Emily Gautreaux, Author at Arlen "Benny" Cenac Jr

The Greatest Walking Tours of the American South

Southern cities have so much to see and learn about in terms of local art installations, unique architectural trends, and natural history that sometimes the best way to see it all is by booking a walking tour with a knowledgeable resident and expert of your destination. Thanks to Southern Living’s curated list of “2021’s Best Walking Tours” to be found in the southern United States, you’ll be properly prepared the next time you’re in a new location with a rich history.

If you’ve never taken a walking tour, it’s essentially a more calculated attempt at learning a wide array of a city or town’s history by hearing it from a knowledgeable tour guide instead of you driving around the city picking up your facts through context clues. These tours are typically found in the town’s busiest areas and they can range from the general “learn about the history of this district of New Orleans, Louisiana” to “popular filming locations in Savannah, Georgia.” There’s truly something for everyone depending on your particular interests or level of prior knowledge you come to the tour with, but here are our favorites from Southern Living’s “2021 South’s Best” list.

Walkin’ Nashville Music City Legends Tour

Nashville, Tennessee

If you’re a fan of the golden age of country music, then there’s no city quite as fruitful as Nashville, Tennessee since no other city rivals it in terms of country music’s legacy, superstars, and impact. When booking the “Walkin’ Nashville Music City Legends” walking tour, you’ll learn just how much the genre has evolved over the past century and exactly how the city itself played a role in making the greatest legends of country music such as Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, and plenty others into the notable icons they are today.

This two-hour tour spans only about one mile of Nashville, but it’s less about walking and more about the story of the biggest names in music that have the city to thank for some aspect of their success. When on the tour, you’ll be inundated with anecdotes, music history, trivia, and more as you’re brought to notorious Music City landmarks like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Ryman Auditorium, Printers Alley, and The Maxwell House Hotel, all of which have played a significant role for country music’s biggest stars. The tour ends in maybe the city’s most sought-after location, and after over 90 minutes of insider information about the genre, there’s no place else you’d rather find yourself than the Country Music Hall of Fame, where you can let yourself go wild and at your own pace! Book a ticket today and learn more about not just country music but the city that calls the genre its primary export.

Fredericksburg Walking Tours

Fredericksburg, Texas

For many, the attractions found on a walking tour are the immediate draw, but the regimented schedule of a tour guide’s well-meaning itinerary is a drawback. If that’s the case, then this history-rich, self-guided tour of the 175-year old town of Fredericksburg, Texas is the perfect way to learn about the legacy of the town’s historic district that has garnered some natural recognition of its own.

Once you set forth on the tour, you’ll immediately notice that Fredericksburg’s streets are incredibly wide, and sure “everything’s bigger in Texas,” but the width of the streets is due to the fact that the founders of the town had an outstanding need for a full team of oxen to be able to turn around in the street before being hitched up on one of the street’s still-accessible metal hoops (found along the sidewalks). The tour allows you to independently survey the town’s historical district according to the areas that interest you the most– whether that be admiring the Admiral Nimitz Gallery of the National Museum of the Pacific War, learning about Fredicksburg’s founding history in the iconic Vereins Kirche Museum found in the center of Marktplatz, or setting down for one of your three meals at the unforgettable Rathskeller Basement Restaurant in Frederickburg’s Historic Keidel Hospital Building. Sure you may have to spend multiple days taking in all that this notable Texan city has to offer, but that’s just the price you pay when you’re learning about one of the more architecturally and historically rich towns in the Southern United States.

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Sunday Morning Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe

There are few scents in this world as immediately life-affirming as the Sunday morning smell of fresh buttermilk pancakes hot off the griddle, so follow this classic, delicious recipe from Food52 and treat your household to not only a perfect way to wake up on the right side of the bed but a reason to jump out of it and immediately run to the kitchen.

