New Iberia, that is.
I’ve been chuckling at the number of emails I’ve received in the past few days asking me “Where are you moving to?”
I get it; enquiring minds want to know.
Whelp, After an intense search through 5 -6 cities I decided to move to New Iberia, Louisiana, a.k.a. “Da Berry” and “Queen City of the Bayou Teche.”
(Talk about having to kiss a lot of “frogs” before finding my “Prince” – more on the selection process [and frogs!] in another post).
New Iberia is a quaint, beautiful city full of diversity and culture. Several major festivals are held here, including the Sugar Cane Festival, Laotian New Year Celebration (New Iberia boasts a large population of Laotians) and the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff.
(Next to ice cream and popcorn, gumbo is my favorite food in the whole wide world. Just so you know, all the vegan/vegetarian bets are off when these events roll around!)
I’m in easy driving distance of Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport and Houston, and Dallas is pretty much the same 5 1/2 to 6 hours away.
Any who, I’m one day closer to my countdown of moving in to my new place.
Shucks, I’m even thinking about moving the date up. Why wait?
Join in the Fray: What is your favorite cultural highlight in your city?
I’m blogging every day in the month of July in Blogher’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment!
Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, All rights reserved.
Hey Chris,
Thanks so much for reading and posting a comment! I’m one of those people who can eat gumbo ANY DAY of the year – I love it just that much. Kudos to your neighbor for trying to make it. And I have to say, I cackled at you describing it being a good etouffe! 🙂
I was raised in the Berry and always liked the Bunk Johnson Festival. Speaking of not having “gumbo ’till someone from LOUISIANA makes it for you,” I definitely agree. But I do have to give my Polish neighbor some credit. I live in Poland now and my neighbor and I were talking about Cajun cooking a few weeks ago. He told me I should make some gumbo soon. I hadn’t had the chance yet so he said he was going to give it a try. I gave him some seasonings I had. He found some crazy “gumbo” recipe with tomatoes, Plus, his roux was was a bit lighter and it came out a bit thicker. So, when he gave it to me to taste, he was disappointed when I told him it wasn’t like my mom or maw maw’s gumbo. He felt a whole lot better when I told him it was a pretty darn good shrimp etouffee though.
I was raised in the Berry and always liked the Bunk Johnson Festival. Speaking of not having “gumbo ’till someone from LOUISIANA makes it for you,” I definitely agree. But I do have to give my Polish neighbor some credit. I live in Poland now and my neighbor and I were talking about Cajun cokking a few weeks ago. He told me I should make some gumbo soon. I hadn’t had the Chance yet so he said he was going to give it a try. I gave him some seasonings I had. He found some carzy “gumbo” recipe with tomatoes, Plus, his roux was was a bit lighter and it came out a bit thicker. So, when he gave it to me to taste, he was disappointed when I told him it wasn’t like my mom or maw maw’s gumbo. He felt a whole lot better when I told him it was a pretty darn good shrimp etouffee though.
Hi Michele, nice posting! Did you move to Da Berry? I am interested in knowing the origin of New Iberia’s nickname. Hope you enjoyed the Gumbo cook-off this weekend!
Kim
Hey Natalie,
Glad to hear it! You are cordially invited as well. We’ll have to go to NOLA – or either grab some at the Gumbo Festival. Woot Woot!
Gumbo is one of my favorites as. So, you will have to invite me down to the new place and make sure I get the best.
That’s just the truth! LOL Of course, you’re always welcome to come and visit the Pelican State.
Is that an offer, my purple haired beauty?
Jeff,
Gumbo is my favorite food for LIFE. I will abandon my wannabe vegan/vegetarian ways in a HEARTBEAT when a bowl of that is within 10 feet of me. *IJS*
You haven’t had gumbo ’till someone from LOUISIANA makes it for you. Word! 🙂
UGH. What kind of foolery is that video??? Oh, I KNOW – Members of Blackistan at their absolute finest.
*Goes somewhere to THROW UP*
Gotta toss a big YES vote to the gumbo….
Formerly from Rayne (aka “Frog Capital of the world”), I now reside in Crowley, aka “The Rice Capital of the World” because we export more rice per capita than any city our size (3,260 million pounds)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YIzhwNnQZM Street life in da hood!
West Siieeeeddd!
Ha!