The Daily Times (Maryville, TN)

Born on the Bayou: Lost Cajuns get taste of home at Bayou Bay

by Melanie Tucker of The Daily Times Staff
January 26, 2005

With the ``Mardi Gras Mambo'' playing in the background and plates of Po Boys and shrimp piled high, the Lost Cajuns found their place in East Tennessee.

It was last Thursday night at Bayou Bay Seafood House restaurant on Chapman Highway in Knoxville. Yellow, green and gold -- the traditional Mardi Gras colors -- covered heads, bodies and tables. The word had gotten out that a new club had been formed and newcomers were welcome. Requirement: to join you must be from the Bayou State.

Jennifer Johnson, a native of St. Mary Parish in southern Louisiana, moved to East Tennessee a few years ago and just wanted to meet some fellow `Louisianians.' She started advertising in local newspapers, and for her first meeting, 11 people showed up. Johnson was thrilled.

``I started this group because I missed people from home,'' she said.

Although not a true Cajun herself, Johnson said Lost Cajuns was just shorter and catchier for a name for her club. She does admit to killing a few gators in her time. ``That counts,'' she said.

Kevin and Trish Isbell of Knoxville, are ecstatic that she did. Kevin was born and raised in New Orleans but has now lived in Knoxville for four years. Trish is from Oak Ridge, and the two met at the World's Fair in Knoxville in 1982. They married and moved to New Orleans for 17 years, but Trish's job brought them back here.

They arrived Thursday with layers and layers of beads, hats and an appetite for gumbo and all that is Louisiana.

``This is cool, just like family,'' Kevin said upon arrival. ``God, we miss it. This is like getting a fix.''

Boiled crawfish, good red beans and rice and gumbo were on their minds. Kevin said he makes ``the best gumbo on the planet.''

Donna Weeks, of Maryville, is an honorary member of the Lost Cajuns. While she is from Mississippi, she did recruit four or five Louisianans for the group, earning her that status. She is a charter member.

George and Deborah Williams landed here from River Ridge, La. and now reside in Sevierville. George lived there all his life before coming here 15 years ago. This was his first Lost Cajuns meeting.

``I wanted to come here and meet other people,'' he explained. ``I sure miss the food, especially the Po Boys and fresh seafood.''

The Williamses can recall lots of Mardi Gras celebrations when they were right there on Saint Charles Street in New Orleans, taking it all in. It's been eight years, and they want to go back.

Every day is an excuse for a party, Deborah explained.

``If there is a reason to have a party, they have it,'' she said. ``Someone might say, `It's going to be 50 degrees today. Let's have a party.'''

But mosquitoes -- the Williamses don't miss them.

Neither does Buddy Colwart, of Maryville. He and wife Liz and son Clay moved here from the New Orleans area about two years ago. They enjoy the cooler weather here and the less humid days.

``It's good that we all were able to find each other,'' Buddy said. Bayou Bay's menu just made the gathering even more enjoyable, he said.

Buddy does lots of cooking. It just makes perfect sense.

``I look like (famous Louisiana chef) Paul Prudhomme,'' Buddy said, laughing. ``I better be a chef.''

Connie Theriot, a native of St. Martinville, left several family members there when she moved to East Tennessee several years ago. Zydeco music still has a place in her heart.

``I'm from way down in the Bayou,'' Theriot said. Knoxville pulled her away in 1991.

Theriot was one of the dancers on Thursday, something she terribly misses. She said her 87-year-old mother never lost that love either.

Married to Ray England for 32 years, Theriot said she is very defensive of her culture and thinks most people have the wrong impression. What you see on television isn't the best educator, she said.

Theriot was there Thursday to soak in some of that culture.

``I have been lonely too long,'' she said. ``Throw me a life line.''

This Bayou native said she will definitely be back with the Lost Cajuns, and she will be looking for a dance partner.

``I wear him out,'' she said jokingly about her husband.

Kevin Isbell said the gathering was almost enough to take him back in time. ``We are going to leave here talking funny,'' he said.

Allen Duhon and his wife Megan live in Gatlinburg, but never left their Cajun roots behind. Allen, a musician, said he misses the people most.

Music and laughter, Allen said, can lift anyone's spirit.

``It doesn't matter if you are 2 or 102,'' he explained. ``When the music starts, you can't keep still.''

Just like most of the others at Bayou Bay Thursday night, the Duhons have been to Mardi Gras many times. ``I probably have 200 pounds of beads,'' Megan said.

The owner of Bayou Bay, Andy Cantillo, came here 13 years ago. A native of Luthcer, La., he and his wife met in a Cajun restaurant in Florida in 1986. He said they lived happily for a few years before he heard these words from her: I want to go home.

Home was here in East Tennessee. Cantillo opened the restaurant the they have never been happier.

Looking around Thursday night at the Lost Cajuns crowd brought a broad smile to his face. ``It's like a family reunion,'' he said.

Johnson said this was the third social dinner for her club. She said there are plans to have a crawfish boil this year and other social events.

The club, she explained, has no structure, no dues and no president.

``This is about life, fun, good stuff, friendships, networking and enjoying our common bond of missing home -- the people and the food,'' she said.

``Laissez les bons temps rouler,'' which means let the good times roll, is the motto of the Lost Cajuns of East Tennessee.

Several of the Lost Cajuns said they plan to travel to New Orleans for Mardi Gras this year. Fat Tuesday is Feb. 8. The Isbells have planned their vacation around it.

``I am so psyched,'' Kevin said.

SOUTH LOUISIANA CAJUN STYLE JAMBALAYA

(Courtesy of Andy Cantillo)

3 pounds pork, cubed

1 pound smoked sausage

2 cups chopped onions

2 cups chopped bell peppers

1 cup chopped green onions

2 small cans cream of mushroom sauce

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon of chopped garlic

1 tablespoon of salt

cup of la. hot sauce

cup of Worcestershire sauce

cup of kitchen bouquet

6 cups of water

3cups of rice

Cook cubed pork with 2 cup of water in large, heavy saucepan. Cook sausage in separate saucepan until brown. Use enough water to prevent sticking and burning. Drain sausage then add into saucepan with pork.

Add all remaining ingredients except rice. Continue cooking until pork is getting tender. Total cooking time at this point should be about 30 min.

Bring to a full boil, add rice, lower heat and cover. Every 5 min. stir to keep from lumping. Cook for 20 min. check rice to see if done.

Chicken or any other meat may be used in this dish. Deer meat is a favorite in South Louisiana.

Serve with a salad and garlic bread. Adjust spices as needed for your taste.

To get involved

The Lost Cajuns of East Tennessee meet on the third Thursday of each month at Bayou Bay Seafood House, located at 7117 Chapman Highway, Knoxville. The group has a Web site, on meetup.com. The e-mail address is lostcajunsofeasttn@yahoo.com.

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