I had an old friend in town with his wife earlier this week, someone I did business with for many years. We enjoyed meals out in San Francisco, Portland, and New York during our business travels -- Hugh subscribed to Louisiana Kitchen & Culture earlier this year and was inspired to visit. He enjoys music as much as he enjoys food, so it's a perfect match. 

I was delighted to introduce him to a few New Orleans restaurants early in the week. They headed over to Breaux Bridge yesterday and had dinner last night with LK&C subscriber Debbie Gautier (featured in the Cajun Country Cooking feature in the current issue of the magazine) she provided an itemized list of what they must see and do while they're there. Hugh's wife is Canadian, and so is particularly interested in learning more about the Acadiana settlers.

After Breaux Bridge they'll swing through Lafayette, pick up Highway 90 and spend some time in Houma and Thibodaux, before heading back to Portland. I know they'll be back to visit, and tell their friends about our state's unique culinary culture and heritage, and hospitality.

Enter to Win! We are once again a sponsor of the cooking demonstration stage at the Louisiana Seafood Festival that kicks off October 10 and runs through the 12th. This year, we're giving a lucky winner and guest the opportunity to sit on stage while Chef Austin Kirzner of Redfish Grill conducts a cooking demonstration - even better, he'll feed you when he's done. Click here to enter to win; deadline for entries is October 6. Austin's demo is Friday night, October 10

Festival season is in full swing; there are so many events over the next two weeks I couldn't list them all. There are a lot of regional fairs going on over the next few weeks; take a look at our events calendar to see what's going on in your region.

Enjoy this week's recipes, share them with family and friends, and, as always, let me know what's on your mind. 

Susan Ford, President

Our Kitchen & Culture, LLC

Click Here for the recipes: Shrimp Shooters, Chicken Fajita Loaded Potatoes, and Crock Pot BBQ for Sandwiches