Steamboat Bill’s 1004 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles (337) 494-1070 732 S. Martin Luther King Highway, Lake Charles (337) 494-1700 Certainly, there’s more to Steamboat Bill’s than carry-out for a crowd. Shayna Duffy Manuel, a Lake Charles native, has been going to Steamboat Bill’s for as long as she remembers. For her, like many of the Lake Charles faithful, Steamboat Bill’s is the place to go for big gatherings of friends and family. “Steamboat Bill’s is great for big parties,” she says. “I like their shrimp poor

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boys, fried shrimp platter and stuffed shrimp. Their gumbo is really good, too, but my absolute, hands-down favorite –like, ever, not just at Steamboat Bill’s – is the house potato.” Steamboat Bill’s house potato is a giant spud, drowned in crawfish etouffee, topped with fried popcorn shrimp and dressed with traditional baked potato toppings. Manual describes it as, “To die for!” Steamboat Bill’s casual, family-friendly atmosphere combined with food to please is a winning combination. “Their wait staff is always happy and on the ball,” Manuel says. “We have never, ever left unhappy.” Some locals consider the Steamboat Bill’s on the lake as being more for tourists and prefer the Broad Street location. Both locations are crowd friendly and have an ordering process that easily accommodates paying separately.

photograph by romero & romero

2Pauls Radically Urban Barbecue 2668 Johnston St., Lafayette (337) 232-1181 4016 Hwy. 90 E., Suite 100, Broussard (337) 839-2999 Not all barbecue is old-school anymore, and 2Pauls Radically Urban Barbecue is living proof. 2Paul’s pulled pork sandwich can hold its own against any sandwich in the region. Beyond barbecue and adding a Louisiana flair to their menu, the rice dressing alone is worth a trip to 2Pauls. Even if you’re not very hungry, 2Paul’s has a portion size just for you. “They do a small plate that is just enough, and their turkey is fantastic,” Theresa Smith, a loyal 2Paul’s patron in Lafayette, says. “Plus, the brisket is really good. Their ribs melt in your mouth, and I love their coleslaw.” It’s worth noting that 2Pauls makes their own barbecue sauces – and there’s a variety to choose from, running the spectrum from sweet to savory.

Raising Cane’s Locations in Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, New Iberia, Opelousas, Thibodaux (Check www.raisingcanes.com for info) Even though the food at Raising Cane’s is fresh, it’s still technically fast food, which means it would not typically be featured on this list. However, any respectable list of potential tailgating food in Acadiana must include Cane’s – it’s practically the law. And don’t forget the inexplicably delicious Cane’s sauce. Under any circumstances, a big serving of Cane’s chicken, with fries and Cane’s sauce is hard to beat, but when shared during a tailgating party with friends, Cane’s is legendary. Jean-Luc Billeaudeaux, of Lafayette, agrees: “Everybody likes fried chicken, and Cane’s chicken tenders hold up well. They’re easy to grab at a tailgating, and the Cane’s sauce is a pretty tasty,” he says. “Plus, at this point in my life, they have one of the only fried items, other than fries, that I’ll eat. Fresh is good.” www.acadianaprofile.com | august/september 2014

sur le menu corn grits z e a s r e s ta u r a n t

The restaurant serves continental and Mediterranean cuisine. According to Amy Broussard, a Lafayette loyal customer, Mazen is the choice for all events from tailgating to scout parties to more elegant receptions. “Ghassan [Harb], the owner and manager, is a longtime restaurant figure in Lafayette. He personally oversees every phase of food preparation and service in his restaurant, which is in every way a labor of love for him,” Broussard says. “He inspects and selects the fish, seafood and meat prepared and served in his restaurant. He also personally fillets the fish and prepares many of the sauces, so he is assured it’s done to his strict and discerning standards.” House favorites include asparagus and lump crabmeat appetizer, filet mignon topped with lump crabmeat and the fish of the day, prepared “Acadian” style.

East Gate BBQ 7516 Louisiana 182, Morgan City (985) 384-7675

Zea Rotisserie and Grill 235 Doucet Road, Lafayette (337) 406-0013 When it comes to catering a meal or a tailgating celebration, no one serves up mouth-watering consistency like Zea Rotisserie and Grill. They’re famous for their daily specials with a side of corn grits and their Thai ribs, but the menu is chockfull of other flavors that appease a variety of palettes. Even so, it almost always comes back to the corn grits. “My daughters love the corn grits, so going to Zea’s is a great way to spend time with them and enjoy a night out,” says Erin Smith Roy. “Plus, every year for lunch and drinks on New Year’s Eve, I go to Zea

with my girlfriend group who we call the ‘ya-yas’. Some of these ladies I only see once a year, and it’s at Zea.” Zea is rock-solid in its attentive service and has an extensive menu and daily specials. Zea also offers catering services if you’re hosting a football gathering.

