Stranger in Louisiana-Cajun 101

~Blog post #1~

April 12, 2015

by Michael Lucarelli

The culture that I have chosen to focus on is Cajun. I am interested in this culture because it is one of American cultures that I don't know a lot about. Some of the things that I know about the Cajun culture is that they are a close community and eat what they forage from the swamp. I hope to learn more about the different dishes they eat, their customs, and their history.
Cajun cookings biggest difference from Creole is that Cajun was developed from the lower classes whose meals where much more practical, can be cooked in one pot, and are easier to fill many mouths.
Boudin is a type of sausage that is a cajun specialty, and has a fast food restaurant called "Boudin King" in Lafayette, LA. More rice is eaten by Louisiana residents than a lot of Americans. This is primarily due to the fact that rice is a Cajun staple, and is stirred into almost all dishes.
The Cajun people where originally Acadian, and it was the English settlers that first called them 'Cajun'. They called them this because the Acadians simple lifestyle was taken as being lazy and inferior. The Acadian's considered it an insult to be called Cajun. In 1785 the largest single group of immigrants arrived in Louisiana, and occurred when Spain paid to carry about 1600 Acadians from France. This shaped the food because it gave the culture and food a French influence

Works Cited

• "Click Here To Play: Cajun or Creole? It's All Good!" Cajun or Creole? It's All Good! N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
• Goodbody, Mary. "Secrets of Creole and Cajun Food." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
• "ACADIAN-CAJUN Genealogy & History." ACADIAN-CAJUN Genealogy & History. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
• "Cajun Country - Savoie's Foods." Savoies Foods Cajun Country Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.