Rikenjaks Brewing Company

Rikenjaks Brewing Company in Lake Charles is open for business! This much anticipated brew pub had beer enthusiasts on the edge of their bar stool for several months. But their home brews Old Hard Head and Contraband Brown Ale were worth the wait.

Supposedly they are still in their "soft opening" stage. But the place has been packed most every night for weeks; both inside the cozy bar and outside on the patio by the outdoor bar.

Because they're so busy, the wait for food requires some patience. But on a recent visit, my family and I didn't mind because there's this crazy fun outdoor game area. And there's live music to listen to.

We've only been there once so far to eat, but I think the food is good. The kids had burgers and Bob and I had fish tacos.

And here's my new favorite beer, Old Hard Head.

Out of town friends and family, come visit me and I'll take you to this fun place for good food and beer. (Locals, I know you've all already been there.)

Located at 3716 Ryan St., Lake Charles, and online at rikenjaks.com. 

B is for Beer and Boudin -- #atozchallenge

Continuing with the A to Z Blogging Challenge, the letter of the day is B. We'll celebrate with two of Louisianans' favorite things -- beer and boudin.

Last month, Lake Charles showed up in a big way at the 2nd annual Louisiana Winter Beer Fest. This event highlights over 100 craft beers, both locally-made and from around the country. Naturally, food and music are featured, as well. Always. The inaugural event in 2015 was so popular, organizer Nick Villaume about doubled the number of brewer and food booths, as well as attendees.

That Honey Pepper brew was impressive!

Bob and I volunteered at both the 2015 (at the Bayou Teche tent) and 2016 (at Rikenjack's tent) festivals. Fun times! You can read my 2015 Beer Fest post here.

Down I-10 near Lafayette, the village of Scott hosts a Boudin Festival. Boudin (boo-dan) is a unique Cajun specialty passed down from one generation to the next. It’s basically a combination of rice, a special blend of seasonings, and pork, but you may also find boudin made with shrimp, crawfish or alligator, rolled up in sausage casing. I like boudin, but I prefer the mixture NOT in a casing. I find the casings rather tough, so I bust 'em open and just eat the inside. Better yet, I prefer a boudin patty or a boudin ball, which is like a meatball but deep fried.




I've not been to this festival thus far, but I have been to the town of Scott. You can read about that adventure here. It's a surprisingly delightful town. Very artsy. Coincidentally, the 4th annual Boudin Festival is happening RIGHT NOW. April 1-3. So it's not too late to check it out.



Stay tuned . . . on Monday you'll read about contraband, Cajun music, and crawfish!

Palm Sunday Tour of Homes 2016

Lake Charles embodies so much historical relevance. One way to experience this history is to attend the annual Palm Sunday Tour of Homes, an event sponsored by the Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society. Each year they highlight a different historically significant area of town and open homes to the public to view and learn the stories behind the homes.

Bob and I have enjoyed three of these tours in the past four years. You can read last year's post (a hodge podge of various home locales) here, and the 2013 Tour (Shell Beach Dr.!) here.

This 41st Palm Sunday Tour of Homes featured properties in the delightful Charpentier District. I think that is French for carpenter. Many of the homes in this downtown neighborhood were built around the turn of the 20th century by lumber barons and other leaders of the Lake Charles community. A bonus this year -- all the homes were in close easy walking distance of each other and we had a warm sunny spring day to experience them.

Historic Central School , built in 1912, served as Tour headquarters. The building is now home to the Arts and Humanities Council, several art studios and art organizations, and the Mardi Gras Museum, which was open to the public that day. (This photo only courtesy of Google images. The rest are my own.)



902 Kirby -- Queen Anne-Victorian house, circa 1900, for Edna and George H. Rock. This couple raised thirteen kids here!

Across the street, 903 Kirby is a good example of a "two-bay side-hall house," an all-American house style suited to narrow urban lots.

917 Kirby -- a traditional American foursquare; four rooms to the floor, two stories and a center staircase. Massive amounts of fascinating antiques in this place!

