Author: Emily Gautreaux

Lafayette’s Wing Guys Are Building a Flavorful Local Business

Louisiana may be celebrated for its pepper sauces, Cajun seasonings, and slow-simmered specialties, but buffalo-style wing sauce rarely receives top billing in the state’s culinary story. Two University of Louisiana at Lafayette friends are working to change that perception. Through Freetown Spice Co., the wing guys, Justin Trascher and Brett House have transformed a favorite backyard recipe into a growing Louisiana brand rooted in friendship, community service, and Acadiana’s competitive cooking culture, according to this article from The Advocate.

The company’s story began near the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where Trascher and House became friends through the university’s Kappa Sigma fraternity. Many members of their close-knit group lived in Freetown-Port Rico, a historic neighborhood northeast of campus. Casual gatherings regularly included a grill, and Trascher and House soon developed a reputation as the friends who could turn an assortment of available ingredients into something memorable.

Chicken wings became one of their specialties. Rather than following a fixed commercial recipe, the pair experimented with flavors until they created a sauce that matched their preferences. Their blend combined the tangy sharpness associated with traditional buffalo sauce and the approachable sweetness of barbecue sauce. The result begins with a mild sweetness before developing a more noticeable tang and bite, giving it enough personality to stand out without overwhelming the food beneath it.

What started as an informal neighborhood tradition gained a larger audience through Wing Wars of Acadiana, an annual Lafayette chicken-wing festival and cook-off benefiting the Gifting Grace Project. House’s mother was involved with the nonprofit, which supports students experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable young people throughout Acadiana. When Trascher and House were invited to assemble a cooking team for the 2023 competition at Parc International, they entered somewhat spontaneously—and finished first in their division.

The wing guys’ company now produces both its signature wing sauce and a versatile dry rub. While many Cajun and Creole seasoning blends rely heavily on cayenne pepper, Trascher intentionally developed the Freetown blend without it. His goal was to create an all-purpose seasoning that would provide balanced flavor across a broad variety of dishes rather than functioning only as a source of heat.

Although it was first created for wings, customers have found plenty of additional uses for the rub. It can complement chicken, shrimp, seafood, steak, pasta, and other everyday recipes. That flexibility reflects a familiar Louisiana approach to cooking: a trusted seasoning should be useful enough to remain within easy reach, whether someone is preparing food on an outdoor grill or cooking a weeknight meal in the kitchen.

Trascher and House have since started careers in the Baton Rouge and Covington areas, but they continue developing the company on the side. Freetown products have reached shelves at Planet Nutrition in Youngsville, Bellard’s Poultry in Opelousas, and select Rouses Markets locations in Gonzales and Baton Rouge. Expanding through Louisiana retailers allows the partners to grow while maintaining a connection to the Acadiana community that inspired the brand.

For the wing guys, Trascher and House, growth is also measured through recognition closer to home. They hope Freetown Spice Co.eventually becomes a familiar sight in Acadiana grocery aisles—a product residents recognize, purchase, and regularly use. In a region where food carries deep cultural and community significance, earning that kind of local trust would be an accomplishment of its own.

What began with two friends grilling wings in Freetown has developed into a promising small business with a distinct Louisiana identity. By blending familiar flavors, supporting a meaningful local cause, and remaining connected to the community where it all started, Freetown Spice Co. is showing that Acadiana may have room for a new kind of wing sauce after all.

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Shrimp and Eggplant Beignets with a Spicy Creole Kick

Louisiana beignets are often associated with sweet squares of fried dough, but savory variations are equally at home in the state’s rich culinary tradition. These Shrimp-and-Eggplant Beignets, adapted from Louisiana Cookin’, combine tender eggplant, fresh shrimp, onion, and cayenne in a light batter that fries until crisp and golden.

Eggplant gives the centers a soft, creamy texture, while the shrimp provide a hint of natural sweetness. A simple seasoning blend adds extra flavor immediately after frying, and the cool Creole-style dipping sauce balances the warm beignets with lemon, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Serve them as an appetizer, seafood side dish, or savory snack inspired by the flavors of Louisiana cuisine.