Ingredients

2 and ½ cups of unbleached, all-purpose flour

2 large eggs, separated

2 cups of buttermilk (seek out thick, whole buttermilk for fluffier pancakes)

½ cup of whole milk

10 tablespoons of unsalted butter (melted and cooled)

1 tablespoon of Canola oil or refined peanut oil for frying

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 ½ teaspoon of fine salt

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of baking soda

Directions

Begin this recipe by melting and cooling your 10 tablespoons of butter, which is often 1 and ¼ of a stick. You can simply place the butter in a bowl and microwave it for approximately 30-60 seconds at 50% power. Keep a watchful eye and remove the bowl from the microwave as soon as it’s melted, then place it in the refrigerator to cool it.
Get your ingredients ready by cracking open your eggs and separating the yolks and egg whites into separate bowls or containers.
Prepare your oven by preheating it to 225° F. While you wait, prepare a large sheet tray or baking sheet with a cooling rack atop it, and then place both in the heated oven.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Then, in a nearby, separate bowl, whisk your egg yolks, buttermilk, and whole milk and add your cooled butter to the second bowl, whisking it all together and well-combined.
Next, pour your yolk and milk mixture into your flour mixture and stir the combination lightly until it’s “barely combined.” Add your egg whites to the bowl and stir it all just until a thick batter is formed. Set the batter aside for five minutes.
On your stovetop, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and once it’s hot, fill the skillet with a thin, film-like layer of ½ teaspoons of a neutral cooking oil like canola or peanut. After approximately 20 seconds, once your oil is shimmering (not smoking), lower the heat to medium-low and use a soup spoon or ladle to drop in heaping spoonfuls of your pancake batter.
Once in the skillet, the batter is going to spread out to about 3 inches wide (this varies depending on the exact size of your ladle and skillet). Cook the pancake for about 2 ½ minutes, though if the pancake scorches or the oil is smoking, definitely lower your heat. Keep a watchful eye, and when you begin to notice bubbles forming on the edges of the pancake begin to look dry and airy, use a thin spatula to gently lift one side of the pancake to get a peek at its underside. If it’s golden brown, flip it and cook the other side for 2 to ½ minutes or until the bottom is also golden brown.
Remove your first buttermilk pancake from the skillet and transfer it to the baking sheet in your over. Wipe away any stray crumbs or scraps out of the skillet with a paper towel, add a little more neutral cooking oil, heat it up, and repeat the process until you’re out of your batter.
When repeating this process, pay close attention to the cooking times and try not to get too complacent so as to give your short stacks of pancakes a consistent texture and shape. Once the batter’s gone and your dishes are soaking in the sink’s hot water, remove your cooling tray of pancakes from the oven, plate them, and serve with your favorite toppings of syrup and fruit!

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2021 Brought New Orleans’ Jazz Fest to the Airwaves Again

Thanks to one Crescent City radio station, the annual New Orleans Jazz Festival might have looked different and sounded familiar, as per a Nola.com feature.

The appropriately-titled event, “Jazz Festing in Place” was an 8-day broadcast organized and distributed by WWOZ 90.7 FM, the community radio station operating out of the historic French Quarter district. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station took it upon themselves to broadcast infamous, archival Jazz Fest performances from years past. The station broadcasted these memorable performances from 11 am-7 pm over the 8 days of April 23-26 and April 30-May 3, which was to be the originally scheduled days (and hours) of Jazz Fest.

Throughout both late April weekends, the New Orleans station played notorious festival sets from legendary headliners like Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Trombone Shorty, Dr. John, The Radiators, The Neville Brothers,Irma Thomas, and Allen Toussaint. The broadcast’s first weekend featured recorded performances from the first-ever New Orleans Jazz Festival as the infamous Mahalia Jackson and The Meters graced the airwaves. Also from the inaugural, 1970 Jazz Fest was April 30th’s broadcasted recording of Duke Ellington and New Orleans trumpeter Al Hirt from their concert at the Municipal Auditorium.

