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Jamie Lynn Fontenot is a singer and guitarist who learned Cajun French by listening to old Cajun records from her grandmother.
contents A little extra Editor’s note Nouvelles de villes Newsbriefs Le visiter Calendar lagniappe
NOTE DE L’EDITEUR
home+style 11 Cool summer sunglasses pour la maison Grilling necessities la maison Summer living À la mode
food+drink 21 Sweet, cold treats de la cuisine Burgers & toppings recettes de cocktails Sweet tea sour sur le menu
culture 73 personnes Maggie Perrodin Collins les artiste Frank Thompson en francais
Vive le Québec libre!
features leading ladies 31 Women in Music
by michael patrick welsh
top dentists 41
135 dentist in 7 specialties plus 2 dentists share their toughest cases by lauren laborde
acadiana weddings 49 Our guide to fashion, cakes, invitations, food and more!
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acadiana profile june/july 2015
lagniappe
learn french Lunettes de soleil
what is your favorite summertime treat?
e
vol. 34 | № 3
Editor in Chief
Managing Editor
Associate Editor
Art Director
Lead Photographer
Web Editor
[LUN-et d soh-LAI] n. Sunglasses example: Protégez vos yeux en portant des lunettes de soleil.
June/july 2015
Sales Manager
Errol Laborde Sarah Ravits Melanie Warner Spencer Sarah George Danley Romero Kelly Massicot
Gin and tonic with a twist of lime. The rest of the year: a Sazerac
Rebecca Taylor (337) 298-4424
Grilling locally (337) 235-7919 Ext. 230 grown veggies Rebecca@acadianaprofile.com and seafood, and sipping Sales Intern Jean-Paul Poullet on wine with friends and family
Traffic Manager
Jess DeBold
Distribution Manager
John Holzer
did you know? According to legend, the term “honeymoon” originated from the tradition of providing a newly married couple a month’s worth of mead (honey beer), and if wholly consumed in that time, the couple would have a child within a year. Hence “honey month” or what we know today as the “honeymoon.”
Director of Marketing & Events Cheryl Lemoine
Administrative Assistant
Subscriptions
Production/Web Manager
Production Designers
Denise Dean
behind the scenes
Sara Kelemencky Staci McCarty Ali Sullivan
Monique DiPietro
Chief Executive Officer
Todd Matherne
President
Alan Campell
Vice President
Errol Laborde
Vice President of Sales
Soaking up some sun in a hammock
Colleen Monaghan
Like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/AcadianaProfile) and follow us on Twitter (@acadianaprofile) for daily updates, happenings in the area and other news! We want to hear from you, and we’ll post a question every week – post your answers and you could be published in the magazine!
Renaissance Publishing LLC • 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123 • Metairie, LA 70005 • (504) 828-1380 • (877) 221-3512 128 Demanade, Suite 104 • Lafayette, LA 70503 • (337) 235-7919 ext. 230 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 ext. 230. 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 2015 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.
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acadiana profile june/july 2015
Glenn Mosley applies a touch-up to model Brittney Werner in between takes at our bridal fashion photo shoot. See pg. 49 for our wedding guide.
note de l’editeur
by sarah ravits
summer love Music, fashion, food and fun abound in Acadiana. In this issue, we focus on some sunny
subjects. This is fitting, as it’s sweltering now in Acadiana. We celebrate women in music on pg. 31. Jamie Lynn Fontenot, The Magnolia Sisters and Christine Balfa all have fascinating, inspirational stories about being in a traditionally male-dominated industry. These ladies keep the music of their ancestors alive and they seriously rock. Summer is the best time for grilling and chilling. On pg. 16, Lisa LeBlanc-Berry tours a summer home overlooking the Vermilion River, the perfect spot for relaxing with friends and family or throwing a party. Complementing this is our food column on pg. 24 by Marcelle Bienvenu, who shares burger recipes with 12 creative toppings – including one for vegetarians. That, plus the Rougaroux sweet tea sour on pg. 28 will make your mouth water and will certainly inspire your next summer shindig. We are also loving the abundancy of places to get snowballs and other cold, sweet treats this summer, and Jyl Benson has the scoop on where to go, pg. 22. Lest your sweet tooth take you a little too far this summer, we have our annual dentist list, as well as the stories of two tough cases, on pg. 41. We’ve also expanded Acadiana Weddings. Check out pg. 49 for beautiful gowns, food ideas, cakes, invitations and tips for mothers of brides on how to stay sane. We’re looking for feedback, too, so if you have vendors or venues that you think we should know about, email us at weddings@acadianaprofile.com. All in all, we’ve got a full issue for you to peruse, and we hope it enhances your summer. Sarah Ravits, Managing Editor
nouvelles de villes
by lisa leblanc-berry
Sonny Landreth returns to his roots in his new album, Bound by the Blues, available June 9.
Nous allons regretter ton absence lafayette
for your ears
The much anticipated new album by slide-guitarist Sonny Landreth, Bound by the Blues, debuts June 9 and features a radical departure from his prior two albums, 2012’s classical jazz fusion Elemental Journey and 2008’s guest-starstudded From the Reach. It marks a return to his roots music with bold tracks that swagger like rock but ascend to jazz improvisation while emotionally anchored in his core blues riffs. Landreth, who grew up in Lafayette, has had a prolific career performing, recording and touring with Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffet, John Mayall and John Hiatt.
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acadiana profile june/july 2015
Summer Camps Vermilionville
The third annual summer camp series at Vermilionville (June 22-July 24) helps children learn about what makes Acadiana unique via hands-on craft and culinary opportunities. The camp emphasizes both English and French, and there is also a French immersion option for all ages the last week, July 20-24. The cost is $200 per week. Information, contact Jolie Johnson at vville@bayouvermiliondistrict.org, (337) 233-4077 x 211.
StarSpangled Acadiana
Break out the sparklers for the many Fourth of July celebrations in Acadiana including one of the state’s largest fireworks displays in Eunice at the Recreation Complex; Erath’s celebration that runs June 30-July 4 featuring an old-timey street fair plus food and lie music, a parade, fireworks and water fights; the 6th annual Houma Independence Celebration on July 4 that kicks off at 11 am with Major General Hunt Downer, Jr. as Master of Ceremonies for Memorial Services at Southdown Plantation, followed by a 1 p.m. parade that hosts Petty Officer 3 Eugene Folse (USN) (WWII & Korean Veteran) and Staff Sgt. Ray Marcello (USAF) (WWII Veteran) as Grand Marshals; and the LeBeau Zydeco Festival (the birthplace of Rockin’ Sydney) featuring pork backbone dinners, live music and games.
Zydeco and symphonic sounds new iberia
Chenier Brothers performing at Jay’s Lounge and Cockpit in Cankton, Louisiana on Mardi Gras, 1975. Clifton Chenier on accordion, brother Cleveland on washboard and John Hart on tenor saxophone.
The life and legacy of the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier, is heralded by artists who will pay tribute to the Grammy Award-winning legend highlighted by music, round table discussions and more June 20 at the Clifton Chenier Club in New Iberia (337-339-5903; CliftonChenierClub.com). On June 28, the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and the Iberia Concert Band performs a free patriotic concert with WWII era music honoring veterans at the Sugar Cane Festival Bldg. (Information, (337) 364-1603; IberiaCultural.com.
photos courtesy: Sonny Landreth courtesy skh music, photo by robley dupleix; “Chenier brothers” by Bozotexino
Better Cajun Blues
Dr. Barry Ancelet, an iconic figure in Acadiana and one of the most renowned Cajun folklorists in the world, has announced his retirement from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette after nearly 40 years on the faculty. “The study of culture, literature and language through the lens of folklore has been the foundation of my entire career,” says Dr. Ancelet, who helped establish Lafayette’s Festivals Acadiens et Créole in 1974, which gave rise to ULL’s Center for Acadian and Creole Folklore, under his direction. Recipient of numerous international awards, he has made significant contributions to the Louisiana French Renaissance movement; he grew up speaking French, and also raised his children in a bilingual environment. One of his former students, Derek Landry, hosts the live weekly radio show, “Rendezvous des Cadiens” from the Liberty Theatre in Eunice.
calendar
by judi russell
around acadiana Gatherings and activities around Acadiana. june 5-7. Church Point Buggy Festival. City Park,
Church Point. (337) 684-2739. 6. Louisiana State Appaloosa Horse Show.
SugArena@Acadiana Fairgrounds, New Iberia. (337) 365-7539. 13. 2nd Saturday ArtWalk. Downtown
Lafayette. (337) 291-5566. 20. Clifton Chenier Celebration. Clifton Chenier Club, New Iberia. (337) 330-5903. 20. Lake Charles Shrimp & Jazz Festival.
Lake Charles Civic Center. (337) 309-2712. 27-Sept. 7. EatLafayette. Locally owned
restaurants in Acadiana. (800) 346-1958. 28. Stars & Stripes – A Musical Celebration. Sugar Cane Festival Building, New Iberia. (337) 364-1603. 30-July 4. Annual Erath 4th of July
Celebration. Downtown Erath. (337) 937-5585.
july 4. Red, White, Blue & You! Downtown Lake Charles and Lake Charles Civic Center. (337) 491-9147. 12. 2nd Saturday ArtWalk. Downtown
Lafayette. (337) 291-5566. 17-19. 28th Cajun Music & Food Festival.
Burton Complex, Lake Charles. (337) 217-2612. 18-19. Bayou BBQ Bash. Morgan City Under the Bridge, Downtown Morgan City. (985) 384-3830. 19. Angler’s Addiction Fishing Tournament.
Quintana Canal, Cypremort Point. (337) 519-3131. 19-20. Louisiana Hot Sauce Festival. LARC’s Acadian Village, Lafayette. (337) 981-2364. 24-25. Marshland Festival. Lake Charles Civic
Center. (337) 540-3182. 25-27. Louisiana Outdoor Expo. Cajundome &
Convention Center, Lafayette. (337) 265-2100. 26. Sugar Jam Concert Series: Nik-L-Beer.
Sugar Pond Town Center, Youngsville. (337) 856-2323. 29-30. Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil. Cajundome, Lafayette. (337) 265-2100.
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A winding drive curls around the grounds punctuated with ancient oaks and a picturesque bridge leading up to this Abbeville home. A courtyard and pool house, popular for summer barbecues, overlooks the Vermilion River.
style+home Ă la mode 12
Cool summer sunglasses by ashley hinson
pour la maison 14 Grilling necessities by ashley hinson
la maison 16
A party house on the Vermilion River by lisa leblanc-berry
style+home À DEla LAmode CUISINE
4. “St. Louis” KREWE
du Optic roundshaped sunnies with deep blue lenses and a brow bar, from Genterie Supply Co.
5. “Club Master” gold-
rimmed sunglasses with rectangular deep brown lenses by A.J. Morgan, from Maven Menswear.
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1
3
in the shade
KREWE du Optic glasses are handmade in Louisiana. This tortoiseshell pair looks great with a classic white T-shirt or a little black dress.
