The Cajun Foodie

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Posts Tagged Opelousas

2011 Gumbo Cookoff in Opelousas

Jan 7

Posted by Tommy in Events | No Comments

2011 Gumbo cookoff flyer 150x150 2011 Gumbo Cookoff in OpelousasOn Saturday, January 29, 2011, the Steamboat and Frank’s Downtown are going to host their 5th annual gumbo cookoff.

The rules are relatively simple, the gumbo must have chicken and sausage in it, you have to register by 10:00 a.m. and you have to be ready for judging by 3:00 p.m.  That’s about it! Double blind judging by the way for the experienced out there.  If you haven’t participated in the cookoff before that basically means the judges don’t care what you look like- it’s all about the grub.

The cookoff is always for a good cause, with this year’s beneficiary being Charles Lynn Cain of Leonville who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Beside the cookoff, there is always a great auction, raffle and music.

We’ve participated for the last two years and it is always a good time, so come on out, join the fun and be sure to say hello!

For more details call Tim at (337) 658-1108 or see the event’s Facebook page.

On a separate but related note, I received an email recently from a colleague informing me of a great program that can help a lot of people. Here was my colleague’s write-up on it and the link:

If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the
word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE
housecleaning – once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment.
All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the
treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in
her zip code area arrange for the service. This organization serves the
entire USA and currently has 547 partners to help these women. Let them
know that there are people out there that care.
http://www.cleaningforareason.org

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Cajun kolaches

Mar 8

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 15 Comments

Cajun kolaches

The kolache wave has arrived!  Formerly restricted to the boundaries of Texas (and claimed by Texans to have originated there of course), kolaches are moving east and replacing the donut as the breakfast food of choice.  While many people envision the quintessential Cajun breakfast as chicory coffee and beignets with lots of powdered sugar, most Cajuns actually favor savory dishes in the morning.  The kolache is just the logical extension of something we have always wished for: a quick an easy way to carry around three of our favorite foods: eggs, cheese, and pork fat.

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Boudin Balls at Billy Ray’s

Feb 20

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 7 Comments

So there is this place in Opelousas on E. Vine St. People call it Billy’s, Ray’s, Billy Ray’s, or Billy and Ray’s. Whatever it is, they have the best boudin balls EVER. See, a lot of places in south Louisiana have boudin balls. Rice and basically dressing mix tossed together, packed in a ball deep fried. Billy Ray’s (as I call it) has them all beat due to one simple thing. Their batter.

They double dip their boudin balls in a mixture that can only be compared to the batter on Popeye’s fried chicken. Gnarly, crispy, crunchy goodness with a soft inside.

Now, as for the boudin, be careful. The place has such a complicated name because they sell two different boudins. Not just one spicy and one mild, but two different recipes. You see, they sell Billy’s (the spicier one) and Ray’s (the milder of the two). It is easy to be confused by which one is which because they have a big sign inside that says “Ray’s hot boudin,” but don’t be mislead. If you want spicy, the easy thing is to just ask for the spicy and they know what you’re talking about.

In fact, I think it is a mistake to order anything but the “spicy.” Ray’s boudin is bland to me, bordering on tasteless. Billy’s, the spicier one, is great, and is the stuffing for their boudin balls also. I’ve messed up before, ordering Ray’s boudin because of the sign saying it was the hot one, and I have ordered Billy’s and been given Ray’s. Now, I just say “spicy.”

To further ease the confusion though, just get yourself a boudin ball. Also, they have also have another location in Krotz Springs on 190.

Boudin Balls at Billy Rays

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Burger Day

Feb 20

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | No Comments

Okay, those are pics of another burger.  Another burger that I ate last night after having one for lunch.  No, I did not intend to have cheeseburgers for lunch and dinner, but this was happy surprise nonetheless.

I was watching the ponies at Evangeline Downs with my male in laws.  One was bringing back some drinks and asked if I at dinner yet, to which I responded no, and he replied “good I ordered you a burger.”

So after talking earlier in the day about the lack of grease in the Southside burger, this bovine greasebomb does the trick.  While the burger itself could use the spice, the bun, cheese, and burger combine to make a tasty melty package.  Strangely enough, the bun was actually a lot like Southside’s, with that Hawaiian roll thing going on.

I started yesterday with the intention to eat one burger, not two.  Life, as it seems had other plans, and as my father-in-law said when he hit a trifecta for a nice payout: “that’s awesome man.”

Burger Day

Burger Day

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