Ingredients :

Directions:

  1. Begin by placing the chopped eggplant in a bowl and seasoning it with ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Toss everything together so the seasoning coats the pieces evenly.
  2. Warm the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the eggplant and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often as it begins to soften. Add the chopped onion and continue cooking for another 3 minutes, or until the onion becomes tender and fragrant. Next, add the shrimp to the skillet. Stir frequently and cook just until the shrimp turn pink, feel firm, and are opaque throughout. Remove the skillet from the heat and allow the shrimp-and-eggplant mixture to cool slightly before adding it to the batter.
  3. While the filling cools, prepare the batter. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, whole milk, baking powder, remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and remaining ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Add the flour gradually, about ¼ cup at a time, whisking well after each addition. Continue until the batter is thick, smooth, and free of lumps. Fold the cooled shrimp-and-eggplant mixture into the batter using a spatula or large spoon. Mix gently, just until the shrimp and vegetables are distributed throughout.
  4. Add several inches of solid vegetable shortening to a heavy pot or deep skillet and heat it to 360 degrees. Once the shortening reaches the proper temperature, carefully drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the hot oil. Fry the beignets in small batches so they have enough room to float and cook evenly.
  5. As the beignets rise to the surface, gently turn them with a slotted spoon so they become golden brown on every side. When they are crisp and evenly colored, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Sprinkle the the seasoning mix blend over the beignets while they are still warm. Cover the sauce and refrigerate it until the beignets are ready to serve.

These savory beignets pair well with seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, grilled redfish, or a fresh tomato and cucumber salad. They can also accompany corn maque choux, smothered okra, or a bowl of creamy crab and corn bisque. For a lighter meal, serve them alongside mixed greens dressed with lemon vinaigrette.

Crisp on the outside and tender in the center, Shrimp-and-Eggplant Beignets offer a savory interpretation of a Louisiana favorite. The combination of fresh seafood, creamy eggplant, peppery seasoning, and tangy dipping sauce creates a memorable dish that works for everything from an appetizer spread to a complete Louisiana-inspired meal.

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A Nicholls Family Expands Educational Opportunities for South Louisiana Students

For many college students, the final semesters before graduation can be the most financially demanding. Tuition, textbooks, transportation, housing, and everyday living expenses often increase just as students begin internships, student teaching experiences, research projects, or advanced graduate coursework and can limit educational opportunities.  Even students who have successfully completed most of their degree requirements can find themselves struggling to cover the costs needed to reach graduation. According to this news release from Nicholls, recognizing those challenges, two Nicholls State University alumni have made a significant investment in helping future students cross the finish line.

Through a $100,000 gift, Michael and Christine Bourgeois have established the Michael C. and Christine P. Bourgeois Endowed Upper Class/Alumni Scholarship #7 at Nicholls State University. The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to upperclassmen and graduate students as they complete the final stages of their education, helping remove financial barriers that can delay or even prevent degree completion.

The new scholarship continues the Bourgeois family’s longstanding commitment to expanding educational opportunities throughout Bayou Country. Over the years, the family has created several scholarships supporting first-generation college students, participants in the university’s Bridge to Independence Program, and local students through legacy scholarship initiatives. Their newest contribution reflects an ongoing commitment to investing in the educational success of South Louisiana students while strengthening the communities they call home.

The inspiration for the scholarship is rooted in the family’s own story. Both Michael and Christine Bourgeois are proud Nicholls alumni and lifelong members of the Chackbay community in Lafourche Parish. After graduating from Nicholls during the 1970s, Michael built a successful 36-year career with ExxonMobil, while Christine dedicated her professional life to teaching hundreds of local children at Chackbay Elementary School. Their careers took different paths, but both centered on service, hard work, and giving back to the region that helped shape them.

In discussing the scholarship, the Bourgeois family explained that their goal is to support hardworking local students who are nearing graduation while creating an endowment that will continue serving future generations of Colonels. Rather than making a one-time donation, they chose to establish a permanent fund that can grow over time, ensuring students from Ward 6 continue benefiting from the scholarship for years to come.