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Cool summer sunglasses by ashley hinson photo romero & Romero
1. “Drew” Cat-eye glasses with golden inner rims by RETROSUPERFUTURE, from Kiki. 2. Translucent roundshaped shades by A.J. Morgan, from Maven Womenswear. 3. “Maxwell”
Wayfarer-style TOMS with subtle forest green lenses and a warm tortoise frame, from Genterie Supply Co. 12 |
acadiana profile June/July 2015
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Kiki. 1910 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette, (337) 4060904, shopkikionline.com Maven Womanswear. 201 Settlers Trace Blvd., Suite 2012, (337) 704-2668, themavenstore.com Genterie Supply Co. 408 Jefferson St., Lafayette, (337) 401-3833, genterie.com
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style+home pour DE LA la CUISINE maison
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grilling necessities 5 essentials for outdoor cooking by ashley hinson photo romero & romero 1. This Tempfork (TM)
thermometer easily cuts through thin pieces of meat, fish and poultry. From The Kitchenary
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2. The Charcoal Company’s brush gets the right amount of sauce on grilled goods. From E’s Kitchen 3. Charcoal Company’s Big Head Spatula, which, like the brush, features a rosewood handle and is great for burgers and steaks. From E’s Kitchen 4. The holes in these Cuisipro
tongs allow for easy fat and oil draining. From The Kitchenary
5. The multifaceted cleaning brush has three sides for postcooking cleanup: steel brushes, a hard scrubber and a serratededged spatula will keep your grill clean From E’s Kitchen
E’s Kitchen 1921 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette, (337) 534-8928, eskitchen.com The Kitchenary at Heymann’s 456 Heymann Blvd., Suite C, Lafayette, (337) 264-1037, thekitchenary.net Sandra Walkin Artisan Furniture and Finishes provided salvaged cypress (337) 794-9116
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Clean-up tip: Heat up the grate at a high temperature for about five minutes. This will burn away some food remnants. A grill brush and a little elbow grease will take care of the rest.
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style+home la maison
summer living A party house on the Vermilion River created for poolside grilling, seafood boils, fishing and summer fun on the waterfront by lisa leblanc-berry photos by chad chenier
Oyster bars are intrinsic
to the history of Abbeville, a largely Catholic community of sophisticated foodies and avid fishermen. It was named and modeled after a northern French village situated on the east bank of the River Somme by founder Père Antoine Mégret in 1843. Abbeville’s first notable 19th-century oyster emporium, Dupuy’s, is located on Main Street near the 1910 Steen’s Syrup mill adjacent to St. Mary 16 |
acadiana profile June/July 2015
Magdelen church, which Father Mégret initially established in the remodeled home of Joseph LeBlanc when he purchased some of his land near the river. My great-great uncle, Father Fabian Laforest, built the current St. Mary Magdelen church, a majestic neo-Gothic landmark (circa 1911), after the devastating 1907 fire. He donated the massive church bells, inscribed with Amanda for my greatgreat grandmother who narrowly escaped the fire; their melodious chimes still ring out at noon. Father Laforest’s gold-plated chalice from Pope Leo XIII, a gift from the Vatican, is among Abbeville’s historic treasures. Ever since Joseph Dupuy started selling
oysters for a nickel a dozen on the riverbanks near St. Mary Magdelen church in 1869, the picturesque parish seat has been a magnet for seafood lovers. Directly across from the church on Père Mégret Street is Black’s Oyster Bar, which opened 98 years after Dupuy’s, just a half-block away. Other successful seafood landmarks are located within a few city blocks. When I learned that Black’s, my all-time favorite oyster bar that closed in 2010, had recently reopened, featuring live music on Saturday nights, plump bivalves fresh from Grand Isle, luscious crawfish etouffée balls as soft as pillows, and a new Sunday brunch, I decided it was time for a visit before the
months without “r’s” arrived and crawfish season came to an end. Besides, I’d been having a serious craving for the hot-boiled, lip-searing crawfish that I heard were running the size of long-neck beers at Richard’s, a no-frills little tin-roof seafood joint, where each mudbug is hand-picked by the owner who is passionate about all things fresh. Adding to the allure of an Abbeville culinary road trip was a standing invitation to view a “great party house” on the banks of the Vermilion. I’d heard that Toney Turnley, president of the Kaplan Telephone Company, hosted elaborate barbecues complete with live music near his pool house that had an outdoor kitchen and
bar. He also had some party boats including a 43-foot Bertram and 27-foot Pontoon, and collected vintage cars, hence his seven-and-ahalf-car garage on the tree-lined grounds. He has since built a second home in Abbevile. “Toney’s barbecues and crawfish boils are incredible and his house is amazing,” said Resa Mouton (à la Mark; née Bohrer), an Abbeville resident and childhood friend. “For Halloween last year, he had a costume party with a live band, animated creatures in the back yard, all sorts of surprises and fabulous food,” she explained. “Would you like to see it?” With Resa’s invitation and the promise of great oysters and crawfish,
Kaplan native Toney Turnley, President of Kaplan Telephone Company, enjoys boating, cooking and entertaining friends in Abbeville, where he decided to build his home and boat dock for its prime Vermilion River location. His front porch overlooks mossdraped oaks, a pond and picturesque bridge. “I wanted a party house,” said the gourmet grill master who enjoys Abbeville’s rich seafood traditions that date back to the town’s founding on the river.
my daughter and I headed along Highway 90 towards Abbeville, stopping at Shawn’s in Delcambre to stock up on chicken boudin infused with Steen’s Cane Syrup and packs of Vermilion Bay Sweet. After arriving in Abbeville with Resa at the Turnley residence,
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above The open floor plan features a living room that flows into a great room, wet bar, buffet serving area and dining room with stunning views of Turnley’s lush 12-acres. right The pool house design was inspired by a villa in Costa Rica. Friends gather at an outdoor bar to watch the cooking action, while others relax around the fireplace and flat-screen TV during autumn football parties. Spring brings crawfish boils, followed by summer poolside barbecues.
which is set far back from the winding road on 12 lush acres punctuated by ancient moss-draped oaks, I was intrigued with the picturesque pond and bridge that reminded me of a visit to Monet’s Giverny years ago. Jeff Farris, who was in the process of painting and impeccably renovating the house, showed us around the grounds, 18 |
which included a pass through the courtyard, pool area and outdoor living/ dining room complete with a fireplace and a large flat screen TV, plus a bar and
acadiana profile June/July 2015
grill just outside the handsome pool house. “I wanted to buy this property on the river so that I could have a boat dock with easy access for my fishing boat,” Turnley tells me. “When I first
looked at the property, there was a two-story house, and it was all overgrown. You couldn’t get to the river and the ground was so unlevel, there was a six-foot difference in elevation.”
The original house was torn down and a new “party house” was built on a level foundation after much digging. “I wanted to be able to see the Vermilion River,” Turnley says.
“The house has a great flow for parties. When I went to Costa Rica, I stayed in a villa. Afterwards, I returned and drew up the plans for the pool house, which was built in 2003.” Turnley’s spacious master suite overlooks the courtyard, river and pool house compound. The gourmet kitchen that Turnley designed (with the assistance of Gerald Thibodeaux) opens onto a wet bar, great room, plus dining and living rooms with splendid views. Turnley’s gourmet barbecues feature such items as grilled yellowfin tuna, lamb, steaks and venison. In recent years, he asked his sons, Bart and Matt, to step into the culinary spotlight and host the famed Abbeville parties.
“I just like to cook Cajun rice and gravy,” Toney says in a modest, self-effacing manner. But we know better. With a love for fishing and seafood, parties and good times on the Vermilion River where Abbeville was founded, Turnley embodies the essence of the town, its gastronomic passions, traditions and culture that has endured since Pere Mégret purchased the first tracks of land bordering the bayou.
top Turnley’s gourmet kitchen designs include a custom granite-top island, a range hood and appliance garages. bottom A game room near the kitchen features such hunting trophies as a Newfoundland bull caribou, deer, badgers, Texas bobcats and a New Mexico bulk elk. acadianaprofile.com
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acadiana profile June/July 2015
Owners Robbie Austin and Nick Villaume of Pops and Rockets pose at the Historic Calcasieu Marine National Bank Building in Lake Charles.
food+drinks sur le menu 22 Sweet, cold treats by jyl benson
de la cuisine 24 Burgers and toppings by marcelle bienvenu
recettes de cocktail 28 Rougaroux sweet tea sour by sal agnello
FOOD+DRINK
DE LA CUISINE Blue Moon on Mango (mango cream with blueberry)
Assorted popsicles from Pops and Rockets
Rock the Casbanah (banana almond) Just Can’t Mint Enough (cantaloupe mint)
Root Me Amadeus (Zatarain’s root beer float) Pop Formerly Known As Grape (grape and apricot)
baby, it’s hot outside! Sweet treats to cool you down by jyl benson | photos romero & romero
Sophisticated palates,
a continuing explosion in small-scale culinary entrepreneurism and a ceaseless demand for sweet relief from the heat of summer leave us with more options than ever. Synonymous with summertime, snowballs, like king cake, are a seasonal Louisiana indulgence, given that most of the stands and small shops that sell them are closed in the colder months and operate from sometime around St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) to
sometime shortly after Labor Day. Ironically, the hot-weather treat originated in cold winters of Italy. “Snowballs are very Italian,” says culinary historian Liz Williams, president of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum. “Flavoring real snow with syrup goes back to the Romans.” Originally handmade by shaving block ice with a planning tool, it was a lot of work to make a snowball. “But,” says Williams, “the shaved ice used today is produced
by the SnoWizard, a commercial shaving machine invented by George Ortolano, the New Orleans-born son of Sicilian immigrants.” Ortolano’s 1936 invention made it possible for anyone to open a snowball stand, and it produces ice that’s thinly shaved to fine powder, resulting in a lighter, creamier texture than the crushed ice used for the snow cones consumed in other parts of the country. Further differentiating our snowballs from their
Yankee brethren is the vast array of flavored syrups in which they are saturated. While it is possible to buy pre-made syrup, the best stands make their own. Traditional flavors like strawberry and spearmint are still available but new, exotic tastes with spices, savory elements and fresh juices are increasingly popular. Besides the ice and syrup, some really guild the lily and offer snowballs topped with ice cream, condensed milk, evaporated
milk, cherries, crushed pineapple, strawberries and even whipped cream and marshmallow cream. Fortuitously, throughout the state, snowball stands can be found operating in most neighborhoods. Just keep an eye out for happy faces and little houses decorated in bright colors with long lines of people and cars out front. One of our Acadiana favorites is Murph’s Olde Tyme Snowballs located behind Old Tyme Grocery in
Cajun Sno 4303 Johnston St., Lafayette, (337) 981-3342 Murph’s Olde Tyme Snowballs (located behind Murph’s Olde Tyme Grocery) 218 West Saint Mary Blvd., Lafayette, (337) 235-8165, oldetymegrocery.com Pops and Rockets 104 W. Pujo Street, Lake Charles, (404) 822-5847, popsandrockets.com (Cash & Carry Farmers’ Market, located at the corner of Enterprise Boulevard and Broad Street) The Little Big Cup 149 Fuselier Road, Arnaudville, (337) 754-7147, littlebigcup.com Sneaux Shack 106 Roselawn Blvd., Lafayette, (337) 412-1357. 22 |
acadiana profile june/july 2015
Pepper in Pink (strawberry and cracked pepper)
bonus bite Looking for a substantial meal with a cool drink? Arnaudville’s beloved and popular spot The Little Big Cup has excellent iced coffee drinks including Iced Latte, Iced Mocha and Frappes and an impossible to beat Sunday Breakfast/ Boucherie brunch menu that’s loaded with realdeal Cajun, home-cooked favorites like stuffed pork roast.