Mazen’s / Mazen Grill 5818 Johnston St., Lafayette (Mazen Grill) (337) 769-4440 217 W. College St., Lake Charles (Mazen’s) (337) 477-8207 Mazen may be a surprise on this list, but those who have eaten Mazen catering for events and tailgating, know that if you’re looking for something a step above and sophisticated, Mazen is a great choice.

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East Gate BBQ Owner Harlan Kappel is going the extra mile to serve over-the-top barbecue at Morgan City’s East Gate BBQ. With fried pickles, brisket egg rolls, fish tacos with East Gate’s special Hawaiian pig sauce to the all-time favorite pulled pork, East Gate doesn’t settle for just the regular fare. Samantha Marbut, who grew up in Morgan City, but relocated to California, made a point to stop by on a recent trip home because she was impressed with what she was seeing on social media. “I went to school with Harlan and could tell that he was doing some creative things with their menu,” she says. “I wanted to try it out. Harlan puts his all into it. He’s a Morgan City native, so he’s got a lot invested.” ap

p h o t o g r a p h c o u r t e s y z e a s r e s ta u r a n t

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visiter

Around Acadiana: Gatherings, carnivals and activities around Acadiana. Compiled by judi russell

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

7. Purple Heart Day Ceremony. Bouligny Plaza, New Iberia. (337) 365-1428.

5-7. TaWaSi Bayou Lafourche Antiques Show. Warren J. Harang Jr. Auditorium, Thibodaux. (985) 413-1147.

9. August Anglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Addiction Fishing Tournament. Quintana Landing, Cypremort Point. (337) 519-3131. 9-10. SugaSheaux. Sug Arena at Acadiana Fairgrounds, New Iberia. (337) 365-7539. 13-17. Delcambre Shrimp Festival. Delcambre Shrimp Festival Fairgrounds, Delcambre. (337) 685-2653.

7. Acadiana Barrel Race Association. SugArena @ Acadiana Fairgrounds, New Iberia. (337) 365-7539. 12-13. Lydia Cajun Food Fest. Weeks Park, Lydia. (337) 519-3131. 13. Boudin Wars. Henning Cultural Center, Sulphur. (337) 527-0357.

14-16. Le Cajun Art & Music Festival. Rayne Civic Center, Rayne. (337) 344-2494.

13. Jeanerette Fall Farmers Market. Jeanerette City Park, Jenerette. (337) 276-4293.

21-25. Duck Fest. Gueydan Duck Fest Fairounds, Gueydan. (337) 536-6456.

20. Cajun French Music Festival. Cyr Gates Community Center, New Iberia. (337) 364-7975.

23. Imagination Celebration. Lake Charles Civic Center, Lake Charles. (337) 433-9420.

20-21. 23rd Annual Midnight Fantastic Lakefront Tour Car, Truck & Bike Show. Burton Complex, Lake Charles. (337) 263-0655.

23. Drake Salt Works Festival & Trail Ride. Drake Salt Works, Goldonna. (318) 727-9418. 29-30. Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival. Zydeco Festival Grounds, Plaisance. (337) 290-6048. 29-Sept. 1. 79th Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival. 715 2nd St., Morgan City. (985) 385-0703. 30-Sept. 1. Labor Day Fishing Rodeo. Quintana Canal, Cypremort Point. (337) 364-7301. 30. Creole Renaissance Festival. Yambilee Fairgrounds, Opelousas.

24-28. Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival. Various locations, New Iberia. 24. Junior League of Lafayette Annual Tinsel & Treasure Holiday Marketplace. Cajundome Convention Center, Lafayette. (337) 988-2739. 26-27. Sugar Fest 4-H Lifestock Show. SugArena @ Acadiana Fairgrounds, New Iberia. (337) 365-7530. 27. Best of the Bayou. Downtown Houma. (985) 876-5600. ap

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see your event? go to acadianaprofile.com to submit.

