What’s New In Acadiana: Eat, Drink and Mingle
Lake Charles| Tasting Adventures
The Louisiana Food and Wine Festival brings a mélange of celebrity chefs and pitmasters, vintners and oenophiles, master classes and music to Lake Charles (September 19-22). Signature events include an elegant six-course Celebrity Chefs Wine Dinner and a festive open-air Grand Tasting featuring an array of seafood-inspired, Cajun and Creole creations by top chefs and unlimited libations from vintners, enlivened by music and awards (presented by Acadiana Profile and Louisiana Seafood). Experience Fire on the Lake’s BBQ extravaganza, attend master classes and enjoy a lavish Sunday Jazz Brunch finale (louisianafoodandwinefestival.com).
Thibodaux | Weekenders in Pursuit
Fervent collectors customarily gravitate to Thibodaux the weekend after Labor Day for the Tawasi Antiques and Arts Show (September 6-8) to explore great “finds” and deals among the carefully curated collectibles in two huge, air-conditioned showrooms. The 46th annual show features local art and a wide variety of antiques including silver, furniture, maps, linens, glass, porcelain and jewelry (tawasi.net).
Lafayette | Sign of the Times
For the first time in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s history, American Sign Language (ASL) is being introduced as a minor, available in the curriculum this fall. The inclusive instructions will avail students of the opportunity to study and one day master sign language. According to the Commission for the Deaf, American Sign Language is the third most commonly used language in the U.S. today after English and Spanish. (communicativedisorders.louisiana.edu).
Thibodaux | New Cybersecurity Programs
Louisianans’ growing need for a cybersecurity workforce has been amplified amid the 4,500 reported unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2023. Hence, Nicholls University recently received two cybersecurity grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents to establish the Maritime Cybersecurity program at Nicholls and the Louisiana Cyber Academy, tasked to spearhead six shared online cybersecurity courses for a Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Nicholls also announced a new Coastal Center and Universities of Louisiana Maritime Academy hub (nicholls.edu).
Delcambre, Morgan City | In Support of Shrimpers
Seafood fans and shrimpers participating in the Delcambre Shrimp Festival (August 14-18; shrimpfestival.net) and the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City (August 29-September 2; shrimpandpetroleum.org) will be celebrating several recent laws to prevent cheap, imported shrimp from further crippling the industry. As the school year begins, a new law bans public schools and any other schools receiving state funding from serving imported seafood in school lunches. The law also bans imported seafood from being served at the Louisiana Dining Hall.
New Orleans | In the Face of Misfortune
The new 2024 King of Louisiana Seafood, Chef Chase Woodard of Parish Restaurant, advances to the 20th Annual Great American Seafood Cookoff on August 3 in New Orleans (hosted by Parish’s Chef-owner Cory Bahr). Woodward’s winning dish was rapidly reimagined with tuna instead of his signature flounder when the fish failed to arrive in time. Rising-star Acadiana chefs Sullivan Zant of Lafayette’s Vestal and Thibodaux’s Brandon Naquin of Spahr’s Seafood also distinguished the competition with clever entries (louisianaseafood.com/great-american-seafood-cook).
Breaux Bridge | Keep Slipping and Sliding
The state’s largest aqua park, housed at Poche’s RV Park in Breaux Bridge since June, will be open until October 1 according to owner Greg Domingue. He spent the last six years coordinating with Union Aqua Park about the various pieces he selected for the 15,000-square-foot, 37-piece inflatable obstacle course (designed for ages six and up) that has become a popular family destination for slipping, sliding and climbing atop inflatables within the RV park’s 51 acres of water (pochesrvpark.com).