Take on Green (avocado lime coconut)
Lafayette. There are traditional snowball flavors like cotton candy, polar punch and pink lemonade, as well as “stuffed” versions filled with chocolate, Pink Lady or pina colada ice cream. Also in Lafayette just off the main drag of Johnston Street, Cajun Sno is so popular as to have warranted a special lane set up to direct traffic in and out of its drive-through. In addition to snowballs, they offer ice cream sundaes, banana splits and other frozen confections. Nearby Sneaux Shack, also off Johnston, features organic flavors, sugar-free options and
an array of toppings and flavors including blueberry cheesecake and something called Monster truck fuel. Though it is unlikely to ever trump the snowball in as the popular favorite for a summertime chill, the highly versatile popsicle is making an increasingly visible show. Robbie Austin and Nick Villaume grew up together in Lake Charles, and they share a love of ’80s music, glitz and culture. Last summer they morphed their passions into Pops and Rockets, a line of gourmet popsicles inspired by ’80s music. They’ve
already sold over 5,000 pops and, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, an expansion is underway and rapid growth is anticipated. Some of Pops and Rockets’ flavors include “Back in Blackberry,” made with blackberry, coconut and raspberry flavors and riffing on AC/DC’s hit “Back in Black,” “Chicory and Ivory” with chicory coffee and cream for Paul McCartney’s “Ebony and Ivory,” and “Cran Halen” (cranberry and satsuma) for a fun-poke at Van Halen. Villaume is the crazy guy in the kitchen, and Austin spearheads marketing. Look for them at the Cash and Carry Farmers’ Market or place an order to be picked up at their “factory” in downtown Lake Charles. acadianaprofile.com
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FOOD+DRINK
CUISINE DE LA CUISINE
Mediterranean
German
Southern
Breakfast
Southern II
Cowboy All-American California
Sinful
beef up burgers Creative toppings for a summer get-together by marcelle bienvenu | photo eugenia uhl
My husband Rock
is known as the grill master in our neighborhood. He is always at the ready to fire up the grill on which to slap 24 |
a couple of steaks, a few wieners or maybe several kabobs, but his area of expertise is the hamburger. On the first day of summer,
acadiana profile june/july 2015
he gives the grill (and his 50-gallon drum barbecue pit) a big cleaning. All the ash that has collected at the bottom of both the
grill and pit is removed. All the grill surfaces are cleaned with a wire brush. All his grilling equipment – tongs, long-handled forks,
spatulas – are reverently cleaned and stashed in a “dry box” on the patio. We are ready for our annual burger bash. The big cypress
table we inherited from his father is laden with a variety of condiments, assorted buns (one year we even made our own), and sides like potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and sometimes a mystery casserole made with whatever he can find in the pantry, freezer or fridge. If we’re lucky, we have a platter of Creole tomatoes. Sometimes Rock grills thick slices of Vidalias, and there is always an array of cheeses – American, Swiss, chevre, smoked Gouda, Maytag blue and my homemade version of Bousin with whatever fresh herbs are available in my garden. Needless to say we have experimented with the burger itself. For a juicy, rich burger, ask your butcher to grind the second cut (or nose-cut) of a brisket. Ground chuck (80-20) is also a good choice. I sometimes pamper myself with a ground rib-eye. I also like a combination of sirloin (to give it a tender texture) and chuck (to add some fat and flavor). About 15 percent fat gives the burger a good beef taste, and I like a medium-course grind to give it texture. Don’t be afraid to experiment with combining beef of your choice with ground pork, or veal and yes, even lamb. What to season your meat mixture with is very personal. Some purists will tell you that salt, a few grindings of black pepper, a pinch of cayenne and a squirt of Worcestershire sauce are all you need. You might want to experiment with adding some minced shallots or garlic for a spark of flavor. There are certainly no rules as to what you can add to your mixture. A friend of mine swears by adding a handful of finely chopped white button mushrooms and chives – whatever tickles your taste buds. Shape the patties into whatever size is your pleasure. Personally, I go for an 8-ounce burger. On to cooking. Grill over a medium fire. Do not press down with a spatula – you’re releasing all the flavor and causing a flare-up if you do. On occasion, we have put Papa’s big cast-iron skillet right on the grill and cooked the burgers in it. All that good flavor of fat is fine with me.
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All-American
German
Portobello Burger
Mustard, mayo, sliced tomatoes and shredded lettuce and maybe a few slices of dill pickles. Add a slice of American cheese for a cheeseburger in paradise à la Jimmy Buffett.
Dress with pickled beets, sauerkraut and sour cream.
Brush the mushrooms and the onions with oil and season with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Heat a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms (do not crowd – cook in two batches if necessary) and cook until just tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a platter, cavity side up, and cover to keep warm.
Asian Add soy sauce, toasted sesame oil and Sriracha to the meat mixture. Dress with sliced shiitakes sauteed in olive oil and soy sauce.
Breakfast
Sinful Ground rib-eye patty spiked with Tabasco, spread the bun with Boursin cheese and roasted garlic. Maybe throw in a few leaves of sweet basil!
Add barbecue sauce to a ground brisket patty and dress with coleslaw.
California
Southern II
Sliced or mashed avocados brightened with fresh lime juice and minced cilantro. Maybe a dash of hot sauce and a scattering of jalapeno peppers.
Dress with roasted red bell peppers, thinly sliced red onions (soaked in ice water for 30 minutes) and spread the bun with pimiento cheese.
Add barbecue sauce to the meat mixture. Dress with barbecued beans and apple-smoked bacon.
French Spread the bun with aioli (garlic-flavored mayo) and Dijon, stuff the burger with blue cheese and freshly ground black pepper and top with grilled onions. Add fresh thyme to the meat mixture. Serve with cornichons.
wash it down
We believe that burgerflipping and brews go hand-in-hand. We recommend Parish Brewing’s South Coast Amber Ale.
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Add smashed anchovies to the meat mixture. Dress with tapenade and fried shallots.
Add crumbled crisp bacon to the meat mixture, top with a fried or poached egg, drizzle with hollandaise sauce, and dress with Bibb lettuce.
Cowboy
TIP
Mediterranean
acadiana profile june/july 2015
Southern
In the same skillet, cook the onion slices until golden, 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally. Meanwhile, combine ½ of the sliced avocados with the yogurt, garlic and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Mash well with a fork until fairly smooth. Spoon equal amounts of the onions and roasted peppers into the mushroom caps. Spread equal amounts of the avocado mixture on the bottom of each bun top each with the stuffed mushrooms. Top with the remaining sliced avocados. Dress with arugula and roasted bell peppers. Cover with the tops of the buns. Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
4 medium portobello mushrooms, stems removed and wiped clean 1 medium onion, cut crosswise into ¼-inch slices 3 tablespoons olive oil ¾ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 avocado, sliced 2 tablespoons low-fat yogurt ½ teaspoon minced garlic 4 whole wheat hamburger buns, lightly toasted Arugula leaves and roasted sliced red peppers
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FOOD+DRINK
recettes de cocktails
rougaroux sweet tea sour This variation contains rum instead of bourbon recipe by sal agnello | photo eugenia uhl
For pitchers
1 bottle of Rougaroux ⅓ bottle lemon juice ⅓ bottle tea syrup Mix Rougaroux with lemon juice and tea syrup. Serve with sugarcoated lemon wheel.
tea syrup
1 tea bag 8 ounces boiling water 8 ounces granulated sugar Brew tea bag in water for 5 minutes. Remove tea bag and add sugar. Stir until all is dissolved and let cool.
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acadiana profile june/july 2015
You can serve this cocktail in a chilled martini glass, in a Collin’s glass on the rocks or in a mason jar for a rustic feel.
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acadiana profile june/july 2015
Leading Ladies 6 inspiring cajun musicians In what has become our now annual music guide, we decided to do something a little different. Rather than focus on venues, clubs and places to go, we chose to focus on faces to look for – and more importantly, voices to hear. In the music industry in general – and especially when it comes to Cajun music, women are outnumbered by men. Fortunately,
their voices have been heard and met with praise – even Grammy nominations. All six of these women are carrying on the tradition of their Cajun ancestors and bringing it into the future, and we hope that the trend of women leading their own bands will gain momentum as they continue to inspire others. That, we think, is worth singing about.
By Michael Patrick Welch \\ Photos by Romero & Romero
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Known for her lyricism and guitar skills, Jamie Lynn Fontenot is working on an album and performing around South Louisiana.
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acadiana profile june/July 2015
fontenot At the age of 18,
musician Jamie Lynn Fontenot was overtaken by the desire to learn Cajun French. “My grandparents, Mary ‘Mimi’ Fontenot and John ‘Toe’ Fontenot, from Opelousas are great, really strong Cajun speakers,” says Fontenot from her home in Lafayette. “My siblings and I wanted them to teach us Cajun French, so she would play me all these old Cajun vinyl records, and she’d tell me the stories the singers were telling in the songs. I remember she bought me this Canray Fontenot record – a really great old-timey Cajun fiddle player – and I started learning French through the songs.” It seemed only natural, then, for Fontenot to follow up by teaching herself to play some of the songs, or at least the traditional Cajun style, that her grandmother had exposed her to, on the guitar. “I also play a little fiddle, but not professionally,” says humble Fontenot who, now at 29, has now been playing Cajun music to enthusiastic fans for five years. Around Acadiana she’s known primarily as a singer and guitarist in Lost Bayou Ramblers bassist Alan LaFleur’s traditional Cajun outfit, Teechaoui Social Club, which formed just a couple years ago on LaFleur’s porch during a community boucherie – an 18-hour Cajun French party with about 100 people preparing and cooking traditional food and playing music. When not playing with the energetic, dancehall-focused Teechaoui, Fontenot
gigs as Petite et les Patates (Little and the Potatoes), a quieter three-piece traditional Cajun band. Along with accordion player Jacques Boudreaux, Petite et les Patates also often features Fontenot's husband, French fiddle player Samuel Giarrusso, who moved to Louisiana in 2012 from France to be near his father, also a Cajun French musician. “Petite et les Patates is actually a constantly rotating band, where I am the only constant,” says Fontenot. "I usually am playing parties, so I just pick whoever I want to bring to the party – sometimes it’s people from Teechaoui, sometimes not,” she says. “I always chose to play really Old-School stuff, so I like threepieces a lot: accordion, fiddle and guitar – no drum and bass.” In explaining how her personal musical vision differs from that of LaFleur’s Teechaoui, she all but says her music is more feminine. “I like the prettier lyrics, instead of the more dancehall-ish singing,” she says, careful to clarify that she loves it all. “I am really into the Touchette family and the stories they weave into their songs. In my own band I focus on the lyrics and the singing.” The Teechaoui Social Club is currently working on recording its first album in Lafayette, playing gigs at the Blue Moon as well as in New Orleans at Fontenot’s friend Effie Michot’s Mosquito Supper Club and the Tigermen Den.