736 Pujo St. -- circa 1905. Fabulous wrap-around porches and fourteen columns were added later.

This, in their backyard. There's something magical about vintage brick walls . . . 

832 Iris St. -- Originally a two story, the second floor was lost decades ago to a fire. It is now a charming cozy cottage.

Oh, and the azaleas were in peak bloom. Perfect timing for the Tour of Homes!

Unique in the Charpentier District, 1010 Reid St. boasts a Caribbean plantation flair, manicured gardens, and a pool.

Something different this year -- instead of only homes on the tour, the Preservation Society included a historic church . . . 

701 Kirby St. circa 1919, is home to the Christian Science Church. An example of good stewardship of resources, the church building is a early rare example of adaptive reuse: a military structure originally built for war converted into a place of worship.

. . . and a bonsai garden at 916 Kirby St. by gardener Alan Walker.

So that's the 2016 Palm Sunday Tour of Homes! Looking forward to another great Tour next year.

Experiencing Mardi Gras from the Vantage Point of a Parade Float

Early February has not historically been the most interesting time to have a birthday. It’s the dead of winter, usually cold and dreary. But there have been some notable birthdays. Like in 2006 when the Steelers won the Super Bowl on my birthday. That was exciting.

 This year, the peak of Mardi Gras festivities happened to fall on my birthday weekend. As I have said numerous times, one of the greatest revelations upon moving to Louisiana was learning that Mardi Gras is not a day but a season, lasting a month or two, depending on the date of Easter. I have been fascinated by the mystery and traditions of Mardi Gras since I arrived in Louisiana. I’ve been to all the various parades, the gumbo cook-offs, even a Mardi Gras ball. I've eaten more king cake than I care to admit. But until this past Friday, on my birthday, I’d never ridden on a Mardi Gras float.

Let's get this party started!

I was privileged to embark on my maiden Mardi Gras float experience with the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) for the Lake Charles Merchants’ Parade. They ride a float painted with a big green alligator motif.

Me and Megan Hartman, my contact at the CVB

Participating in a Mardi Gras parade from a float is a completely different experience than being a spectator. It’s a different perspective, looking down at the throngs of revelers who call out, dance, and wave their hands in hopes of catching beads and trinkets. "Hey, throw me somethin', mister!" I have no way of knowing exactly, but I must have tossed a thousand strands of glittering green, gold, and purple beads.

 I’m all about experiencing Louisiana from as many different angles as I can. This weekend, from atop a Mardi Gras float, I added one more to my list.

My Top Five Most Popular Posts of 2015

This time of year we are inundated with lists: the top this, the best that, the most of one thing, the least of another. I was curious about which posts on my blog were the most popular in 2015. It's an interesting mix. Restaurants seem to do well. Local enthusiast clubs for various hobbies are high on the list, as well as organizations that serve the community. Basically, I think the most popular posts are those that hold a human interest. Or subjects that people are likely to search online for.

So without further ado, here are my Top Five Most Popular Posts of 2015.

5. The Green House Salad Company. It seems if I blog about a new restaurant in town, the post gets quite a few hits. Everyone wants to know about the new place. Fortunately, this place is still going strong.



4. The Lake Charles Beekeepers Club. Lots of buzz about this busy group. (haha). You can read that post here.



3. Heckhaven Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Director and sole animal tender Suzy Heck is one amazing woman!Read more about her efforts to help wild animals on my blog post or her website.

2. Mustangs in Southwest Louisiana. Car clubs are quite popular in the Lake area. I've written a couple different car club stories for various local magazines. People love their vehicles! And who doesn't love mustangs! My very first car was a red 1976 Mustang Coupe. My post here and the Mustangs of Lake Charles Facebook page here.



1. And here it is; my number one most popular post of 2015. Prime Cuttery! More than cars, more than animals, people love hamburgers! You can read this restaurant review here or visit their website here.



I look forward to many more adventures to share with you in 2016! Happy New Year!

