Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

With Martha Chapman
09JUL08

Carlos Barbosa of Big Daddy’s shows off a plate of crawfish.

Gerard Breaux (“Mr. Lafayette, Louisiana”) gives a hands-on lesson in the fine art of crawfish eating

Joanne Saclamogna shows off authentic New Orleans bling, Mardi Gras style.

Louisiana – Even Warmer Than T.O.?

If our hosts from Louisiana were trying to recreate a sultry night on the bayou, they couldn’t have done better than at Big Daddy’s Crab Shack in downtown T.O.

As a cracking thunderstorm waited in the wings, a cluster of travel industry hot-shots rubbed elbows with a group of Louisianans who had imported their special brand of hospitality north of the border.

On the menu? Fabulous crawfish. Blackened chicken. Cornbread. “Bananas Foster” (we’re talking flambéed bananas, rum, ice cream: pure non-diet heaven mixed with joy).

But on to business. As Lisa Holland of the New Orleans Visitor and Convention Bureau mentioned, by now she’s pretty used to people saying “How are you? No, really,how are you?” In fact it seems they are doing just fine. “Pre-Katrina Hurricane we had eight million visitors a year – so far this year we are tracking over seven million.”

Life is looking good in Louisiana, particularly for Canadians who come, among other things, for the birdwatching. “They stay eight days. Who knew there were that many birds?” marveled Tico Soto of Southwestern Louisiana.

Meanwhile, it was a fun challenge to poll Joanne Scalamogna, who reps Louisiana in Canada, as to what’s the best about the state. “Culture. No - music. No, sorry: people. Changed my mind - art and history.” And so it went until she finally admitted a combination of culture and people are the best parts of Louisiana.

And never forget that southern speciality called down home hospitality.