I always chose to play really old-school stuff.
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Christine Balfa has been Grammynominated.
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acadiana profile june/July 2015
balfa Christine Balfa’s
father Dewey Balfa, who led Mamou band the Balfa Brothers, was once surprised by his 8-year-old daughter’s desire to play Cajun music. “He was one of nine children, and six were boys. Five out of the six played music, and three toured as the Balfa Brothers … playing dances, then national and international concerts to aid the revival of different types of American folk music,” says Christine Balfa. “I heard it my whole life; it was a part of my upbringing. I heard such great music, not just from my family but from the people they played with: international musicians dad had met on the road, he’d invite them back home to jam … So I was exposed to different kinds of music, people and cultures, and that really shaped my music and who I am in a lot of different ways.” All the tools and influences were already under her roof. “We had instruments everywhere, and when I was 8, I started taking my first fiddle lesson – though the guitar was much more natural to me,” says Christine, who also plays accordion and sings. “My dad wanted me to play. But society in general was not as accepting as it is now. Luckily, I traveled and saw a lot of things, so I knew that things were changing.” Christine and her family started Balfa Toujours (which means “Balfa Always”) in 1992, “the year that my father passed,” says Christine. “These are people I’ve been playing music with for 25 years. My sister sometimes plays with us. We often
have my cousin from the Pine Leaf Boys, Courtney Granger. One original member was my former husband … That’s my family band and will always be a part of my life, because it’s my family’s music.” But she deviates from her father’s path with her Grammy-nominated Cajun band, Bonsoir Catin. “My upbringing was very different from my father’s; we were 50 years difference in age. Our music is very similar … but I am writing about issues that happen in my lifetime and my perspective as a woman,” says Christine, who adds, “Bonsoir Catin is a majority woman group – five women and a guy drummer. We are much more active right now than Balfa Toujours. “This is my third record with Bonsoir Catin, and our latest record has a really unique sound, with original material. Both bands are dance bands,” she admits. “In Bonsoir Catin we have electric guitar and we always have bass and drums. Whereas with Balfa Toujours, we only have bass and drums at festivals – though we always have the twin fiddles…” Though Balfa Toujours hasn’t played much in recent years, Christine is still making sure the family band will have future members. “I have two daughters who play, now,” she says. “They are puzzled by the idea that there are not many women in Cajun music – it’s hard for them to believe because all their lives they seen me playing with Bonsoir Catin, getting together with women to make music. I am very happy that in their minds it doesn’t make any difference.”
My dad wanted me to play. But society in general was not as accepting as it is now.
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Jane Vidrine is recognized around Acadiana as a musician, folklorist, cultural activist and teacher.
Ann Savoy wrote an award-winning book Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People Volume 1.
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acadiana profile june/July 2015
Lisa Trahan sings, plays the accordion, bass, guitar, triangle and rubboard.
Anya Burgess is not only a musician, she builds and restores violins.
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Louisiana historian
It had a lot to do with proving that women can play music too..
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acadiana profile june/July 2015
Ann Savoy began the Grammy-nominated Magnolia Sisters traditional Cajun singing group with partner Jane Vidrine (guitar, fiddle, vocals) specifically to explore the feminine side of Cajun music. “It had a lot to do with proving that women can play music, too,” says Savoy, who has played music since the age of 10. “Cajun music and music in general is such a male-dominated field, we wanted to say ‘We can play a kicking dance too!’” Currently living in Eunice, Savoy tours the world’s best musical festivals playing with her sons Joel and Wilson, plus her husband, accordion player and builder Michael Doucet (founder, in 1965, of Eunice’s Savoy Music Center) in their Savoy-Doucet Family Cajun Band. Savoy’s passion for Louisiana history also comes through in her work also as a photographer and writer, as evidenced in her book, Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People Volume 1, winner of the Botkin Book award and from the American Folklore Society. When she started her own band, she knew she wanted to share the stage with other women. “I had previously been in a Cajun band, playing guitar,” Savoy remembers of how the Magnolia Sisters got together. “I wanted to play fiddle and accordion too, but the other people in that band were such virtuosos I felt intimidated. Also, I’d wanted to do some songs they didn’t particularly want to do. “Jane and I, we’d get together to take care of our kids, and while we were watching the kids we’d play music
together. We both liked the same old music and it just evolved into a band.” Her musical partner Vidrine is also a folklorist, cultural activist and teacher. “I’m the biggest historian in the band, and Jane is currently working curating museum shows at the Natural History Museum,” brags Savoy of her partner’s extensive knowledge of Cajun culture. “She’s also a collector of historical music recordings. I first came to know her because she would book our band at a festival in Missouri, where she is originally from.” Vidrine’s life changed when she was given a job as director of the Louisiana Folklife Pavilion at the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans. “When she was booking the World’s Fair she met a Cajun musician, John Vidrine, and married him and moved here to Louisiana,” chuckles Savoy. “We Magnolia Sisters definitely like our Cajun men.” Vidrine and Savoy’s other two “sisters” have, since 1992, been fiddle player Anya Burgess, of Arnaudville, who builds and restores violins and Lisa Trahan (bass vocals, percussion, accordion) of Grand Coteau. Together, the Magnolia Sisters went out of their way to stand out this year on the Lagniappe stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. “We played without a drummer, just because it was a smaller situation and we thought it would make a nice contrast,” explains Savoy, who says the crowd appreciated the pared down ensemble. “We thought it would bring out what we are, which is a strong band playing old-timey Cajun music.”
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acadiana profile june/July 2015
Top Dentists
135 dentists in 7 specialties across Acadiana’s 22 parishes
SELECTION PROCESS “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?” This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and of course physical results. The nomination pool of dentists consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as all dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every
dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists who we have missed who they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peers’ work when evaluating the other nominees. Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballots whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the
This list is excerpted from the 2015 topDentists™ list, a database that includes listings for more than 100 dentists and specialists in the Acadiana area. The Acadiana list is based on thousands of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers. The complete database is available at usatopdentists.com. For more information, call (706) 364-0853; write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, Georgia 30903; email info@
nominees within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline cases are given careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received and status in various dental academies (Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Periodontology, etc.) can play a factor in our decision. Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then letters of
usatopdentists.com; or visit usatopdentists. com. topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.
congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists. Of course, there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in the United States. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful list of dentists available anywhere.
Copyright 2011-2015 by Top Dentists LLC, Augusta, Georgia. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.
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toughest case: Untreated Patients by Lauren Laborde | photos Romero & Romero
Daniel Domingue | General Dentistry | Lafayette | acadianadentistry.com For Dr. Danny Domingue, his toughest cases as a dentist are actually the cases he hasn’t tackled. “The toughest cases for me are the patients that go untreated. It's tough to see patients leave your practice after you’ve just informed them that they need a crown, a root canal, an implant, or even a filling. It’s not often, but occasionally I meet professionals that are busy with work or moms that are busy taking care of their kids, they both tend to put their needs on the back burner.” he says, reiterating that putting off dental work — even small things — can lead to bigger problems down the road. “Later on in their life inevitably they regret not getting the work they needed done.” It makes sense that it’s hard for Domingue to see patients go untreated, because he gets a tremendous amount of satisfaction in helping others. A Lafayette native, Domingue says the men in his family influenced his decisions and pushed him to work hard. While a student at St. Thomas More Catholic High School, Domingue’s grandfather, Dr. W.I. Smith, a “larger-thanlife” influence on Domingue, pushed him to consider dentistry instead of medicine. His father, Raymond, instilled in the young Domingue a strong work ethic. His uncle, Dr. J. Jerome Smith, whom he would eventually work for, provided the guidance he needed to get into dental school. Domingue graduated from LSU, where he earned a bachelors of science, in 2003, and then completed dental school at LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans in 2007. After dental school, he moved to New York for three years to pursue a residency and fellowship. At Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in New York City he served as Chief Resident of the Dental and Oral Surgery Department and trained in Advanced General Dentistry and
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in Dental Implantology. During this time he was awarded the Certificate of Achievement from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry for outstanding leadership in Implant Dentistry, a fellowship from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and an associate fellowship of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Domingue was also awarded “diplomate” from the American Board of Oral Implantology, the highest award possible for a general dentist practicing implantology. At the time he was recognized as the youngest recipient of this award in the world. After completing his residency, he married his wife, Megan, in Denver, Colorado. They moved back to Lafayette to start a family and practice dentistry, and soon they had their daughter, Danielle.
acadiana profile june/July 2015
After practicing for three years in Lake Charles, Domingue accepted his uncle’s offer to become a partner in his practice in Lafayette. Domingue cites many things he enjoys in his work, especially the familial nature of it. “I have enjoyed meeting so many people through my profession. I have met so many different dentists, young and old, I work daily with an incredible staff, and truly enjoy meeting new patients,” he says. “I like visiting with new patients and often here how they may know my family or relatives. I enjoy working with my uncle and together being able to put patient’s minds at ease after meeting for the first time.” He also enjoys the immense rewards that come with treating patients. “I enjoy giving people the smile they’ve always wanted, and especially helping those who have been living with pain or missing teeth to give them their old smile back,” he says. Outside of work, Domingue enjoys spending time with his daughter and wife. He is also involved in the anti-abortion movement in Lafayette: recently he started a Right to Life Education Endowment Fund in honor of his grandfather and Dr. Zerbon Bienvenue, who Domingue says are considered to be the gradfathers of the pro-life movement in the Acadiana Parish area. “We have seen an outpouring of praise from schools, churches, families, students and youth groups,” he says. “Our efforts have grown so fast we have now been able to spend time with over 10,000 youth around our parish.”