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en français, s’il vous plaît

Le Congrès Mondial Acadien 2014 : 20 ans déjà. Par David Cheramie C’est une sorte de justice poétique pour qu’un peuple qui a connu la déportation dans l’année fatidique de 1755 ait une drôle d’habitude de se rassembler tous les cinq ans. Le Congrès Mondial Acadien se réunit pour la cinquième fois cet été du 8 au 24 août dans deux provinces canadiennes et un état américain. Le Québec, le NouveauBrunswick et le Maine forment, le temps de cette grande réunion de famille, l’Acadie des Terres et Forêts. Si la formule utilisée par l’historien Carl Brasseaux comme titre de son 88

livre « Épaillés au vent » reflètent la réalité du Grand Dérangement, il semble que le vent souffle avec une étonnante régularité pour les regrouper. La Louisiane et la Nouvelle-Écosse ont aussi accueilli de nombreux Acadiens de souche ou de cœur avec des réunions de famille et des événements culturels où s’annonçait la fierté acadienne haut et fort. Comme souvent dans l’histoire acadienne, et malgré une longue tradition de conventions nationales acadiennes qui datent du XIXe siècle, le CMA a failli être un rendez-vous manqué. Les Acadiens sont célèbres pour leur ténacité, d’être « tête dure ». Même parmi eux, il y en a un de particulièrement têtu et c’est en grande partie grâce à lui que le processus qui a mené au premier congrès en 1994 s’est déclenché. En 1988 lors d’un discours devant l’Association acadienne de l’Alberta, JeanMarie Nadeau a lancé l’idée du CMA. Le précédent était établi en 1881 et 1884 dans les villes de Memramcook et de Miscouche respectivement où quelques 5 000 Acadiens ont choisi les symboles qu’on connaît encore aujourd’hui : une fête, le 15 août; un hymne, Ave Maris Stella; un drapeau, le tricolore étoilé; et une devise, l’Union fait la force. Il y en a eu quatorze conventions après, mais les bases

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d’une Acadie politique, ou d’une politique acadienne du moins, étaient désormais en place. Le nationalisme militant de Nadeau n’était un secret pour personne depuis les années 70 avec sa participation au Parti acadien qui prônait la création d’une province acadienne. Son franc-parler, une autre qualité acadienne qu’il possède en grande quantité, ne le mettait pas toujours dans les bonnes grâces des instances politiques. De ce fait, il a dû passer le bâton à une équipe déterminée à faire vivre une certaine idée de l’Acadie menée par André Boudreau. Même si André n’est plus de ce monde, il est décédé en 2005, celui que lui, Jean-Marie et bien d’autres ont travaillé si fort à créer est toujours avec nous. En plus, chaque CMA semble avoir des répercussions aussi fertiles qu’inattendues. Grâce au CMA 1994, le Nouveau-Brunswick a accueilli le Sommet de la Francophonie en 1999. Cette rencontre des chefs d’état francophones a mis la lumière sur la ville de Moncton. Donc un sommet international du monde francophone a eu lieu dans une ville nommée pour un des architectes du Grand Dérangement, l’officier britannique Robert Monckton. Cette ironie n’était pas perdue pour le premier ministre québécois de l’époque, Lucien Bouchard, qui a déclaré que « désormais le nom de Moncton sera associé avec la langue française pour toujours. » En cette même année, la Louisiane recevait les Acadiens du monde entier pour le deuxième CMA. Malgré l’été louisianais, des milliers de participants ont célébré l’héritage des Acadiens chez nous. Il ne faut pas oublier que 1999 était également l’année de la FrancoFête, la célébration du tricentenaire de la fondation de la Louisiane comme colonie française. Quatre ans plus tard, on a marqué notre passation de la France aux États-Unis avec beaucoup d’éclats. Les faits historiques continuent à jalonner notre territoire culturel. La pérennité étant assurée, le site du CMA 2019 a déjà été choisi. Le sud-est du NouveauBrunswick et l’île du Prince-Édouard s’associent pour assumer la responsabilité de l’organiser à travers le détroit de Northumberland, autrefois connu par son nom français, la Mer Rouge. L’année prochaine, au mois d’octobre quand la température est plus clémente, le deuxième Grand Réveil Acadien aura lieu en Louisiane. On ne peut pas savoir si jamais le CMA va retourner en Louisiane, les dates autour du 15 août étant obligatoires, mais on sait que les Acadiens de partout reconnaissent que là où passe le CMA, l’Acadie se perpétue comme des graines épaillées au vent. ap illustration by nicholas little