Last year, New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell inevitably announced Jazz Fest’s cancelation as a result of Louisiana’s mandated stay-at-home measures. Originally, the festival was postponed to the Fall of 2020 after Louisiana’s initial outbreak, but soon afterward, on April 14th, Mayor Cantrell announced that the city would not host any large events for the remainder of 2020. After this decision, plans were put forth to guarantee some time of Jazz Fest would occur in 2021, and WWOZ brought those plans to life.

Though it was “virtual,” the scheduling of this year’s Jazz Fest mirrored its traditional habit of saving its” heavy-hitters” for the second weekend with listeners being treated to the 1992 Carole King performance in which she brought out Guns ‘N Roses’ Slash as a surprise guest. And at end of the final Sunday of “Jazz Festing in Place,” tradition was upheld with a 2003 show from the Neville Brothers, who have a history of closing out Jazz Fest on the sunset-laden Sunday afternoon of the festival.

One of the highlights of the broadcasted event was the broadcasting of the historic Allman Brothers Band performance on the Acura Stage in 2010. The performance was heralded as a two-hour powerhouse of energy, and though only a thirty-minute excerpt of the show played on WWOZ, the complete archival recording is available for purchase at munck-music.com. The company, which sells official bootlegs of classic Jazz Fest performances, had provided several recordings used for many of the “Jazz Festing in Place” broadcasts this year.

Nola.com Staff writer Keith Spera wrote a descriptive, moment-to-moment testament to the historic Allman Brothers Band on August 25, 2010 performance by successfully recapturing the atmosphere of both the energetic audience and the packed stage that afternoon, just as the airwaves did by replaying the performance for those dancing along at home.

One specific moment from the performance, as retold by Spears via Nola.com reads, “At the outset of “Whipping Post,” Allman shed his sunglasses. The setting sun burned right into his face and eyes — the better to appreciate the song’s anguish. In “No One to Run With,” his percolating organ bumps belied the melancholy of the lyrics. He stepped out front with an acoustic guitar for “Melissa:” Behind him, Haynes carved out a solo as sharp as cut glass.”

It was the hope of WWOZ 90.7 to recapture the magic of those performances, like the Allman Brothers Band, that has been lost to time, and thanks to the available archives, thousands were able to relisten to classic “had-to-be-there” live music in a year where that’s been too far and few.

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Countries Americans Love for Extended Vacations or Moves

After the challenges of 2020, many are looking abroad for extended vacations, and with this perfectly prescribed list of international countries for Americans to visit from Travel + Leisure, foreign travel never felt so familiar. As always, anyone interested in traveling should check local travel restrictions and safety guidelines of both their departure city as well as any locations they’re visiting.

There are approximately nine million former Americans, also called expatriates, living abroad, according to the State Department, and that number is ever-growing larger. So whether you’re looking to pack up and completely relocate, spend a summer across the ocean for an extended vacation, or choose the perfect destination in which to spend your retirement, this curated list straight is the perfect resource. After all, there’s no better source for which countries are the best for Americans to visit than former United States citizens who traded one nationality for another!

New Zealand

The immediate draw of an extended vacation in the Australian-adjacent nation of New Zealand might be the encompassing sense of “home” that Americans immediately feel once stepping foot on the expansive landscapes that the island country greets you with. The entire country is made up of two main, larger landmasses as well as over 700 smaller islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, but despite the “spaced-out” geography, many American expats find themselves drawn to the capital city of Wellington, the cultured hub of Auckland, or the picturesque Hawke’s Bay; no matter the New Zealand metropolis you find yourself in, there’s plenty to be drawn to. The northern and southern islands are only a ferry ride away, allowing for residents to spend their first few months surveying the mountain ranges, beach villages, naturally-occurring hot springs, and mesmerizing waterfalls that make New Zealand one of the most-traveled destinations.