ENDODONICS
GENERAL DENTISTRY
Casey B. Bargas Bargas Endodontics 2640 Country Club Road Suite 300, Lake Charles 337-564-6885 bargasendo.com
Melanie Jean Andrews Plantation Road Dental Care 103 Plantation Road Destrehan 504-764-1148 plantationroaddental.com
Benjamin Ber Southern Endodontic Specialists 1211 Museum Drive, Houma 985-917-0084 houmaendo.com
Charles J. Ardoin II 4985 South Hwy. 27 Sulphur 337-583-2756 cjardoindds.com
Brent Chauvin Advanced Endodontics of Lafayette 221 Rue De Jean, Suite 214 Lafayette 337-769-0999 chauvinendo.com
John Kenneth Aycock 512 Haifleigh St. Franklin 337-828-5841
Kenneth Shane Fowler 4906 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Building O Lafayette 337-981-0144 shanefowlerdds.com Steven Michael Gaudet , Jr. Southern Endodontic Specialists 1211 Museum Drive Houma 985-917-0084 houmaendo.com Blair Paul Gremillion Ascension Endodontics 17563 Old Jefferson Hwy. Prairieville 225-677-5000 ascensionendo.com John E. Levin Levin Endodontics 312 West University Ave. Suite A, Lafayette 337-236-9880 levinendo.com Michael J. Marcello II Premier Endodontics 117 St. Michael St. Thibodaux 985-625-3636 premierendo.net Kenneth W. Parks Lake Area Endodontics 636 West McNeese St. Lake Charles 337-477-6124 lakeareaendo.com Anthony B. Rainwater 3909 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Suite B Lafayette 337-233-7113 rainwaterendo.com
Jimmy A. Babineaux Jr. Babineaux Family Dentistry 1534 West Pinhook Road Lafayette 337-234-3214 Brock J. Barras Barras Family Dentistry 1700 Kaliste Saloom, Building 4 Lafayette 337-235-3395 barrasfamilydentistry.com Peter T. Bayles 824 West Fourth St. Dequincy 337-786-6221 drbayles.com Douglas S. Ber 511 Cardinal Drive Thibodaux 985-447-9379 Charles A. Bernard III 2726 Kaliste Saloom Road Lafayette 337-984-9414 Gerard M. Beyt Beyt Family Dentistry 306 South Main St. Saint Martinville 337-394-3768 Mark J. Bilello 399 Bayou Gardens Blvd., Houma 985-872-9470 houmacomprehensivedentistry.com Gary Joseph Blanchette Sulphur Dental Associates 2920 Maplewood Drive Sulphur, 70663-6114 337-625-2671 Richard Irvin Borne Southdown Dental Center 103 Southdown West Blvd. Houma, 70360-3943 985-876-5564
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Ellis David Braud Jr. 810 Bayou Lane Thibodaux 985-446-2888
Peter J. Dorsey Dorsey Dental Group Inc. 3447 Fifth Ave. Lake Charles 337-478-2014
Lance Lege 904 North Cushing Ave. Kaplan 337-643-7766
Christy Gail Drum-Ammons 214 West McNeese St. Lake Charles 337-478-0870
Dean Leonard Listi 904 David Drive Morgan City 985-384-4044 drlisti.com
Charlie Buller III 206 North Thompson Ave. Iowa 337-582-7225
Lige F. Dunaway III 121 Representative Row Lafayette 337-264-1890 ligedunawaydds.com
Trace L. Lynn Sulphur Dental Associates 2920 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-2671
Rebecca Charpentier Charpentier Family Dentistry 600 Rue de Onetta New Iberia 337-369-6587 newiberiasmiles.com
Rachel R. Durel Bergeron Family Dentistry 636 South Belle Circle Breaux Bridge 337-332-5141 coreybergeronfamilydentistry.com
Bryan Manning Manning Dental Associates 1910 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-8787 manningdental.com
Carl W. Churchman Jr. 3640 Common St. Lake Charles 337-477-5043
Robert J. Foret 705 Plantation Road Thibodaux 985-446-8821
James Richard Churchman Churchman Family Dentistry 150 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles 337-478-1700
Joshua Ryan Guidry 556 Cardinal Drive Thibodaux 985-449-0611
Kent Raymond Mauduit Poetic Smiles 429 West Airline Hwy., Suite F La Place 985-652-3121 laplacedentist.com
Nathan H. Bray Jr. Hennigan Dental 700 West McNeese St., Suite B Lake Charles 337-478-8470 hennigandental.com
Mary S. Churchman 3632 Common St. Lake Charles 337-478-4022 marychurchmandds.com Robert C. Cochran Moss Bluff Family Dental Care 1434 Sam Houston Jones Pkwy. Lake Charles 337-855-7748 Katie Courville Roberts 3632 Common St. Lake Charles 337-478-4022 marychurchmandds.com William S. Darr Jr. 107 South Morgan Ave. Broussard 337-837-3117 wdarrdds.com Daniel Domingue 200 Beaullieu Drive, Building Two Lafayette 337-235-1523 acadianadentistry.com Dennis Edward Donald 627 West College St. Lake Charles 337-478-3646 drdennisdonald.com
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acadiana profile june/July 2015
Peter S. Guidry 1234 David Drive, Suite 106 Morgan City 985-385-5423 Sara R. Guidry 556 Cardinal Drive Thibodaux 985-449-0611 Herbert M. Hamilton, Jr. 406 West McNeese St., Suite B Lake Charles 337-477-9790 Donald P. Harris 605 Rue De Brille New Iberia 337-367-6144 Edward J. Hebert 1540 Country Club Road Lake Charles 337-474-4892 scottmhannamandds.com Craig S. Landry 350 Doucet Road, Suite 100 Lafayette 337-981-9242 drcraiglandry.com Michele Lavergne 4306 North University Ave. Carencro 337-896-3062 Richard L. LeBlanc 4003 Louisiana Ave. Lake Charles 337-477-8360
Katherine McCardell 300 Doucet Road Lafayette 337-989-1268 mikemalonedds.com Matthew J. Melancon Melancon Family Dentistry 300 West Madison St. Broussard 337-837-1861 melancondentistry.com Mark M. Miller 1516 Eighteenth St. Lake Charles 337-478-9994 James Philip Mire 102 Mystic Blvd. Houma 985-868-5337 Edward Morris Moody II 404 East Texas Ave. Rayne 337-334-2967 moodydentist.com Benjamin M. Ory Ory Family Dentistry 430 West Fifth St. La Place 985-652-9616 orydentists.com James A. Pearce 1221 Coolidge Blvd. Lafayette 337-269-0564 jamesapearcedds.com
Daniel M. Perry 4301 Lake St. Lake Charles 337-478-0812 drperrydentistry.com Randall R. Perry Family Dental Care 1430 West McNeese St. Lake Charles 337-474-0212 drrandallperry.com Esperanza M. Prato 2816 First Ave. Lake Charles 337-437-7107 Jason R. Ray 698 East First St. Thibodaux 985-446-8037 thibodauxdentist.com Kurt S. Rothermel 817 North Ave., Suite K Crowley 337-783-2113 Charles C. Savoia 200 Clinic Drive Donaldsonville 225-473-1082 Lance N. Savoie Lance Savoie Family Dental 105 Rue Centre St. Abbeville 337-892-4774 abbevilleladentist.com G. Kyle Slaven Smile Design dontics 671 South Post Oak Road Sulphur 337-625-0008 kyleslavendds.com J. Jerome Smith 200 Beaullieu Drive, Building 2 Lafayette 337-235-1523 acadianadentistry.com John L. Speer 3425 Louisiana Ave. Lake Charles 337-477-6561 James J. Stafford 2670 Hwy. 20 Vacherie 225-265-3026 drjamesstafford.com Michelle E. Swift Michelle Swift DDS Family Dentistry 1333 Oak Park Blvd. Lake Charles 337-478-2960 michelleswiftdds.com
John C. Theriot 121 Rue Louis XIV, Suite 2 Lafayette 337-984-3408 lafayetteladentist.com Seema Marie Varghese SWLA Center for Health Services 2000 Opelousas St. Lake Charles 337-493-5145 swlahealth.org Robert Roy Vaughan 1402 Oak Park Blvd. Lake Charles 337-478-2850 Paul D. Vidrine Westlake Dental Care 902 Shady Lane, Suite A Westlake 337-433-1306 Lamar E. Waguespack , Jr. La Vie Dental 109 Johnny Dufrene Drive Raceland 985-532-5303 Jerome M. Walker 600 Liberty St. Houma 985-851-2653 Ryan Walker 1700 Saint Charles St. Houma 985-851-1633 Daniel A. Weaver Lake Charles Center for Restorative Dentistry 715 West College St. Lake Charles 337-478-3123 smilelakecharles.com Stephanie B. Weaver Lake Charles Center for Restorative Dentistry 715 West College St. Lake Charles 337-478-3123 smilelakecharles.com C. Leonard Wise 1200 North Victor II Blvd. Suite 100 Morgan City 985-384-0926
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY Randolph H. Alexander 2708 Aster St., Suite A Lake Charles 337-478-9843
Robin C. Ardoin Oral & Facial Surgery Center 203 A Energy Pkwy. Lafayette 337-234-1780 omfsc.com
Craig Hannie Crawford Crawford Orthodontics 701 West College St. Lake Charles 337-478-7590 drcrawfordorthodontics.com
Mark Boston LaHaye LaHaye Orthodontics 100 Pecan St. Thibodaux 985-446-0988 lahayeortho.com
David Gunter Baughman Oral-Facial Surgery Center 1608 Polk St. Houma 985-879-1972 oral-facialsurgerycenter.com
John C. Daire 858 Kaliste Saloom Road Lafayette 337-291-9141 daireorthodontics.com
James A. Leithead , Jr. Leithead Orthodontics 615 West College St. Lake Charles 337-478-8091 leitheadorthodontics.com
Donald P. Boudreaux , Jr. Southern Oral & Facial Surgery 606 Rue De Brille New Iberia 337-560-0131 soafs.com Clay S. Chandler Lafayette Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Specialists 3839 West Congress St., Suite C Lafayette 337-984-0403 lafoms.com Gene O. Dupree Lafayette Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Specialists 3839 West Congress St., Suite C Lafayette 337-984-0403 lafoms.com Harold David Kennedy Oral & Facial Surgery Center 203 A Energy Pkwy. Lafayette 337-234-1780 omfsc.com Edward A. Neupert III Lafayette Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Specialists 3839 West Congress St., Suite C Lafayette 337-984-0403 lafoms.com Christopher J. Saal Oral-Facial Surgery Center 1608 Polk St. Houma 985-879-1972 oral-facialsurgerycenter.com
ORTHODONTICS Catherine Schwab Coreil Le Centre Orthodontic Arts 7845 Main St. Houma 985-853-1142 lecentreortho.com Mark N. Coreil Le Centre Orthodontic Arts 7845 Main St. Houma 985-853-1142 lecentreortho.com
Kerwin V. Donaldson , Jr. Donaldson Orthodontics 519 North Lewis St. New Iberia 337-367-8866 donaldsonortho.com Danielle Ardoin Dore 1144 Coolidge Blvd., Suite F Lafayette 337-267-7645 doresmiles.com Noel P. Dragon , Jr. 301 Rue Beauregard, Suite A Lafayette 337-412-6281
John F. Moffett , Jr. Moffett Orthodontics 1509 West McNeese St. Lake Charles 337-479-0300 moffettorthodontics.com Allison A. Moise-Hamada Hamada Orthodontics 131 Ormond Center Court Destrehan 985-725-0509 hamadaorthodontics.com
Whybra Joseph Duay , Jr. Duay Orthodontics 1301 Victor II Blvd. Morgan City 985-385-1850
John Marion Oubre John Oubre Orthodontics for Children and Adults 1605 Kaliste Saloom Road Lafayette 337-988-2025 droubre.com
Albert P. Ellender Ellender Orthodontics 102 Ramey Road Houma 985-851-1234 ellenderortho.com
Alan Carl Perry Lake Charles Orthodontics 1837 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles 337-478-2805 lakecharlesorthodontics.com
Jude P. Fairchild Lake Charles Orthodontics 1837 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles 337-478-2805 lakecharlesorthodontics.com
Paul C. Perry 3109 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-5330 paulcperry.com
Guy Warren Favaloro Favaloro Orthodontics 416 Belle Terre Blvd. La Place 985-652-2178 favaloroorthodontics.com
Stephen E. Searcy Searcy Orthodontics 3839 West Congress St., Suite B Lafayette 337-984-0178 searcyortho.com
Melanie Merrill Fowler Dr. Melanie Fowler Orthodontic Studio 4906 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Building O Lafayette 337-981-4350 orthodonticstudio.com
Donovan Paul Soignet Soignet Orthodontics 1001 East Seventh St., Suite A Thibodaux 985-446-5211
David A. Guidry Guidry Orthodontics/ Acadian Orthodontics 1234 David Drive, Suite 202B Morgan City 985-372-2399 GuidryOrtho.com
S. Jay Waguespack IV 4906 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Building L, Suite 1200 Lafayette 337-233-3677 jaywagortho.com
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toughest case: Full Rehabilitation by Lauren Laborde | photos Romero & Romero