Endowed scholarships play a unique role in higher education because they create lasting opportunities instead of temporary assistance. Unlike annual gifts that are eventually exhausted, an endowment preserves the original investment while annual earnings provide scholarship funding. To make the scholarship immediately available, the Bourgeois family contributed $10,000 for current awards while placing the remaining $90,000 into the permanent endowment. As the fund grows, it will continue generating financial support for future Nicholls students without reducing the principal investment.

Eligible applicants must be full-time undergraduate seniors at Nicholls State University or graduate students who previously earned a degree from the university. Applicants must also be graduates of a Lafourche or Terrebonne Parish high school, maintain good academic standing, and be United States citizens registered to vote in Ward 6 of Lafourche Parish.

For regional universities like Nicholls, local philanthropy creates a ripple effect throughout South Louisiana. Many graduates remain in the area as teachers, nurses, engineers, business professionals, healthcare workers, and public servants. By helping students earn their degrees, donors strengthen local schools, businesses, healthcare systems, and communities for years to come.

The Bourgeois family’s latest gift reflects more than generosity—it demonstrates confidence in the transformative power of higher education and a deep appreciation for the university that helped launch their own careers. Their investment ensures that future students from Ward 6 will have additional support as they pursue their educational goals, continuing a legacy of community service that extends well beyond a single generation.

As Nicholls State University continues expanding educational opportunities through donor-supported scholarships, gifts like this one illustrate how alumni can make a lasting impact. For students working toward graduation, that assistance may provide exactly the encouragement—and financial support—needed to earn a degree and begin the next chapter of their lives.

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Exploring the Best of Louisiana’s Northshore This Summer

Louisiana’s Northshore offers far more than a quick getaway across Lake Pontchartrain, according to this travel article from Visit the Northshore. Throughout the summer, St. Tammany Parish blends peaceful waterways, moss-covered forests, locally owned restaurants, wildlife encounters and lively community traditions into one easy-to-explore destination. With communities such as Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Slidell and Abita Springs located within a short drive of one another, visitors can experience several sides of the region without spending most of their vacation on the road. The official Visit The Northshore website also helps travelers plan around seasonal events, outdoor attractions and local businesses.

Summer afternoons practically call for something cold. Shops across the parish serve Louisiana-style snoballs, handmade ice cream, milkshakes and nostalgic soda-fountain treats. Hoodoo Ice Cream in downtown Covington, the Old Town Slidell Soda Shop and Honey’s Snoball Shack in Abita Springs offer convenient stops between outdoor adventures. Community markets also bring together seasonal produce, baked goods, prepared foods and regional crafts. The Covington Farmers Market, Mandeville Trailhead Community Market and Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market give visitors a chance to support growers, cooks and makers from across the area.

The area’s waterfront parks provide another way to slow down and enjoy Louisiana’s natural beauty. In Mandeville, Fontainebleau State Park stretches along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, surrounding visitors with live oaks, wooded trails, sandy lakefront areas and the ruins of a historic sugar mill. Nearby Madisonville offers Fairview-Riverside State Park, where the Tchefuncte River creates a peaceful setting for picnics, camping and waterfront relaxation. Together, the two parks make it possible to experience both the lake and river environments that shape the Northshore.

Travelers who prefer to explore from the water have plenty of choices. Canoe and Trail Adventures offers paddling opportunities on Cane Bayou, a calm waterway flowing between Fontainebleau State Park and the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Kayaks and canoes also carry visitors along the Bogue Falaya River near Covington, while rentals around Slidell open portions of Bayou Liberty. Farther north, the Bogue Chitto River provides a scenic setting for tubing, canoeing and kayaking through St. Tammany and Washington parishes.