Ten Things I've Learned Since Moving to Louisiana

I read this article a couple years ago on Huffington Post; Eight Things I Learned in the South. And it occurred to me; well, yeah, I've learned a few things since moving to the South, too, right! The Huffington piece prompted me to write my own post, Eight Things I've Learned Since Moving to Louisiana. (read that post here).  It's been one of my most read posts to date. 

In the past two years, I've learned a few more things, so I decided to expand on my original list. Here’s my list of TEN things I've learned since moving to southwest Louisiana. 

Mardi Gras – Yes, Mardi Gras season will soon be upon us. Lake Charles will be awash in green, gold, and purple. One of the biggest cultural revelations upon moving to Louisiana for me was that Mardi Gras is not a DAY (Fat Tuesday). It’s a SEASON of balls, parades, and a myriad of other festivities which begins each year on Epiphany and culminates on the Tuesday before Lent begins, called Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. I've posted many pieces here about Mardi Gras, because, especially at first, I was fascinated by it. Your can read  them here, here, and here.

Friendships take time to nurture. I think this is true most anywhere. But I didn't learn it until I moved to Louisiana. We came south over eight years ago. I now have many dear friends here. But it took a long time, years, to develop these relationships. If you are new to the area, or new anywhere, hang in there. I know it's hard to make friends initially. Be active in the community. Join clubs or service groups you have an interest in. Volunteer. Introduce yourself and talk with your neighbors. Find a place to worship with like-minded people. Don't get discouraged. You'll make friends.

Kayaking – In Pennsylvania, kayaking is a daring, adventurous, often dangerous sport. It is almost always associated with river rapids. I’m adventurous, but I’m also chicken, and I would never consider kayaking on white water. Here in Louisiana, there is A LOT of water. And it's all quiet and slow moving. We have tranquil lakes, peaceful bayous, and rivers that move with the tides – a perfect place for me to kayak! This is me on Indian Bayou. It was January, hence all the winter garb.

It’s not always warm here in the winter. While it’s often possible to wear shorts and a t-shirt on Christmas Day, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, that pesky jet stream dips all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes it’s in the high 20s at night and only in the 40s during the day. After living in Louisiana for several years, one becomes accustomed to being warm, and 40 degrees is COLD! But the truth is, the cold rarely lasts for more than a day or two. Then it’s back to balmy. And I always say, I’d rather be hot in the summer than cold in the winter.

People around here will eat just about anything. I guess it’s the French influence, but nothing goes to waste here. They eat the craziest things. “Cracklins" are a very popular snack. It’s fried pig flesh, people! I've tried it a few times, but I'm not a fan. Though I do eat boudin, a type of sausage made with "parts" and a spicy rice mixture. We make jokes about roadkill gumbo (possums, armadillos, and raccoons are the most common), and speaking of roadkill, I know people who have accidentally hit a deer with their big truck, turned around, picked it up and tossed it into the truck bed, took it home, and processed the meat.

If it exists, there’s a festival somewhere for it. Every kind of music (Cajun, zydeco, jazz, swamp pop are popular), every type of food imaginable, and any Louisiana animal you can think of, and there’s a festival for it in some town somewhere. I've written more posts about festivals that I could list. But here's one from the very first festival we went to after moving here -- the DeRidder Watermelon Festival. 

I thought there would be more snakes, but I never dreamed there would be THIS many mosquitoes. I occasionally see a snake in my yard, as there is a large empty field just beyond our fence line. I've never seen one out in my kayak. I have seen a few when hiking through the woods. And dead ones on the road. But I thought I’d see more. On the other hand, no one could have prepared me for the nuisance of mosquitoes. All the horror stories in the world could not have convinced me of the extent of this pestilence. The degree of annoyance varies – it’s worse after a lot of rain. It’s less so after the mosquito fumigator truck goes through the neighborhood. Sometimes, they are so thick in the air, you simply can’t be outdoors without getting "eaten alive".

