Day 11

Jungle Gardens is a 170-acre botanical garden and bird sanctuary located on Avery Island, Louisiana, was next on the list after our “homemade” breakfast egg muffins.  Our introduction to the gardens was the beautiful flowers, birds, wildlife…

As well as the Buddha, a magnificent centuries old statue.  What a serene environment.

Then it was off to a much less serene location.  THE TABASCO FACTORY, which has been produced by the McIlhenny family since 1868.  The guitar, shown below, was owned by Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, was stolen from the New Orleans restaurant in 1999 and recovered 11 years later.

Avery Island is a natural paradise located in southern Louisiana where the world famous TABASCO brand Pepper Sauce has been produced.  In 1905 a second Tabasco Sauce factory was built on the island and a village was constructed nearby for the factory workers.  They had their own dancehall, where workers socialized and did the tango, a popular dance of the day and eventually became the name of the town.  Many of the company’s employees still reside in Tango.

The pepper mash is aged in white oak barrels for up to 3 years.

Salt evaporated from brine springs on Avery Island since 1791.  When they hit solid salt at 16 feet down in 1862, mining operations began, the first of this type in North America until destruction by union forces in 1863.

Tabasco sauce has a close relationship with the U.S. military since John Avery McIlhenny joined the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War and his son, Walter, served in the Marine Corps Reserve during World War II.  The sauce’s popularity among the troops became apparent when aviators in World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War used the word “TABASCO” when nicknaming their airplanes.  BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT!

All seven family favors are made right here on Avery Island. 
 
We had a tour, cooking class & lunch with their Master Chef.  mmmm  mmmm good.

We learned the Cajun secrets on how to make crawfish etoufee the “Cajun Way.”  Something you will NEVER learn from a book or someone just handing you a recipe.  Dessert was homemade ice cream with a secret ingredient.  That ingredient was…you guessed it, TABASCO SAUCE!  I have to say, it kicked it up a notch.
 
 
Little River Inn dinner.  Richard Hurst is taking on his grandfather’s legacy.  From snowballs to hamburgers to famed “Poor Boy” sandwiches, Hulo’s business expanded and prospered. With input from his wife, Eugenia, and relatives and friends, the menu grew to include seafood and steaks.  Our menu was your choice of Ribeye Steak, Catfish Acadienne or their famous House Salad served with twice baked potato and of course, bread pudding with bourbon sauce.

In 1946, he opened the first completely air-conditioned restaurant in Lafayette and enjoyed continuous success until his death in 1958 at which time his son-in-law and only daughter, Larry and Kathlyn Hurst, took over the management of Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn, and prospered on the same premise that brought success and respect from the community to Hulo - quality in food and perfection in service.

In 1977, Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn moved to its present site where the Hursts began to groom two of their four children to manage the restaurant. In 1985, under the guidance and watchful eye of their parents, Richard and Elaine took over the operation of the restaurant. Richard and his sister made an outstanding brother/sister team, and so on….