Rendevous des Cajuns
Written: Jan 20 '00 (Updated Jan 23 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: a genuine "non" tourist experience
Cons: A little quiet after New Orleans
The Bottom Line: If you like Cajun music this is a "must visit" destination
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| Howard_Creech's Full Review: Cajun Country |
Eunice (named for the wife of the towns founder) is the capital of the Prairie Cajun culture. The Prairie Cajuns, unlike their more famous swamp dwelling cousins to the south, were farmers who grew rice. One of the most significant features of the Prairie Cajun culture was the Saturday night dance held at every crossroads town in central Louisiana. The chank-a-chank of old fashioned handmade cajun accordions, swamp fiddles, and guitars from these traditional crossroads dances can still be heard, every Saturday night at 6:00 pm at the historic Liberty Theatre in downtown Eunice.
The "Rendevous des Cajuns" (meeting of the Cajuns) is not to be missed, the host, Dr. Barry Ancelet (who teaches at the local college) sprinkles cornmeal on the old wooden floor of the theatre and tells jokes in French. Dr. Ancelet usually gets the best laugh of the evening when he explains that the cornmeal (which helps the dancers glide smoothly around the dancefloor) is swept up in typical frugal Cajun fashion, to be used in the cornbread making class at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center (located less than a block from the Liberty Theatre) and then fed to the tourists who signed up for the class.
The "Rendevous des Cajuns" is not a tourist event, it is one of the last reminders of the traditional Cajun culture...the dancers are almost all locals and the bands are all home grown. Tourists are welcome, but they are in the minority here. The show runs from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and the entry fee is three dollars per person (children under 12 are admitted free) Eunice is a three hour drive from New Orleans via U. S. 190, and while in Eunice, don't miss the Saturday morning "jam session" of Cajun musicians at Savoy's Music Store, which is about two miles east of Eunice on U. S. 190 (you won't have any trouble finding it, just look for all the cars and pick up trucks parked on the side of the road) The fun begins at 8:00 am and usually lasts until 12:00 or 1:00.
Mark Savoy is one of the best known Accordion makers in Louisiana, he is a fascinating gentleman who often acts as a technical advisor to movie and TV productions about the Cajun culture. During the time between the jam session at Savoy's and the Rendevous des Cajuns at the Liberty, you can visit the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center (or the Eunice City Museum, Don't miss the small "restored" cajun prairie) both of which are free. If you do visit the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center be sure to sign up for the Cajun Cooking demonstration (every Saturday at 4:00 PM) after which the participants get to eat whatever was cooked.
While in Eunice don't miss the opportunity to try Boudin, a cajun sausage made with pork, rice, and seasonings. Boudin (pronounced BOO-dan) is made fresh in grocery stores and meat markets all over Acadiana, it is quite tasty, and the best in the state is made at Johnson's Grocery, 700 E. Maple St. Folks drive from New Orleans and Lake Charles to buy the Boudin at Johnson's Grocery. The local joke is that an eight course cajun dinner consists of a six pack of Abita Turbo Dog beer and a couple links of Boudin from Johnson's Grocery.
If you don't like the idea of buying your meals to go (and eating them in the car) then try Ruby's Cafe (221 W. Walnut, right behind the Liberty Theatre) famous for "down home" cooking since the fifties. "Miz Ruby" serves up luscious pork roast and baked chicken, with a wide selection of side dishes and deserts
If you would like to read more about Eunice, Dr. Barry Ancelet, or The Rendevous des Cajuns, check out "Border of Blue" by Frederick Turner.
If you enjoyed reading this Louisiana travel review, please read my other Louisiana travel reviews:
New Orleans
Off the Beaten Path in New Orleans
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-1C6C-B84F727-39485E6B-prod2
New Orleans With an Attitude
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On the Trail of Jean Lafitte
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Louisiana Highway One
Exploring Louisiana’s Enchanted Backroads
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Traveling back in Time
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-55C9-1846C465-39691684-prod5
Into the Cajun Heartland
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-206C-260B35E8-398C54E8-prod5
Cajun Country
A Pilgrimage to the Musical Heart of Louisiana
http://www.epinions.com/content_51310136964
A South Louisiana Journey
http://www.epinions.com/content_43274440324
Evangeline Parish, Real Cajun Country
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-4AE2-BA4E605-39229E55-prod4
A Quick Tour of Cajun Country
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-3AF1-245F61E-38970F4B-prod2
Rendevous Des Cajuns
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-42C-C0FA2A-38874480-bd1
Florida Parishes
St. Francisville the Capital of English Louisiana
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-1B91-51748AE-391D72B3-prod6
Southwest Louisiana
Creole Nature Trail
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-69F8-47FAB2-388DE015-bd3
Just “cut’n’paste” the URL into your browser’s address window
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Howard_Creech
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Member: Howard Creech
Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 334
Trusted by: 1276 members
About Me:
Photographer/Writer fascinated by Movies, Music, Books, American Diner Food, History, "Popular Culture", and Travel.
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