{"id":12365,"date":"2023-10-11T19:03:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T23:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/?p=12365"},"modified":"2023-10-11T19:07:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T23:07:52","slug":"laissez-les-bons-temps-rouler-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2023\/10\/11\/laissez-les-bons-temps-rouler-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Let the good times roll! October 12th is National Gumbo Day. There are\u00a0festivals<\/a>\u00a0all over Louisiana this month to celebrate their state dish. Lucky for those who are close enough to attend! I’m going to celebrate in my own way by making a big pot of gumbo. We’ll put on some southern jazz, and gather around the table to transport ourselves to the bayou.<\/p>\n

Isn\u2019t the word \u201cgumbo\u201d delightful? I just like the way the word sounds, plus it immediately makes my mouth water for a bowl of this tasty and aromatic stew. That\u2019s right. Gumbo is a stew. Stews, in general, start with the same components of broth, vegetables, protein, seasonings and a thickener (such as roux). While gumbo shares this same base of ingredients as other stews, it has its own flavor and history.<\/p>\n

Gumbo evolved in Louisiana as a way to use the ingredients available to the region. Because families passed down recipes generation to generation, it\u2019s often said, that\u00a0no two pots of gumbo are exactly the same<\/em>. Sharing tasty food, stimulating conversation and a few tall tales around the table is as natural to a Louisiana native as knowing the difference between Creole gumbo and Cajun gumbo.<\/p>\n

Now, all native Louisianans need to look the other way, because I\u2019m going to explain the very basic difference between Creole and Cajun gumbo. For those who\u00a0aren\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0looking away, I can hear you muttering, \u201cIs she kidding? There are loads of differences between Creole and Cajun!\u201d\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

The most apparent difference is tomatoes. Creole gumbo calls for tomatoes, and Cajun Gumbo does not. Simple as that! Sure, there\u00a0are\u00a0<\/em>other differences between the two styles, but whether your bowl has tomatoes or not is your key to the style of your gumbo.<\/p>\n

Cajun cooking originated with French colonists who initially settled in Acadia, Canada, and then moved into rural areas of Louisiana. They were known as \u201cLes Acadiens.\u201d Cajun style of cooking is referred to as \u201dcountry food.\u201d There was a scarcity of readily available food, so the Acadians became resourceful in their cooking to include what was available. Most folks think cooking “Cajun” food means it will be spicy hot, however Cajun cooks will tell you they don’t overuse cayenne. It’s the combination of the seasoning that is key to the flavor of gumbo.<\/p>\n

Developed by the French and Spanish settlers known as Louisiana Creole from the New Orleans area, Creole cooking is considered more refined and elegant. It\u2019s known as \u201ccity food,\u201d and was often prepared by the servants or chefs. Over time, it was also greatly influenced by Italian, Spanish, African, German, Caribbean, Native American and Portuguese cuisines.<\/p>\n

Other differences are subtle but important to the distinction of the two styles.<\/h3>\n

Cajun Gumbo:<\/h4>\n