On our first trip to New Orleans as a family, we stayed in Natchitoches (pronounced Nackitush) in Lousiana. Natchitoches, aside from being a lovely historic town, is famous for three things—being the location for the film Steel Magnolias, its incredible display of Christmas lights, and its meat pies. These local delicacies are pastry shells filled with savory meats and are really quite tasty. As I was about to bite into my first-ever meat pie, Bertie decided that he wanted it. And, so, “Bertie ate my meat pie,” became the quote for the day.
My parents snuck off to a gift shop while I was arguing about proper etiquette with my dog. A few days later, Bertie was surprised (as was I) at Christmas with the gift of this ornament. An eternal meat pie—one that he couldn’t eat, and one that forever records that fun afternoon.
The sights and smells of that first trip to Louisiana were fuel for my literary fire. I found much inspiration for the fictional town of Marionneaux on that trip. Years later, Marionneaux continues to be the setting for many of my works including, The Garnet Red, The Cages of Marionneaux and Punch’s Cousin.
1 comment:
They think they are famous for one other thing in Natchitoches...Northwestern Louisiana U. (the Demons--weird scary mascot!).
In 'the olden days' when I was peddling textbooks to professors in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, that was one of my favorite stops.
There's very little around the town, as I recall--but it does have that beautiful river walk.
...I can't recall another place in Louisiana famous for meat pies--probably because you couldn't beat the ones in Natchitoches.
I wonder if the Holiday Inn (one of two places to stay until Steel Magnolias was made) still sells the local made chocolate pies?
A trip to the 'northern territory' for me was not complete without a box of meat pies and a couple of choco pies...One to eat, and one to freeze. ;)
Bertie's a smaaaht goggie. lol!! (have YOU ever tasted a meat pie? Their AWEsome...kinda like empañadas.)
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