Stir the Pot: The History of Cajun Cuisine

Author: Marcelle Bienvenu

I'm happy to see the real story of the evolution of Cajun cuisine finally put in print. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the subject, this book will be a great reference. -Emeril Lagasse The real history of America's favorite cuisine. The authors dish up a delightful blend of foodways and lifeways. This book cooks! -John Mack Faragher, Professor of American History, Yale University Cajun foods such as gumbo, crawfish étouffée, and boudin are increasingly popular, yet relatively little is known about the history of this fascinating cooking tradition. Stir the Pot explores how Cajun cuisine originated in a seventeenth-century French settlement in Nova Scotia and came to be extremely popular on the American dining scene over the past few decades. From debunking myths about Cajun cooking to exploring the fascinating place that food holds in everyday life and special occasions in Acadia, the authors present the complex history of this well-loved ethnic cuisine in a most palatable manner. Includes sections on The Evolution of Cajun Cuisine, The Role of Food in Cajun Society, and The Cajun Culinary Landscape as well as a glossary of terms and extensive bibliographic resources.