Food remains central to any Northshore visit, especially during Tammany Taste of Summer. Held throughout August, the annual culinary celebration features special menus and offers from participating restaurants across the parish. Visitors can also enjoy meals beside the water at restaurants overlooking the Tchefuncte River, Lake Pontchartrain and Bayou Bonfouca. After dinner, a free concert, community market or seasonal performance can extend the evening, with the Northshore’s events calendar providing updated possibilities throughout the summer.

A summer trip can always be among the cypress trees of Honey Island Swamp, one of the Northshore’s most recognizable natural landscapes. Guided excursions from companies such as Cajun Encounters carry passengers through narrow waterways where alligators rest near the banks, turtles gather on logs and egrets search the shallows for food. Rather than resembling the exaggerated swamps often shown in movies, Honey Island reveals a quiet ecosystem filled with dense greenery, reflective water and abundant wildlife.

Back on land, the Northshore’s trails and animal attractions add variety to the trip. Cyclists and walkers can travel portions of the Tammany Trace, a paved route connecting several Northshore communities through shaded stretches of forest. Visitors can also meet Louisiana alligators at Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery near Covington or see giraffes, zebras, camels and other animals at Global Wildlife Center in Folsom. Those seeking a quieter nature experience can follow the short trails and observation areas at Big Branch Marsh, where pine forests and wetlands support numerous bird species.

The Northshore’s appeal ultimately comes from its balance. One day can include a swamp tour and a shaded trail, while the next can bring paddling, shopping, wildlife encounters and a waterfront meal. Instead of functioning as a checklist of disconnected attractions, the region creates a distinctly Louisiana summer experience—one shaped by bayous, local flavors, small-town character and plenty of reasons to remain outdoors.

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Plan a Visit to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora

Few places are more closely connected to Theodore Roosevelt than western North Dakota. Long before becoming the 26th President of the United States, Roosevelt found healing, purpose, and a lifelong appreciation for conservation in the rugged Badlands. Today, that story comes to life at the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library inMedora, North Dakota, a destination that combines history, architecture, and nature into one immersive experience, as per this travel blog article from Travel + Leisure.

Located beside Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the 96,000-square-foot library is far more than a traditional presidential museum. It blends interactive exhibits, historical archives, outdoor exploration, and sustainable design, inviting visitors to experience the landscape that profoundly shaped Roosevelt’s life.

Roosevelt’s connection to the Badlands began during one of the darkest moments of his life. In February 1884, his wife, Alice, and his mother died on the same day, just days after the birth of his first daughter. Grieving and seeking a fresh start, he left New York politics and returned to the Dakota Territory, where he had previously hunted buffalo. There, he embraced ranch life, finding resilience and a renewed sense of purpose among the region’s dramatic buttes and rolling prairie.

The library’s design reflects that deep connection to the land. Constructed with rammed-earth walls made from local soil and regional timber, the building appears to emerge naturally from the Badlands. Visitors can stroll a one-mile boardwalk featuring scenic overlooks, outdoor classrooms, and even a suspended net extending over the landscape. A rooftop planted with native prairie grasses further reinforces the idea that the building itself is part of its surroundings.

Inside, multimedia exhibits trace Roosevelt’s remarkable journey from his childhood in New York City and studies atHarvard University to his years as a rancher, his service with the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War, and his presidency. The museum also explores his expeditions to Africa and the Brazilian Amazon, where he narrowly survived a dangerous illness.

Among the collection’s most moving artifacts is Roosevelt’s personal diary, open to the heartbreaking entry he wrote after losing both his wife and mother. The museum also reunites his story in another important way. Working with theTheodore Roosevelt Center and Microsoft, the library is digitally bringing together letters, photographs, manuscripts, and documents that had long been scattered across institutions such as the Library of Congress and National Park Servicearchives.

Modern technology also plays a central role in the visitor experience. Guests can interact with an AI-powered version of Roosevelt, explore a recreation of his Elkhorn Ranch, and use a digital bracelet to save favorite quotes, images, and exhibits before creating a personalized map of Roosevelt’s life and values.

Throughout the museum, one theme stands above the rest: conservation. Inspired by his years in the Badlands, Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act of 1906, empowering presidents to protect important public lands and helping pave the way for treasured places like Grand Canyon National Park and Acadia National Park.

