|
Most likely anyone who lives in the Cajun area of Louisiana knows of Marcelle Bienvenu, a cookbook author, food writer, and a passionate advocate of everything Cajun, especially food. Born in St. Martinville, in the very heart of Cajun country and predominately Catholic, she came by her faith and food passions naturally.
She attributes her cooking skills to her parents. “My daddy was a great fisherman,” she said, “and he was always cooking over a wood fire. I was always fascinated by his cooking and I was infatuated with it. Here, food is like entertainment. Everybody cooks, and it is a 24-hour-a-day love affair with food. Life has evolved around our culinary traditions, the Spanish, and the Native Americans who lived here.”
Although Bienvenu earned a degree in political science, she turned her vision to the food world, and started writing a food column in 1984 before being hired by Brennan’s Restaurant Group to work in the Commander’s Palace as the banquet director and to book parties and events. This was around the time Chef Paul Prudhomme was hired she became interested in the history of food and our culture.
In 1990, she started working with chef Emeril Lagasse, helping him with his cookbooks and his television shows. She worked with him until Hurricane Katrina, then went to teach at the culinary school at Nicholls State University.
While there, Bienvenu realized she knew much about teaching, so she decided to add the title of “culinary teacher” to her writing credits. The program was divided into sections — one for pastry chef, one for front or back of the house service, and classes in knife skills, plus more. The students had to operate the school’s bistro and even iron their own table linens.
Bienvenu has also written several cookbooks: Cajun Cooking for Beginners; Stir the Pot: The History of Cajun Cuisine; Cooking Up A Storm: Recipes Lost and found from the Times-Picayune of New Orleans; Who’s Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make A Roux? (Book 1): A Cajun / Creole Family Album Cookbook; Who’s Your Mama, Are You Catholic & Can You Make A Roux? (Book 2): A Cajun/Creole Family Album Cookbook (Louisiana Classic)
| 
