So Easter weekend I went to Lafayette to spend the weekend with my aunts, uncles, and cousins who I haven't seen in 7 or 8 years. It was amazing. My uncles are pure comedy -- they're hardcore swamp cajuns, total coonass rednecks, but they're both super smart and really funny.
Getting there and back was a major pain in the ass, though. Leaving LA Friday, my flight was delayed, which caused me to miss my connection in Dallas, so I had to stay there overnight. Being Dallas, though, I called an old friend who came and got me from the airport and took me to a party, then I crashed at his place and he took me back to the airport in the morning.
Saturday when I finally got to Louisiana, my dad picked me up at the airport and we headed over to my uncle's place. My other uncle was already elbow-deep in the carcass of a suckling wild boar he'd killed. We cooked all day long, and most of it was stuff my uncles had shot or caught themselves: wild boar, deer, catfish, gar, goose, and duck. We also had a couple beef briskets and some shrimp fettucine.
Sunday morning we drove over to Breaux Bridge for breakfast at this really good cajun cafe called Cafe Des Amis. I had crawfish ettouffe-smothered biscuits with fried eggs, andouille grits, boudin, beignets, and chicory coffee.
My flight out of Lafayette was cancelled Sunday thanks to a big storm that blew through, and they had no flights the next morning either. I had to drive 4 hours to Houston with my dad Monday morning to catch a flight back to LA. Sucktastic, as I was supposed to work Monday morning but didn't get back home til almost 8pm, so that blew my day off for this week.
It was worth it, though. It was great being around family. I barely know that group of people because I didn't even meet them at all until about 8 years ago, and haven't seen them since a year after that, until last weekend. But I tell you, there's a strong family bond. I was part of the mix from the moment I walked in, even though most of them know each other really well and spend a lot of time together. I was practically a stranger but that didn't last at all. I walked in and started to stuffing that wild boar with my uncle, talking to my cousins about music, and it was like I'd known them all my life.
Amazing stuff.
Getting there and back was a major pain in the ass, though. Leaving LA Friday, my flight was delayed, which caused me to miss my connection in Dallas, so I had to stay there overnight. Being Dallas, though, I called an old friend who came and got me from the airport and took me to a party, then I crashed at his place and he took me back to the airport in the morning.
Saturday when I finally got to Louisiana, my dad picked me up at the airport and we headed over to my uncle's place. My other uncle was already elbow-deep in the carcass of a suckling wild boar he'd killed. We cooked all day long, and most of it was stuff my uncles had shot or caught themselves: wild boar, deer, catfish, gar, goose, and duck. We also had a couple beef briskets and some shrimp fettucine.
Sunday morning we drove over to Breaux Bridge for breakfast at this really good cajun cafe called Cafe Des Amis. I had crawfish ettouffe-smothered biscuits with fried eggs, andouille grits, boudin, beignets, and chicory coffee.
My flight out of Lafayette was cancelled Sunday thanks to a big storm that blew through, and they had no flights the next morning either. I had to drive 4 hours to Houston with my dad Monday morning to catch a flight back to LA. Sucktastic, as I was supposed to work Monday morning but didn't get back home til almost 8pm, so that blew my day off for this week.
It was worth it, though. It was great being around family. I barely know that group of people because I didn't even meet them at all until about 8 years ago, and haven't seen them since a year after that, until last weekend. But I tell you, there's a strong family bond. I was part of the mix from the moment I walked in, even though most of them know each other really well and spend a lot of time together. I was practically a stranger but that didn't last at all. I walked in and started to stuffing that wild boar with my uncle, talking to my cousins about music, and it was like I'd known them all my life.
Amazing stuff.
Having a smallish potluck brunch at the house tomorrow - you and Henry are more than welcome! I'll msg you the address.