I know this post is a bit out of the ordinary for The Cajun Foodie, but it is something I felt compelled to share and write about.

The Wife and I attended the Acadiana Business Awards dinner two nights ago in Lafayette, and found ourselves sitting in the presence of some of the greats of the South Louisiana business world.  One by one, they walked up to the podium to accept their awards and deliver some of the absolute best acceptance speeches I’ve ever heard.

There really is nothing like hearing successful entrepreneurs talk about the beginning of their business and the bumpy road to where they are now.  Excitement, exuberance, and sheer passion for life is exhibited by those that assume the risk and take the proverbial leap.

What really struck me however was the pride and joy expressed by the honorees in family, community, and South Louisiana as a whole and, as luck would have it, many of the recipients were also in the food business.

Who would have thought that celebrity chef Jaime Oliver flew halfway around the world to come work on McGee’s Landing after the hurricane and contributed a great deal of his personal money to get David Allemond’s institution of Cajun eco-tourism back up and running?

Another great moment was Carroll Thomas, the creator of Cajun Power sauces and condiments, telling the story of his various businesses throughout the years, only to return full circle to being back in the kitchen recreating the dishes that his mother cooked for him as a child and ultimately bottling up the results in pursuit of making Cajun Power what it is today.

The one that really hit home, however, was the story told (after all, speeches are just stories when told by a true Cajun) by Robert “Biker Bob” Guilbeau, the founder and owner of Prejeans.  Biker Bob went off to California in search of finding who he was… and he did.  He found out that he was a Cajun.

While he felt he was like everyone else down here, it was being in the company of “different” people that made him realize that he loved who he was and he loved where he was from.  From the food to the friendliness of the people, there was so much to appreciate about South Louisiana and it was not until he left it that he felt the loss.

Biker Bob’s story is much like my own, striking off for the rivers of West Virginia and the mountains of Utah to find myself.  While I’ll always hold dear the memories and wonderful friends “up north” that I will have for a lifetime, I realized that Louisiana really is a wonderful place and that I should be proud of where I’m from and who I am.

Walk around any small town festival or go tailgating at LSU and walk up to a group.  Nine out of ten times you’ll be invited to sit down, have a beer, try some of “the best ____ in Louisiana” and pass a good time.

Or go walking through the French Quarter, where at any moment a 5 piece brass band can come stomping around the corner with a beat strong enough to make you choke on a Lucky Dog.

Still need proof? Head to Café des Amis in Breaux Bridge or Fred’s Lounge in Mamou for a raucous start to a Saturday morning with live zydeco music, Cajun dancing and so many smiles you can’t help but do the same.

That, my friend, does not happen everywhere.  There’s a reason why thousands of tourists come here every year, books are dedicated to the culture and cuisine, and  expats crave for the foods and memories of their childhood.  So gather up some friends and family and go enjoy yourself at a restaurant or gather ’round a pot of boiling crawfish to enjoy the things we have in life.

Be proud of being a Cajun, whether you’re a new one, an old one, or a want to be one. Aieee!