When visiting, no matter the length of your stay, budget some time to pay respect to the island’s indigenous community, the Māori, who came to New Zealand over 1000 years ago from their mythical Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki. Approximately one in every seven of New Zealand citizens identify as Māori, and from the architecture to the cuisine, Māori tradition and influence are ingrained in the cultural fabric across the country, so make it a point to watch an authentic weaving or carving demonstration by a Māori tribesman, take an island tour to learn about locations of tangata whenua legend, or pay respects by visiting a manrae, or the complex of carved-houses that serve as a focal point of the indigenous community.

Sweden

Americans traveling abroad for extended vacations in Europe typically find themselves thinking they’ve visited the future once they’re exploring the highly efficient nation of Sweden. The Scandinavian nation that is made up of thousands of coastal islands is found in northern Europe, between Norway and Finland, and it’s the capital city of Stockholm is truly a sight to behold and experience. It’s difficult to not immediately fall in love with the pure, colorful magic that’s to be found in the skies of the Swedish Lapland, because whether you find yourself outside in the Arctic Winter gazing at the unimaginable glory that is the Northern Lights or the illuminating presence of the Midnight Sun in the mighty north, you’ll quickly understand that pictures do justly depict the beauty.

Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, is known as being one of the most welcoming cities on the planet, as is a world-renowned city of tolerance, inclusivity, and forward-thinking. Even more so, it’s generally a breeze to even traverse the city that’s oft-named the “Venice of the North,” since its public transportation system has been awarded for its regulated order and refined elegance. Outside of the capital, you’re sure to find a place to call home in the sweeping cities of Umeå and Kiruna, as they not only reside beside the most reflective waterways or beneath the transcendent hillsides, but they house some of the finest innovations in modern cuisine that is to be found in the Northern Hemisphere.

Try out either of these wonderful countries on your next, safe foray beyond the borders of the United States, or look into the full list of suggested locals from American expats for even more countries to fall in love with.

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Tulane Expanding its Translational Science Institute

Tulane University’s Translational Science Institute is set to expand significantly thanks to a major investment from the school, according to a recent press release.

The University’s Translational Science Institute (TUTSI) was initially established in 2016 as a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) that was focused on the training and development of scientists devoted to clinical research that was specifically aimed at helping patients who suffer from high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and other related conditions. When created, the COBRE was funded by the National Institutes of Health, but thanks to the latest efforts by Tulane University, TUTSI will expand its impact tenfold.

Tulane University is committed to investing $5.7 million to expand its Translational Science Institute into a “university-wide center” that will be focused on finding more effective ways of diagnosing, treating, and preventing a multitude of diseases. In addition to this central aim, they also plan to focus on translating any scientific discoveries made into actual medical practices that will improve both public health and the overall care of patients.

Tulane University President Michael Fitts said of the initiative, “the goal is to expand research across the university and increase the impact of scientific discoveries on the well-being of individual patients and society as a whole. This investment will help Tulane grow in its role as a national powerhouse of clinical and translational research. Better equipping and serving the needs of the university’s research community will translate into better medicines, diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients. This past year has underscored the need for such investment like never before.”

The funding will allow the institute to offer new training programs for clinical research coordinators, new graduate degree programs aimed to develop the next generation of clinical investigators, and a shared research “biobank” freezer farm so that various researchers from across multiple studies and institutions can use various samples stored and preserved by TUTSI. In addition to the new offerings, the investment will also improve infrastructure to support large-scale patient recruitment for clinical trials, data analysis, and the design of research studies.

Speaking on the need for infrastructure improvements, Tulane senior vice president for academic affairs Robin Forman stated, “We have to grow our research infrastructure to keep up with the extraordinary growth in the research activity and ambition of our faculty. This added support for translational and clinical research will help energize all of our health-related research by making more seamless the transition from basic research to translational research to clinical research to improved clinical care.”

Dr. Jiang He, Joseph S. Copes MD Chair and Professor of Epidemiology at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine will lead the Translational Science Institute as its director, and Dr. Lee Hamm, Senior Vice President and Dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine will be serving as Dr. He’s co-director.