Boots are a thing here, apparently. And I have yet to figure it out. But people, especially women, LOVE boots. I have not worn a pair of boots since I moved to Louisiana. To me, a native northerner, people wear boots because their feet are cold. Who gets cold feet in Lake Charles!? And yet, folks get excited in autumn at the first hint of cooler weather so they can bring out the boots. I don't own any boots. But, I'm thinking about it.

The humidity takes some getting used to. We moved here in June 2007, and I was unprepared for the heat and humidity. But mostly the humidity. The air gets so heavy, it feels like you are breathing water. But I acclimated to it. (I grew gills.)

A unique balance of industry and the arts. The first time Bob brought the boys and me to Lake Charles, we drove in from the airport in Houston. We saw the signs that indicated we had arrived in Lake Charles, and the very first thing we saw from our view on I-10 was industry. Plant after plant after plant. And that was our first impression (post here). My heart sank. What kind of town was he moving us to? But while, yes, the town thrives and bustles because of the booming industries, I gratefully learned that Lake Charles also offers fine dining, entertainment, and a marvelous thriving arts community. Theater, ballet, symphony and other musical events, visual arts, museums, parks . . . it’s all here. And we have a great time!This was an art event a few years ago, held downtown on Ryan St.

So, though I had no idea what to expect or what life would be like in southwest Louisiana when we first moved here, I've learned that Lake Charles is a terrific place to live! For even more information on this great corner of the Bayou State, check out the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau website.

Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar

Tia Juanita's Fish Camp, Blue Dog Cafe, Restaurant 1910 . . . if I tried to write a post on every new dining establishment that has popped up in southwest Louisiana lately, my travel/adventure/miscellaneous blog would turn into a full-time restaurant review.

But every once in awhile, I feel compelled to share my "adventure" at a new restaurant in the area. Like today, for example.

Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar opened up on Common St., Lake Charles this past weekend. It's a great new addition to the lake area restaurant scene!

The staff -- greeters, bar tenders, and the servers (aka America's Cheerleaders) -- are energetic, enthusiastic, and friendly.

While this family-oriented establishment is obviously a sports bar, the main attraction at Walk-On's is the menu. It's a surprisingly fascinating read! You might expect typical bar fare at a sports bar. But not at Walk-On's. There's plenty of Louisiana favorites; poboys, crawfish, fried alligator, boudin, gumbo, shrimp, catfish . . . as well as burgers, creative salads, wraps, and more.

On our first (and certainly not last) visit, I had a Pepper Jelly Spinach Salad and Bob had an Ahi Tuna Wrap. Both were excellent. For dessert? Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding!  Oh, and did I mention there are 50 beers on tap?

Because this cool new place is within walking distance from our home, Bob says it's our new neighborhood bar. We'll be back.

What's your favorite sports bar or neighborhood pub?

Heritage, Roots, and Cultural Identification

Last weekend I volunteered at the Great Acadian Awakening, or, if you’re French, Le Grand Réveil Acadien. It’s a “grand” celebration of the Acadian people and their culture, history, language, and music. This year marks the 250^th anniversary of the Acadians arrival in Louisiana ten years after being expelled from the Canadian Maritime Provinces by the British in 1755. Lake Charles opened the festivities, and events continue in towns throughout southern Louisiana until Oct. 12. (For more information on this event, go to their website.)

As always, Lake Charles showed up. Attendance was good. People also came to the event from as far away as Canada. The enthusiasm and dedication of the Cajun people for their culture got me thinking a lot about ancestry and heritage, and how people identify with groups, either by birth or association.

Here in Lake Charles, the Cajun French culture permeates every facet of life, the threads intricately woven into the tapestry of our day to day experience. You learn an inkling of the French language by sheer osmosis. Several public schools have French Immersion programs where they speak only French in every subject. The restaurant menus (aside from the chains, which we try to avoid) are flavored with Cajun influence. You hear Cajun music played at the many festivals and on radio stations. Mardi Gras is a state-wide holiday. You can easily recognize the accent of a true Cajun – it’s thick, heavy, and sounds like it is muffled through a cotton filter. I enjoy listening to it because it tells the story of a people who have fought fiercely to preserve their culture and heritage. I admire and respect that.

