h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Gumbo to geaux, no problem.

Here are some containers of rice and gumbo. I hope you like it.

It tastes real good! *licks lips, before continueing with the fork-work*

What's okra though? And I always thought that creole was a word applied to the general cultural mixture around the Caribbean islands, including food, language and people.

I am glad that you like the gumbo.

Okra is a vegetable. I am not sure where else it grows. Here in Louisiana it is pickled, fried, stewed usually with tomatoes, and added to gumbo.

You are correct about Creoles. However, in the 1800's the people brought here from that area intermarried with the French and Spanish. Mostly in New Orleans, because at that time the other populated areas were more remote and isolated. I am French and Spanish, but not creole. My friend is truly a creole because she is a mixture of all three of the main groups.

Creole cooking dates back to that era. My grandmothers were French, so I learned the Cajun French cooking from them. Dad's father was French. Mom's father was French and Spanish.

There are entire cookbooks devoted to Creole recipes as well as whole cookbooks devoted to Cajun recipes. New Orleans is worth seeing if you are ever in Louisiana. Lafayette has a restored and replicated Cajun village. I took some wonderful pictures on my last visit.

That is really interesting. Do you know if there's a guide entry on Creole?

I could not find an entry on Creole in the guide. The entry on Baton Rouge is a bit inaccurate.

Espharoth find soup and carrot sticks. Gobbles it all up.
Burps happily and send a smoking kiss in Evangelines direction

Thanks Esparoth . Would you like something for dessert? maybe? Or ? Do dragons like to be scratched like other pets?

If he doesn't want the , I'll definitely eat them!

There's plenty of for everyone.

*Chows on a *

Now that you have been subjected to my biography Where are you from?

Essex, UK. My Dad is from Manchester, the city from which I am currently writing on a University-owned computer. My mum hails from France, but came over here when Grandpapa became a Director of the Michelin tyre company in charge of the UK branch. I am monolingual, although we go to Brittany (the bit which sticks out of the west of France) almost every summer.

Want to help Strider assemble a tent? http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F45817?thread=160621&latest=1

* returns from assisting Strider.

I do not speak much French. Mom did not speak any French. Dad, however, could speak fluent French. Friends told me that what is spoken in Louisiana is not real French and it would be a waste of my time.

Actually, that depends on which area. My father's family speaks the same French that is spoken in France. Cajun French is "corrupted" , German and Italian words have mixed into it. My family is not from those areas.

During WWII Dad was drafted. He served in the Army and spent '43-'45 overseas. He was the only one in his unit that could read and speak French(maps, roadsigns, ask the locals where things are).

<--------found some time to draw again!!!!




BTW if anyone wants to see pictures of Louisiana, I have several that can be emailed.

One of the uncles on my French side went to Canada with his family for a holiday. Apparently, they absolutely revere anyone with a real French accent in the French-speaking parts of Canada. My cousins would have people walking up to them in the street and giving them flowers. Apparently, they were refused the opportunity to pay for a single coffee all the time they were there.

That is really nice. Some of my friends have gone to Nova Scotia and received a very warm welcome. I have met some French speaking people from Haiti. They were incredibly nice.

I apparently appear more Spanish than French. Supposing this because more than once I have been approached by Spanish speaking tourists.

It's the Mediterranean look. My brother has it, plus an uncle and his son. Sometimes, they look almost (non-American) Indian.

* unloads crate of things from Louisiana: Tabasco sauce, Spice mixture, Coffee from New Orleans and some from Baton Rouge, and a stack of purple, green, and gold, King Cakes.

I wonder who is around the campsite this weekend?

You need hardly ask! The usual suspects include "both halves " of Bagheera - Dreamweaver still having problems asserting her own identity!
There's been an 'almost-party' happening here for a few days now, perhaps a few more people will drop in now the worst of the cold weather's over (at least in this part of the UK) and camping becomes more of an attractive idea.
Anyway, there's lots of so help yourself: I imagine there's even some and somewhere, even if we haven't got smileys for them

Glad to see someone else is camping. Where is the almost party?

I am sure we could find some and .