Katie Courville Roberts | General Dentistry | Lake Charles | marychurchmandds.com For Dr. Katie Courville Roberts, the toughest kind of case she deals with as a dentist is also her most rewarding: when a patient's teeth have irreparable damage that requires full mouth rehabilitation. “In general, the most challenging case is when you get a patient that has teeth in poor working condition. Those are like a blank slate,” she says. Thanks to advances in cosmetic dentistry, Roberts says, there’s hope for these patients: a patient can have a smile that is both functional and esthetic. “It’s nice not seeing people struggle as much,” she says. “It’s amazing what you can do with implants and dentures nowadays.” While difficult, these cases are satisfying because of the life-changing results. “These are always the most rewarding cases. You see someone’s whole life transform,” she says. “They have confidence because they’re able to smile.” Roberts knew she wanted to go into the field after working at a dentist’s office one summer. She was a freshman at LSU where she enjoyed studying biology and chemistry and knew she wanted to work in healthcare, but wasn’t sure if she wanted to pursue medicine or dentistry. After working in the office and experiencing the never-dull, people-oriented nature of the field, that informed her path. “I absolutely loved it,” she said of the summer job. “I liked that every day was different, every patient was different. You kind of never know what you were going to get.” “I liked that I could make a change in someone and get immediate results.” After graduating from LSU with a degrees in biological sciences in 2008, Roberts attended LSU School of Dentistry New Orleans where she earned her doctorate in dental surgery in 2013. Now that she is a practicing dentist, working in partnership
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with Dr. Mary Seale Churchman at their Lake Charles office, she’s discovered more about the field, but it has proven to be the dynamic, satisfying profession she thought it would be. “I’ve discovered that problems aren't always straightforward or have only one answer. Sometimes you have to take several lessons to arrive at an answer best for your patient,” she says. “What keeps it exciting is sometimes you start out thinking, ‘Where is this case going to go?’ and when you think through it and get all the records you need to fully evaluate the patient, it comes together.” The Lake Charles native attended Barbe High School and then moved to Baton Rouge to attend LSU. She moved back to Lake Charles because she loves the small-town convenience it offers and being in close proximity to her family. Both her immediate and extended family still live in the area. “We’re always with my family,” she says. It’s comforting knowing you have a support system.”
acadiana profile june/july 2015
In 2013 she married Landon Roberts, a Shreveport native, whom she dated through college and married after he completed law school and she was done dentistry school. When they’re not working their demanding jobs, the couple enjoys “normal stuff” like spending time with family, hanging out with friends, and going to restaurants to try different types of food. Roberts and her husband seem to enjoy an ideal work-life balance. “Dentistry is flexible, so it hasn’t impeded on having fulfilling home life,” she says. “When I go home, dentistry is not consuming my whole day. It’s just about [my husband] and being at home.” Roberts says it’s a good match because her and her husband both work in demanding, but different, fields. “I like that we both understand each other, and each other comes first,” she says. “We both love our jobs and what we do concluded we can have it all: We can have each other, have a happy home life and fulfilling careers.”
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Kennell P. Brown, Jr. 306 North Lewis St., Suite Two New Iberia 337-369-7654
Paige Sigsworth Associates in Pediatric Dentistry 17534 Old Jefferson Hwy. Suite C1 Prairieville 225-673-9600 aipdbr.com
Claudia A. Cavallino Bayou Childrens Dental Center 4752 Hwy. 311, Suite 115 Houma 985-868-8331 bayouchildrensdental.com
Scott L. Worley The Dental Depot 4600 Lake St. Lake Charles 337-474-0246 thedentaldepot.com
Gantt N. De Jean 1604 Kerr St., Suite 101 Opelousas 337-948-8253
PERIODONTICS
N. Paige Gaudet Bayou Childrens Dental Center 4752 Hwy. 311, Suite 115 Houma 985-868-8331 bayouchildrensdental.com Roger G. Grimball, Jr. Grimball Pediatric Dentistry 910 Beglis Pkwy. Sulphur 337-625-2212 grimballdds.com John Alexander Hendry 185 South Beadle Road Lafayette 337-234-2349 drjohnhendry.com Leslie J. Jacobs Dr. Leslie Jacobs Pediatric Dentistry 113 Rue Fountaine Lafayette, 70508 337-500-1500 makeyourkidssmile.com William A. Keaty 350 Doucet Road, Suite 101 Lafayette 337-981-9242 nocavitykids.com S. Troy Miller Quest Pediatric Dental Group 210 Beaullieu Drive Lafayette 337-347-7365 troymillerdds.com Danielle Robinson 631 West College St. Lake Charles 337-474-2563 philipmosesdds.com Eric A. Sanders Sanders Pediatric Dentistry 2620 Country Club Road Lake Charles 337-433-5437 sanderspediatricdentistry.com
M. Randal Comeaux Periodontics Associates 3839 West Congress St., Suite D Lafayette 337-989-0267 periodonticsassociates.com James M. Finley Finley Periodontics 111 Rue Fontaine Lafayette 337-347-7368 finleyperio.com Monroe M. Howell 1117 Canal Blvd. Thibodaux 985-446-3855 Bryan S. Pearson Periodontics Associates 3839 West Congress St., Suite D Lafayette 337-989-0267 periodonticsassociates.com Murray L. Rabalais , Jr. Progressive Periodontics 236 Progressive Blvd. Houma 985-447-1500 louisianaperiolaser.com Edward T. Savoy 2708 Aster St., Suite B Lake Charles 337-474-2612 Raymond J. Steiner 4550 Lake St. Lake Charles 337-478-1000 raymondsteinerdds.com
PROSTHODONTICS Conrad F. Frey III Frey Prosthodontics 185 South Beadle Road, Building One, Suite C Lafayette 337-354-0004 freypros.com
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acadiana profile june/July 2015
Elegant & Ethereal 7 Enchanting Gowns
Cakes
3 Sweet Treats
Invitations
4 Beautiful Styles
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50 WEDDINGS
It started with dessert and cupcake bars a few years ago and has grown to include brunch bars and anything else you can imagine. The trend that continues to gain steam is bars and stations, which are a fun way to showcase the couple’s personality. Slider stations and seafood bars, food trucks and beer and spirits flights are becoming standard at receptions and after parties. From Southern staples, such as shrimp and grits and barbecue sliders to mac and cheese bars and clambakes, it’s all about faves and craves. In addition to the fun factor, couples can save money by steering away from a sit-down dinner. According to The Bridal Association of America, the average wedding caterer cost, including food and food service, drinks and
faire des plans
foodie fun Stations, bars, flights and food trucks are the way to go at wedding receptions and after parties by melanie warner spencer
drink service and cake and cake cutting fees is $12,790. The average number of guests is 150, so about $85 per person. With stations, such as biscuit and ham, mac and cheese or taco bar, that cost can go down to as low as $20 per
late-nite noshing Tasty treats for your wedding guests to keep the party going By Kelly Massicot
Are you planning a latenight reception? Or will you continue the celebration with a post-reception after party? Treat your guests to delicious late-night bites to refuel and keep the party going. Bite-sized servings are becoming more
person, depending on the caterer and food choice. Just pick a theme, such as Asian, Gulf Coast seafood or Mexican, or a beloved food and go for it. Stations also offer a practical solution to those with a lot of
popular and pushing couples to get creative with their menu. We love this trend, especially for the Acadiana region, where the reveling often stretches into the wee morning hours. There is plenty of room for ingenuity, and it’s an opportunity to tap into your inner child or your inner college party days. On top of that, your guests will be thankful for the considerate gesture with full stomachs. We have put together a list of our favorite nighttime nibbles just for you.
friends and family who are vegetarians, have special dietary needs and food allergies or who those are just picky eaters. Couples are getting crafty with the presentation too. Signage in any style, from elegant
Tomato soup shooters and grilled cheese bites Viva La Waffle food truck (Lafayette) Casa La Pasa food truck (Lake Charles) Milk and cookie bar Sliders or mini cheeseburgers Fries and dip Doughnuts and coffee shots Caramel corn Mini churros Mini pretzels with dip
and sophisticated printed topography to rustic chalkboard art, highlights the dishes. Sample-sized portions are elegantly or whimsically displayed on tiny, appetizer-sized china. The design options are limitless. For beer and spirits lovers, rum and whiskey tastings and craft beer bars are de rigueur and Louisiana has no shortage of breweries and distilleries. From Oryza, which produces gin and vodka; Bayou Rum; and Atelier Vie (makers of absinthe, vodka, gin and rice whiskey) to Bayou Teche Brewing, Abita Brewing and Chafunkta, just to name a few, there is something for every couple who enjoys tippling. Don’t forget about dessert. Milk and cookie bars; cupcakes; delicate French macaroon trees or spreads; and s’mores will have you and your guests feeling like kids again.
Take this opportunity to personalize as well. Order decorative bags, cups and any other accents in your wedding colors to complete your look. You can always pop your new monogram into the container or napkin paired with the food. So keep the surprises coming, and pick the perfect mini food that will keep you and your guests dancing until dawn.
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As my daughter’s wedding approaches in July, and I’m making yet another list for keeping my house guests entertained for a week, all the Cinderella dreams have finally turned into realities. I give thanks to that essential timeline notebook that has become my daily meditation guide – as well as their year-long engagement. As the wedding planner and caterer, I’ve found that it is essential to follow lists, not just make them. As the mother of the bride, part of my job is reducing the stress that comes with planning a wedding for a couple with extremely busy careers. You need to be a diplomat, play all sides and put out those fires, from that first “I’ll never-talk-to-her-again”
wedding wisdom Six Tips from the Mother of the Bride by lisa leblanc berry
bridesmaid drama to the multiple family guest list debates. Keeping a sense of humor and sharing a laugh on the side is key. Your job is to lighten
Here are six essential tips for the Mother of the Bride:
1
conseils
Organization and Budget! Create a monthly, weekly and daily timeline calendar. Then stick to it, and the budget as well. That’s the hardest part. You can be her Jimmy Cricket when it comes to the countless temptations along the way, from booking a band that’s twice the price to stopping that fleeting “ahhh” moment for a couture gown that’s just as lovely as the one she tried on last week.
things up and serve as emergency back-up. And to take great, embarrassing pictures. What started as an intimate seaside wedding in Destin,
2
Proofread everything, from the invitations to the program and announcements to avoid reprints, starting with the save-the-date announcement (hers came back with the wrong address).