Set against the dramatic landscape that helped transform Roosevelt himself, the library gives visitors a deeper understanding of the experiences that influenced his character, leadership, and conservation legacy. Through immersive exhibits, historic artifacts, innovative technology, and direct connections to the surrounding Badlands, the museum turns his story into an experience that feels both personal and relevant. It also invites travelers to consider how resilience, stewardship, and civic responsibility can continue shaping the nation, making the library not only a meaningful addition to Medora but also a compelling destination for anyone exploring the history and natural beauty of western North Dakota.

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Louisiana’s Largest Barrier Island Restoration Moves Forward

According to a recent article from The Advocate, one of Louisiana’s most ambitious coastal restoration efforts is moving forward after the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority secured the final $90.8 million needed to fully fund the $383 million North Chandeleur Island Restoration Project. Stretching across the Gulf of Mexico as Louisiana’s easternmost barrier island chain, the remote Chandeleur Islands are accessible only by boat or seaplane and provide critical habitat for wildlife while serving as a natural buffer against hurricanes. Decades of erosion, major storms, sea level rise, and land subsidence have dramatically reduced the islands’ footprint, making this Deepwater Horizon-funded restoration one of the most significant conservation investments ever undertaken along Louisiana’s coast.

Construction at the barrier island could begin as early as next year, with engineers planning to rebuild approximately 14 miles of North Chandeleur Island and nearby New Harbor Island. Using roughly 12 million cubic yards of dredged sediment—enough to fill the Caesars Superdome nearly three times—the project will restore beaches, dunes, and marsh habitat while creating approximately 2,500 acres of strengthened coastal landscape.

The ecological value of the islands is equally impressive. The Chandeleurs form part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1904 by President Theodore Roosevelt as the nation’s second-oldest national wildlife refuge. More than 170 bird species have recently been documented throughout the island chain, including migratory piping plovers, red knots, snowy plovers, and redhead ducks. The islands also serve as the only known breeding location for the Chandeleur gull, making them one of the Gulf Coast’s most important bird habitats.

Marine wildlife has also demonstrated encouraging signs of recovery on the barrier island. In 2022, biologists documented Kemp’s ridley sea turtles nesting on the islands for the first time in approximately 75 years. Since then, researchers have recorded hundreds of turtle crawls from Kemp’s ridley, loggerhead, and green sea turtles, reinforcing the islands’ growing importance as nesting habitat for several protected species.

Those observations have played a significant role in shaping the restoration design. Wildlife biologists have spent years conducting aerial surveys, documenting nesting activity, mapping habitat, and gathering environmental data to ensure construction supports both coastal resilience and wildlife conservation. The project also aims to protect Louisiana’s only marine seagrass beds, underwater ecosystems that provide nursery habitat for fish, shellfish, and numerous other marine species throughout the northern Gulf.

The need for restoration reflects centuries of environmental change accelerated by modern coastal challenges. Hurricanes such as Georges in 1998 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 dramatically altered the islands’ landscape, with Katrina carving a permanent breach that separated North and South Chandeleur. Combined with sea level rise, subsidence, and continual erosion, these forces have contributed to the loss of nearly 90 percent of the islands’ historic land area.

While the restoration represents a major milestone for Louisiana’s coast, it also highlights broader funding challenges facing future conservation efforts. Much of the state’s large-scale coastal work over the past decade has relied on Deepwater Horizon settlement funding, which is scheduled to expire after 2031. Although existing projects will continue to completion, no comparable long-term funding source has yet emerged to replace those billions of restoration dollars.

Even so, conservation organizations continue to emphasize that projects like the Chandeleur restoration remain essential. Protecting barrier islands today helps preserve wildlife habitat, strengthen coastal resilience, and support fisheries while reducing storm impacts for future generations. In many ways, the Chandeleur Islands represent both the fragility of Louisiana’s disappearing coastline and the state’s ongoing commitment to preserving one of its most valuable natural resources.

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