After the investment goes into effect, TUTSI will include researchers from multiple schools at Tulane, including the School of Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, School of Science and Engineering, and School of Social Work.

These researchers from the school will primarily focus on three areas of research: clinical research, translational research, and implementation research. Clinical research can include the administration and analysis of clinical trials for new drugs, surgical advances, or medical devices. Translational research is often referred to as the rewriting or translating of basic scientific findings “from bench to bedside” or into layman’s terms, so that patient health can be improved and understood by those outside the field. Implementation research focuses on integrating evidence-based practices, interventions, and other policies into existing, routine health care and disease-prevention measures.

TUTSI director Dr. Jiang He shared his vision of the initiative’s impact by saying, “the new and enhanced TUTSI core services that we will offer should go a long way in fostering this spirit of collaboration here at Tulane.”

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Glazed Bacon Wrapped Date Appetizer Recipe

If you find yourself in need of the perfect appetizer to prepare and bring to a potluck, tapas night, or buffet table, then rest assured that you’ll be impressing whoever grabs a toothpick from your serving dish thanks to this delicious recipe for cider-glazed, bacon-wrapped dates from Smittenkitchen.

The masterstroke of concocting the pitch-perfect appetizer is an art form in and of itself because you want to entice those surveying your initial offering of food for the evening if you’re also preparing the entree that is. Because if that’s the case, then you want to immediately grab their attention and get their mind wandering, thinking about the flavors just around the corner when the oven chimes. Alternatively, if this appetizer is your only dish at a community dinner, then it needs to be substantial enough to not only speak for itself but also be addictingly tasty in such a way that you return from a walk around the room to an empty serving dish.

So, no matter the aim, this dish is perfect, as it blends crispy bacon with a cider glaze that accentuates the hardened, but the not-too-crunchy texture of the meat with the bitter flavor of apple cider vinegar, caramelized sugars, and (of course) the naturally chewy and salty dates. Be prepared to commit this recipe to memory, as the empty serving platter you’re left with will almost assuredly be accompanied by your guests asking “so how do you make the glaze?”

Ingredients:

12 ounces of bacon (thinner strips preferred)
6 ounces of dates (pitted)
2 teaspoons of maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar
1 ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
A few pinches of sea salt
A few pinches of red pepper flakes

Directions:

Begin by heating your oven to 425°F and divide each strip of bacon into two segments.
Then, wrap one half-strip of bacon around each of your dates and secure them tightly with a toothpick. Line a baking sheet with tin foil (alternatively use a roasting dish), and arrange your bacon-wrapped dates atop it while the oven preheats.
In a small mixing bowl, combine together with your maple syrup (or alternative sweetener), apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes with a whisk or spoon.
Next is the glazing of your dates. For this, you can lightly brush each bacon-wrapped date with your glaze, spoon the glaze over each date in the foil-lined tray, or truly cover each date by rolling each piece of bacon-wrapped fruit in the cider glaze until it is completely coated. No matter your method of coating, sprinkle each with flaky sea salt.
After your oven is hot and ready, roast the dates for a minimum of 15 minutes and an excess of 35 minutes. Keep a watchful eye, as the goal is for the outlying bacon to have sizzling, crisp brown coloration. The timing isn’t precise as it depends on your brand of pork product and the general thickness of your strips, which is why thin is ideal.
While it’s roasting and you’re hearing popping and sizzling sounds, be sure to check the dates, as this will be somewhere around the early 15-minute mark, and then return every 5 minutes afterward until the color and crispness of the bacon are perfected.
If you have any extra glaze leftover, you can infuse the caramelized sugar flavor by brushing that excess atop the dates during the second half of their roasting time.
Once they’re brought to your crisp, brown coloration, remove them from the oven, letting them cool slightly. Sprinkle a couple of pinches of additional sea salt and red pepper flakes atop them, and serve them up warm!

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