3
Make appointments well ahead of time with the bridal shops, so that you have a knowledgeable consultant (instead of a newbie) that can find what you describe upon arrival. So, if your daughter wants a sheath-silhouette design in silk with a scoop back, a ball gown
Florida, changed to a 200-plus gala at a lavish historic landmark, and ended as a twilight ceremony under moss-draped oaks and a south Louisiana-themed,
with a beaded tulle bodice, or a trumpet gown with Alençon lace and sparkle at the waist, they’ll know exactly where to find it, and in your price range. Take pictures of the bride in each dress, so she can remember. If she is petite, explain that they’ll be using clamps; most dresses on the rack come in larger sizes. Include the cost of undergarments, shoes and jewelry in the budget. Also, beware of online sales items at bridal shops, because they often aren’t offered once you get there.
summer poolside reception featuring Cajun cuisine for around 150 guests. Thankfully, I’ll be in silk instead of sandy flip-flops. Through all the tasks, my daughter looking for a wedding gown was the most memorable, fun and emotional decision of the entire production. It took around four months. She ended up finding the most gorgeous, flattering dress of all (and reasonably priced) on a tip about a “great little place.” Among the best shops to visit in Acadiana are Sposa Bella and A-Net’s Dream in Lafayette, Lemon Drop in Broussard and Bella’s Bridal in Lake Charles. In Metairie, it’s Bustles & Bows, David’s and Pearl’s.
4
Keep a photo and video diary of memorable moments to share with wedding “fans” along the way and afterwards.
5
The best advice I can give parents is to not insist on their own points of view, but rather, to be supportive.
6
As the mother of the bride, you are her "mini-me.” Have your cell phone on at all times, even at night. Be that shoulder to cry on, that friend to laugh with, and the one who will always be there, no matter what, as time goes by.
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save the date Your correspondences will stand out in style. Photographs By Romero & Romero
Flower Power Crafted by invitation and stationery designer Rita Goodrich of Inkling Design Studio, this suite is printed on premium 110-pound stock and paired with fine envelopes and liners. Information, inklingdesignstudio.com
tout de suite
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Lovely Lilies This invitation suite from Charm contains layered cards featuring shimmer and botanical stock. Printing styles are available including thermography, letterpress, engraving, and digital (as pictured). Information, 5520 F Johnston St., Lafayette, (337) 984-4800, shopcharm.com
56 WEDDINGS
Perfect Pastels Custom-designed and digitally printed in-house on 100-pound natural linen stock, cut by hand, courtesy of Elle Designs. Information, cairrell@yahoo.com; Facebook.com/elledesigns1; Instagram: @elledesignsstudio
tout de suite
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Simple Elegance This stationery set, featuring a classic cursive font on white paper, is timeless and romantic. Information, piecesofeightgifts.com
tout de suite
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60 WEDDINGS
gâteaux
the sweetest things These three cakes are almost too pretty to eat. Photographs By Romero & Romero
Sweet Treat Two-tier almond-flavored cake with chocolate fudge filling, covered fondant and peach and pink roses with baby’s breath. Piece of Cake 1507 Kaliste Saloom, Suite H, Lafayette, Suite H; (337) 565-2753
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Flavor Trifecta Three tier-cake in a variety of this shop’s most popular flavors: bottom tier: almond wedding cake; middle tier: chocolate fudge with dulce de leche filling; top tier: French vanilla with pineapple filling. All coated in white fondant and flowers. Sky’s the Limit Cakes (337) 592-2068, skysthelimitcakes.com
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gâteaux
Decadent Delight Four-tiered rich butter cake with pecan and cream cheese filling, covered in buttercream frosting and fondant, embellished with elegant roses and baby’s breath. Sweet Southern Ladies 1299 Loreauville Hwy., St. Martinville, (337) 394-3855, twosweetsisters.com, info@sweetsouthernladies.com
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PHOTOS BY: THERESA KING CASSAGNE STYLED BY: TRACEE DUNDAS HAIR & MAKEUP BY: GLENN MOSLEY MODEL: BRITTANY WERNER LOCATION: RIP VAN WINKLE GARDENS
Timeless Elegance Off-white, sweetheart neckline, embroidered lace bodice and skirt, beaded belt by Enzoani from Sposa Bella 340 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette (337) 988-4078, sposabella-bridal.com; Chandelier earrings, crystal hair clip both from Lemon Drop 1209 Albertson Pkwy., Broussard, (337) 837-4033, lemondroppromshop.com; Flowers from C’est Jolie 203 E. Bridge St., St. Martinville, (337) 394-6132
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invitations
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X
l
Rip Van Winkle Gardens in New Iberia is more than just picturesque. Situated on the shore of Lake Peigneur, it’s positively fairytale-like, with graceful peacocks roaming the grounds; Spanish moss-draped trees, bamboo gardens; and blooming flowers. Here, we are able to showcase seven elegant gowns with the Gardens as our enchanting backdrop. Rip Van Winkle Gardens, 5505 Rip Van Winkle Rd, New Iberia, (337) 359-8525, ripvanwinklegardens.com
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invitations
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OPPOSITE PAGE: Majestic Beauty - Light gold and silver a-line gown, embroidery design on net, diamante beading trim, dress by Mori Lee; rhinestone bracelet; both from Lemon Drop THIS PAGE: Fairytale Princess - Ivory over light gold ball gown, sweetheart neckline, beaded metallic embroidery on tulle over Chantilly lace, by Maggie Sottero, ivory magnolia fascinator; both from Sposa Bella; Pearl and rhinestone stud earrings from Lemon Drop
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THIS PAGE: Grecian Renaissance - White modified a-line gown, illusion neckline, accented beaded appliques on chiffon sheath skirt by Enzoani; chandelier drop earrings; both from Sposa Bella OPPOSITE PAGE: Lady of the Manor - Off-white ball gown, strapless, beaded and sequins bodice, full tulle skirt; custom designed by PedramCouture.com; Raindrop earrings, multi-rhinestone bracelets from Lemon Drop (Multi-strand pearl necklace model’s own)
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invitations
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OPPOSITE PAGE: Great Gatsby Inspired – White modified a-line gown, sweetheart neckline, lace cap sleeves,
hand beading crystals on tulle overlay skirt; custom designed by NatashaMarieMiller.com; White tulle, lace applique headband from Lemon Drop THIS PAGE: Dramatic Effect – Ivory and light gold accent a-line tulle over Ava satin sheath gown, Swarovski crystal embroidery, by Maggie Sottero from Lemon Drop
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acadiana profile june/July 2015
Artist Frank Thompson just won 2015 Best in Show at the New Orleans Jazz Fest.
culture les personnes 74
Drawing upon experiences from her upbringing in rural Acadiana for inspiration, Maggie Perrodin Collins tells a classic Louisiana tale in her first novel, Celestial Blue Skies. by will kalec
les artistes 76
The stained-glass art of Lake Charles’ Frank Thompson both illuminates bare walls all across Acadiana and brightens up churches rebounding from darker days. by will kalec
en français 80
Vive le Québec! Vive le Québec libre! par david cheramie
culture LES DE LA personnes CUISINE
traces of home Drawing upon experiences from her upbringing in rural Acadiana for inspiration, Maggie Perrodin Collins tells a classic Louisiana tale in her first novel, Celestial Blue Skies. by will kalec | photo by romero & romero
Maggie Collins’ debut novel took eight years to write, and she became completely connected to her characters. “I didn’t even look at the clock!” she says of the time spent writing.
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acadiana profile june/july 2015
Before she gleefully
shows off her 206-page paperback baby, author Maggie Perrodin Collins takes a moment to tell us about the labor of love. “Eight years,” she answers when asked how long her novel, Celestial Blue Skies, took to complete. “I would just get on that computer and peck away, just forgetting all about the time. Didn’t even look at the clock. I just got so engulfed in these characters; I lost myself in them – so many characters, so many nicknames, but you feel like you know them. They become family.“ Speaking of family, the same can be said of the editors and staff at Battered Suitcase Press, who shepherded Collins’ project through rewrites, plot shifts, perspective changes until it was finally put to bed last year. Since then, Celestial Blue Skies has not only received glowing online reviews, but has also fared well in some of the most esteemed literary competitions in the country. Collins’ book was a finalist in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Contest, shortlisted for the Ernest Gaines Award and nominated for the Pushcart Prize, which recognizes the best small-press publications.
On top of that, there have been various book signings throughout South Louisiana, plenty of book club speaking engagements and a steady sales thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations. And while this has all been quite flattering, the attention and recognition can’t match the equal mix of joy and pride Collins felt when she first laid hands on her finished work. “Oh, it was wonderful,” Collins says of holding the book. “When I saw that cover for the first time, it’s like (the publishers) read my mind. They cradled and comforted my baby. Ohhhh, they gave it the best passage out of that birth canal, because it’s just so beautiful.” Set in the fictional town of Belle Place, Louisiana – a community you can’t go to, but will undoubtedly recognize because of its resemblance to rural outposts found in Iberia, St. Landry and Vermilion parishes – the novel tells the coming-of-age tale of Celeste Bastille. Reared in a poor region by a mentally ill mother who earns money in the world’s oldest profession, Celeste struggles with her sense of identity and purpose. Often caught in an emotional
tug-of-war between chasing her own ambitions and taking care of family, Celeste quickly becomes an empathetic heroine to most readers who often pepper Collins with questions about how much personal truth is contained within this work of fiction. “Everyone always asks me, ‘Is this real? Is this really your life! Because the characters are so real,’” Collins says. “It’s certainly not autobiographical, but I did take my rural roots and my Francophone culture and let that be my guide. I like to write about what I know. “Not too many people write about Acadiana who are from Acadiana, you know? I wanted to write a piece of fiction, but still have it feel authentic,” Collins continues. “Because if you’re from here, you own a piece of this place. It’s part of me. It’s part of my blood. It’s part of who I am … This is a true Louisiana novel.” Collins grew up the quintessential small-town girl. She jokes she was “born in the sugarcane fields,” and while that might be a bit of a stretch, it’s not too far off from her glorious but gritty childhood in Loreauville. She describes her family as a small-town Brady Bunch – close-knit, strong, dependent on
each other because frankly, they didn’t have much else. Hot water was boiled on the stovetop. As a young child, Collins’ house didn’t have a phone. Most trips into town were traveled on foot. The book mobile that occasionally came through town really fostered Collins love of the written word. “It was a life like Celeste’s life – not luxurious but lovely,” Collins says. “And it’s not like I’m talking about the olden days. Heck, I’m only 45 years old.” Collins majored in English at UL, writing for the student newspaper and the yearbook to hone her talent. While working as an educational diagnostician in Jefferson Parish, Collins began pounding out the opening chapters of her novel, which was originally titled The Curse of the Mulatto. The first excerpt of Collins’ book appeared in a 2009 issue of Louisiana Cultural Vistas magazine. Five years later, she finished it. Because completing one book was more marathon than sprint, Collins is intentionally vague when asked what lies in store for Celeste next. To be honest, there’s still shelf-life in Celestial Blue Skies, evidenced by the book
signing hosted at the New Iberia Library this spring. All Collins really knows for sure is that she’ll write again, because there’s more to Celeste’s story. “Celeste is very complicated,” Collins says. “She almost wants to hide her beauty, because she doesn’t want to be like her mother. She has to grow up quickly to take care of the family. I don’t want to spoil the story, but Celeste is going to do some very strange things. I recall a book club read my book and they told me, ‘I would have never done what Celeste does at the end.’ I like hearing that, because it means they lost themselves in the novel.”