This was one of those many things I was unprepared for when we moved here eight years ago. I’m embarrassed to admit, I knew nothing of the Cajun people or their history and culture prior to coming to Louisiana. In Pittsburgh, there are many ethnic groups and they each maintain their heritages in their own ways. But no one culture is pervasive, as the Cajun culture is here. There are pockets of neighborhoods that heavily lean to particular ethnic groups. But they tend to become diluted in the mass of a large city population.

My own genetic heritage is German, from both parents. But my ancestors came to America many generations ago. I regret not asking my grandparents more about their past and their parents and grandparents stories. I don’t think of myself as “German.” Although I would love to visit Germany one day to experience my roots. And I have often considered delving into genealogy. But I’ve heard it can become an obsession and I don’t have time for the distraction. Maybe later. But culturally, I just think of myself as an American. When I see the joy that comes from being a part of a cultural group with a shared heritage, as I witnessed this past weekend, I feel like I’m missing out on something.

A great thing about the Cajuns and their culture: they seem to welcome everyone and gladly bring them along. I had a delightful conversation yesterday with Mrs. Patricia Bulber, a dear lady well-known in Lake Charles music and McNeese University circles. Somehow the conversation turned to 'where I am from.’ (Apparently, people here think I have an accent. Imagine that! And I’m often asked, “Where you from?”)

I’m not sure of Mrs. Bulber’s heritage; I only know she is originally from New Orleans and came to Lake Charles in the 1950s to teach music at McNeese. She married her boss, Dr. Francis G. Bulber, but that’s another story.

Anyway, when I told her I’m from Pennsylvania and have lived in Lake Charles for eight years, she said, “Ah, you’re a Cajun now. You like gumbo, right?”

Indeed, I do.

What ethnic or cultural group do you identify with?

Acadian Coffee Roasters

I had the pleasure of meeting Nancy Holmes and Nancy Kirby recently. These two business partners opened their organic coffee roasting company last January in a small unassuming brick building on Hodges St. Lake Charles.

They invited me to come sample their coffees and gave me a tour of their facility. This lovely cat greeted me at the door. They say she came with the place.

I enjoyed sampling their fresh roasted coffees . . .

but I also learned a LOT of interesting things about coffee that I didn't know. For example, coffee plants can be grown in sub-tropically regions like Lake Charles, but the finest coffees grow along the earth’s equator, plus or minus 1000 miles. The higher the elevation, the higher quality the coffee. Which explains why coffee beans grown in Lake Charles would not be good. Acadian Coffee beans are imported primarily from Central and South America. They are looking into beans from Africa.

Map of the origins of Acadian Coffee. Love the push pins!

Sacks of single origin beans.

I didn't realize that medium or mild roast coffees have more actual coffee flavor than a dark roast. With a dark roast, you taste more of the "roast" and less of the coffee. Also, the darker the roast, the LESS caffeine it has. The longer a bean is in the roaster, the more caffeine is roasted out. Raw coffee beans can keep and retain "freshness" for up to eight years. Once a bean has been roasted, it loses freshness rather quickly. Their pretty red roaster can roast up to 40 pounds of beans an hour. Acadian Coffee is considered an artisan or micro-roaster because they roast less than 100,000 pounds a year.

Coffee trees grow a fruit similar to a cherry. Each “cherry” has two coffee beans inside. Each tree only produces about a pound and a half of coffee per harvest and there are usually two harvests per year. 

For more information on Acadian Coffee Roasters, watch for my story in the upcoming November issue of Thrive magazine. In the meantime, visit these sweet ladies at the Cash and Carry Farmers' Market, Tuesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m. or see their website, www.acadiancoffee.com. Their coffees can also be found in Lake Charles at select Market Basket grocery stores, Pronia's Deli, Paper Smith on Ernest St., the newly opened restaurant 1910, and the much anticipated City Market on Michael DeBakey Dr.