542. Part 1 of our conversation with our friend Elista Istre. She has written a book entitled, Josette and Friends Cook a Gumbo.
“This beautifully written and illustrated children’s book is a
brilliant blend of Louisiana’s culture and cuisine.”— Chef John Folse
"Cool fall days and warm, cozy friendships bring Josette and her friends
together to cook a delicious gumbo bursting with flavor. As the
children add their favorite ingredients to the pot, they stir up some
fascinating stories about Louisiana’s people—including Cajuns, Creoles,
American Indians, French, Africans, Germans, and Spanish Isleños. While
spicing up their friendship in Mama’s kitchen, what will Josette and her
friends discover about each other and their own connections to this
tasty dish? Bon appétit!" "Dr. Elista Istre, a native and lifelong
resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, is a descendant of Cajuns, French
Creoles, and Spanish Isleños. An avid traveler with a passion for
cultures across the globe, Elista has been sharing her region’s diverse
heritage with audiences of all ages around the world for more than
twenty years. Elista founded her own company Belle Heritage to provide
consulting expertise and create cultural experiences that inspire
individuals and organizations to celebrate the beauty of heritage." (ULL Press)
“This beautifully written and illustrated children’s book is a
brilliant blend of Louisiana’s culture and cuisine.”— Chef John Folse
"Cool fall days and warm, cozy friendships bring Josette and her friends
together to cook a delicious gumbo bursting with flavor. As the
children add their favorite ingredients to the pot, they stir up some
fascinating stories about Louisiana’s people—including Cajuns, Creoles,
American Indians, French, Africans, Germans, and Spanish Isleños. While
spicing up their friendship in Mama’s kitchen, what will Josette and her
friends discover about each other and their own connections to this
tasty dish? Bon appétit!" "Dr. Elista Istre, a native and lifelong
resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, is a descendant of Cajuns, French
Creoles, and Spanish Isleños. An avid traveler with a passion for
cultures across the globe, Elista has been sharing her region’s diverse
heritage with audiences of all ages around the world for more than
twenty years. Elista founded her own company Belle Heritage to provide
consulting expertise and create cultural experiences that inspire
individuals and organizations to celebrate the beauty of heritage." (ULL Press)
- This week in Louisiana history. September 30, 1764.
D'Abbadie acknowledges receipt of transfer of colony from
French to Spanish. - This week in New Orleans history.
- This week in Louisiana. Steamboat Washington Arrives in New
Orleans
October 7, 1816. Commemorative Stamp Issued March 3, 1989.
Watercolor by Richard Schlecht. On October 7, 1816 the
Washington, built by Henry M. Shreve, was the first
double-decker. steamboat to arrive in New Orleans and became
the model for the classic style of Mississippi river boats --
flat-bottomed, two stories, steam-powered paddle wheel mounted
on the stern, two smoke-stacks. First used to carry cargo it
was soon open for passenger transportation. The Washington
moved at lightning speed compared to other boats on the rivers
-- 16 mph upstream and downstream at as much as 25 mph. Shreve
launched the boat earlier that year on the Monongahela River
just above Pittsburgh. Shreve's cleverly designed Washington
had all the features that would soon come to characterize the
classic Mississippi riverboat: a two-story deck, a
stern-mounted paddle wheel powered by a high-pressure steam
engine, a shallow, flat-bottomed hull, and a pilothouse framed
by two tall chimneys. Perfectly designed for the often-shallow
western rivers like the Mississippi and Missouri, the
Washington proved itself on its inaugural voyage the following
spring. Steaming upriver against the current with full cargo,
the Washington reached Louisville in only 25 days,
demonstrating that the powerful new generation of steamboats
could master the often-treacherous currents of the mighty
western rivers. Soon the Washington began to offer regular
passenger and cargo service between New Orleans and
Louisville.
- Postcards from Louisiana. Single Malt Please with Maude
Caillat at the BMC Bar on Decatur St. in New Orleans.
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