The Louisiana French "Acadian" "Cajun" History Page

A Cajun is someone who has descended from the French-Acadians who were banished from

Nova Scotia, Canada by the British and, subsequently, migrated to South Louisiana.

Acadiana is the home of the Cajun people, the descendents of the Acadians, who settled along the bayous and prairies of southwest Louisiana after their expulsion from Acadie (Nova Scotia) in 1755. It is a place of the incredibly rich musical, cultural and culinary traditions of the Cajuns and Creoles, and is a place like no other. Warm and wonderfully hospitable people, many living simple but rich lives, great food, dancehalls ringing with rollicking music and trembling with the combined foot-stomping of hundreds of dancers, and the quiet, singular beauty of the bayous and swamps of the Atchafalaya Basin ...

CAJUN ('ka:-j@n), n. A person born or living along the bayous, marshes and prairies of south Louisiana; devoted to gumbo, boudin, sauce piquante, crawfish and jambalaya, French music, hard work and letting the good times roll.

Ce c'est bon!!!!  (Cajun for the French saying, C'est si bon, translated - "It's so good")

And that's what you will say when you taste the difference our Cajun seasonings make in your cooking.

"What's Cajun! ! Where you been, che'? Why, I tell you Pierre, they don' know what is been cookin'. We

gon' to tell them che'."

Before they break out with their alligator killing equipment, let me tell you what "Cajun" means.

Technically, a Cajun is someone who has descended from the French-Acadians who were banished from

Nova Scotia by the British and, subsequently, migrated to south Louisiana. Less formally, it is anyone from

south Louisiana who has a certain way of speaking (the listener will hear the "ough" - as in dough, and "ah"

sounds a lot, and will hear "Che' " intermingled with most of what is being said in a conversat ion.) Also, this

individual will have an unabashed love for fun and food, sharing these with large groups of extended family

and friends. For the most part, he is Catholic and very devoted to family. This individual will have a

tremendous love for the outdoors and associated activities, i.e., hunting, fishing, boating.

Now, for the part you're really interested in. What brings about these tight relations among these Cajun

friends and families? Simple - the food, the indescribably delicious food. Why, one of their most famous

chefs, John Folse, went to Russia shortly after the cold war ended just to warm up relations a little between

the U.S. and Russia. He did this by adding Cajun spice to the Russian cuisine!!! Did you notice how trade

agreements opened up after the Russians tasted this Cajun cooking! It's no wonder; it works the same for

those big relations as it does for family and friends.

Eat some Cajun food with Hot Sauce and you'll be saying, "Ca c'est bon!" too!

MORE ABOUT CAJUN CUISINE

What is Cajun cuisine? It's a lot like love; unless you've experienced it, there are no real words for the

feeling you have during a Cajun feast. A high? A rush? Maybe. No, those terms are associated with things

bad fo r you. Not Cajun spice. It's like the passions of life, wrapped up in a sumptuous edible creation. Its

delicate balance sets your senses on fire, and leaves you satisfied in its afterglow. So, you want some passion,

some spice, something to really keep you hot and cooking. Go ahead. Don't be afraid. Reach for it.

French Acadian Cajun Tourism in the Countries Of the United States, Canada and France

French Acadian Cajun Tourism in the State of Louisiana in the United States, including Lafayette, Internet Service Providers, a Louisiana Catalog of products.