To learn more about Maggie Collins, visit her facebook page at facebook.com/ CelestialBlueSkies
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culture les artisteS
letting the light shine through The stained-glass art of Lake Charles’ Frank Thompson both illuminates bare walls all across Acadiana and brightens up churches rebounding from darker days. by will kalec | Photos by romero & Romero
Take it from Frank
Thompson: If you’re looking to buy Band-Aids in bulk, go to Sam’s Club. They got the best deal. Don’t waste your time (and coin) at the supermarket or the pharmacy, and don’t get lured in by the cheap, knock-off in-store bandages that fall apart like cotton candy in a kid’s mouth. Go with the brand name. Trust him. Thompson is pretty much the authority on a subject the rest of us never think about. “It’s a good cloth kind, ya know,” says Thompson, still stuck on Band-Aids. “Using them is a common occurrence. And wouldn’t you know, most of the bad cuts happen when I’m doing something stupid.” Or something spectacular. Through the course of nearly 30 years, Thompson’s
A true calling: Frank Thompson has been infatuated with stained glass since his youth. Even in kindergarten, he put together a “stained glass” window – only it was made out of construction paper.
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acadiana profile june/july 2015
stained-glass artwork has evolved from remedial to renowned, earning praise from various festivals and publications as he’s honed a distinct personal style. Run across Thompson at an art show – whether it be as far east as Atlanta, as far west as Austin, or as close as Lafayette’s River Ranch – and odds are you’ve come to know his patented verbal potion of self-deprecation, folksy charm and grandfatherly ease. Coupled with the breathtaking stained-glass pieces Thompson sells, the seamless wit is all part of the sizzle. Yeah, Thompson’s magnificent glass can be seen in nearly a dozen churches throughout Cameron and Calcasieu parishes, and yeah, his at-home pieces (particularly his line of crosses that glisten without windows behind a distressed aluminum backdrop) recently wowed enough judges at the 2015 Corpus Christi Festival of Arts to capture “Best in Show,” but that’s only a sliver of his brilliance, only part of the reason he left construction to do this full-time. He’s a bit of showman, flashing an easy-to-love bravado that covers up the fact he’s tired, considering he woke
up at 3:30 a.m. to drive here and won’t get back to bed before midnight. “I love glass jokes because they crack people up,” Thompson says, waiting a breath for an imaginary drummer’s sting. “You can’t have too fragile of a sense of humor. But of course, they see through all that.” Thompson laughs. “And in there was this regular sheet of paper – red construction paper. On it were other torn pieces of colored paper that were pasted together. Then I took a black crayon and outlined it. Wrote “stained-glass window” in crayon. “Stained-glass has been in my subconscious apparently for close to 50 years,” Thompson says. “My mother found an old kindergarten project from 1965 where I put together a window out of colorful construction paper. I totally had forgotten that, but it’s crazy: I’m doing in life what I apparently dreamed about doing when I was really young.” A bit of a lovable oddball pretty much since birth, Thompson’s affinity for using his busy hands was evident early on. School was never really his thing, though he did gobble-up “how-to” manuals, the first detailing
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the steps to build a log cabin. At 16 years old, Thompson built one on the family’s expansive 80-acre plot, refusing any and all shortcuts throughout the arduous process. We’re talking cutting down trees, skinning off the bark, everything. When the cabin was complete, Thompson lived in it. “I wasn’t like a ‘house’ house,” Thompson says, trying to be modest. “It was more like a bedroom, but
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it was my first real accomplishment I ever did with my hands.” Thompson chose carpentry over college after high school. To save money, Thompson lived with his grandmother, skipping town on most weekends to date the woman who later became his wife. Looking for ideas to show grandma his appreciation for letting him crash, Thompson wandered into a Houston art store.
acadiana profile june/july 2015
“I found this (stainedglass) pattern. It was six-feet-tall, a Mediterranean scene – had some grapes in it, really, really complex, but I went for it,” Thompson says. “Told the lady behind the counter, ‘Y’all give me everything I need to make this.’ She looked at me puzzled and said, ‘Don’t you want to take some classes?!? ‘Naw.’ “I spent $350 on all the supplies, so you better believe I was gonna learn how to do it, and I did it.” So Thompson was dedicated? “Oh yeah. I moved my workbench into the bedroom,” Thompson says. “My wife (fiancée at the time) would come over and say, ‘Um, there’s glass in the carpet!’” Thankfully, for the sake of the marriage,
Thompson constructed a small studio out back, a place where he could handle inventory on not just stained-glass used in homes, but also personal decorative items like stainedglass crosses. Then, Hurricane Rita ripped through southwest Louisiana. Storm winds pushed a pine tree on top of the studio roof. All the glass-cutting machines were turned over. Mud covered everything. Plant roots ripped through the floor. The only things left untouched, amazingly enough, were 20 stained-glass crosses. Thompson viewed it as a sign. For the next half-year, Thompson sold these custom crosses out of the back of his car. A local news station caught wind of the inspiring story,
aired a segment about Thompson, and within a week, the artist was swamped with orders. To date, he’s sold more than 600 crosses. “The response we’ve received has just been overwhelming,” Thompson says. “A lot of people said, ‘Well I don’t have windows’ or “ I don’t have a lot of light,’ so I corrected that by putting the aluminum behind the crosses. “But I just love the people I meet. Love answering their questions,” Thompson continues. “I tell them, all I’m trying to do with the glass is transform an inner vision into an outer reality.”
To see more of Frank Thompson’s work, visit frankthompson.com
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culture en français, s’il vous plaît
vive le québec! vive le québec libre! par david cheramie
Les influences ayant
formé l’Acadiana sont multiples. L’arrivée et l’établissement des Français, des Créoles, des Acadiens et des peuples non-francophones, tels les Africains, les Allemands, les Italiens, les Irlandais, les Angloaméricains, ainsi que de nombreuses tribus amérindiennes déjà sur place, sont souvent évoqués. Un ami québécois m’a récemment fait remarquer que parmi tous ces liens, on a tendance à oublier ceux avec la Belle Province. J’ai dû admettre que malgré le soutien crucial que le Québec nous a apporté au début du mouvement pour la renaissance du français en Louisiane, on n’évoque qu’à peine leurs contributions. Il faut rectifier cette omission. Lorsque la Louisiane a été fondée en tant que colonie en 1699, c’était sous l’égide d’Iberville, né à Ville-Marie en Nouvelle-France, aujourd’hui Montréal au Québec. La NouvelleFrance a existé depuis l’arrivée de Jacques Cartier en 1534 jusqu’à la fin de la Guerre de Sept Ans et le traité de Paris en 1763. Elle consistait du Canada, de l’Acadie et de la Louisiane. Il faut reconnaître que le vaste territoire de la Louisiane d’autrefois faisait
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partie de cette même zone, de ce grand rêve américain à la française, la Nouvelle-France. Comme on était lié par la Mississipi, plusieurs de ces Canadiensfrançais ont suivi son cours jusqu’à chez nous. Les Ménard et les Larivière parmi d’autres sont arrivés en Louisiane par cette voie. Parmi eux étaient des coureurs des bois, célèbres pour leur traite de fourrure avec les Indiens. La différence entre eux et les Voyageurs, aussi connus comme fournisseurs de peau de bête assouvissant le grand appétit de la mode de l’époque, c’est que les coureurs des bois ne possédaient pas de permis de chasse de la part du Roi de France. Notre habitude de faire la chasse hors saison et sans permission ne date pas d’hier. En sautant dans le temps, nous arrivons dans les années soixante. Côté Québec,
acadiana profile june/july 2015
comme ailleurs, ce sont des années charnières. La Révolution tranquille est une période dans l’histoire du Québec marquée par des changements sociaux et politiques rapides. L’élection de Jean Lesage comme premier ministre en juillet 1960, suivi par la création de l’Office de la langue française l’année suivante et celle du Ministre de l’éducation en 1964 sont considérées comme des étapes décisives. Presque du jour au lendemain, une nouvelle identité s’est forgée, nourrissant un mouvement séparatiste. L’Exposition universelle de 1967 met Montréal et tout le Québec sur la scène internationale. Mais l’événement cette année qui allait faire briller un feu de projecteur sur le Québec a eu lieu le 24 juillet. Le Général De Gaulle, alors président
de la République française, s’est présenté sur un balcon à Montréal lors d’une visite officielle et en prononçant ces mots, a envoyé une onde de choc : « Vive le Québec! Vive le Québec libre! ». La phrase a instantanément fait le tour du monde et a mis le nom du Québec sur toutes les lèvres, à tel point que même les Chinois, selon le documentaire qui relate cette visite Le Chemin du Roy, ont dû inventer un nouvel idéogramme. Il y a probablement un lien solide avec cette déclaration et les débuts du CODOFIL. Plusieurs témoins de l’époque m’ont raconté l’histoire d’un Français un peu mystérieux qui était aux côtés du Général à Montréal ce jour-là et qui, peu de temps après, aurait conseillé M. Domengeaux. J’ai entendu plusieurs
versions différentes. On m’a même affirmé que c’était qui aurait soufflé à De Gaulle ses paroles légendaires. Il est certain que les activistes louisianais ont entendu ce cri de cœur et, sans vouloir former un gouvernement séparé comme dans le cas du Québec, ont été encouragés à poursuivre la lutte pour la survie de la langue française en Louisiane. Le Québec, représenté par Léo Leblanc, était un des premiers partenaires, avec la France, à nous envoyer des enseignants dès 1972. Une délégation québécoise, pas tout à fait un consulat à cause de son statut de province canadienne mais presque, était présente à Lafayette jusqu’au début des années quatre-vingtdix. Depuis lors, on entretient des liens privilégiés avec le Québec, même si on n’en parle pas autant que de ceux avec la France et l’Acadie. Le Mississipi est un long fleuve pas toujours tranquille mais il nous rappelle notre appartenance à cette grande famille nord-américaine francophone.
For an English translation, visit acadianaprofile.com.
photographie Archives de la Ville de Montréal