Rouses Everyday - January & February

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fAMIly letter
Big Fun on the Bayou
My dad, Donald, was the GrandMarshal of theThibodaux Firemen’s Fair &Parade
in 1986. As Grand Marshal, part of his job was to lead the parade of fire trucks
and horses through downtown Thibodaux to the Firemen’s Fairgrounds, where a
carnival midway was set up, along with games and food booths. I got to ride on the
lead horse with him for part of the route. It’s one of my favorite memories.
I’m very honored that the
Thibodaux Volunteer Fire
Department selected me to
be this year’s Grand Marshal.
My dad and I are one of the
only father and son Grand
Marshals, which makes it all
the more special. The parade
rolls at 11am on Sunday, May
3rd, and I can’t wait to ride.
The Thibodaux Firemen’s
Fair takes over Thibodaux
the way Archie, Peyton,
Cooper and Eli do dur-
ing the Manning Passing
Academy. There’s just some-
thing special in the air. The
highlight (literally) is the
Ferris wheel — you can
see it from miles away.
There are carnival rides and
games; jambalaya, shrimp
spaghetti and other food
booths; live auctions; a
$10,000 raffle; and four nights of live music. Local favorites include Don Rich,
WaylonThibodeaux, Snapper and the Fish Sticks, and Drunk Punch Ponies, which
is a band out of Chackbay, Louisiana. There’s also a 1-Mile and 5K Run/Walk.
All proceeds from the fair, auction and raffle benefit the 141-year-old Thibodaux
Volunteer Fire Department. The department has quite a history, which you can
read about at
The Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair runs Thursday, April 30th through Sunday, May
3rd, and if you haven’t been to Thibodaux in a while, or ever, it’s a great excuse to
visit our hometown. Lafourche Parish is one of the original parishes of Louisiana.
Check out Nicholls State University, which has a great, sprawling campus; shop
historic Downtown Thibodaux; and visit the Bayou Country Children’s Museum
—my daughters and nephews love it. Rouses sponsors the Farmer’s Market gallery.
Donny Rouse
3rd Generation
On the Cover
Local Boiled Shrimp
Photo by Sara Essex Bradley
• • •
EAT | DRINK | COOK | SHOP LOCAL
WHAT I’M EATING
Rouses boiled Louisiana crawfish. Sonya “The
Black Widow” Thomas will be back at our
Crawfish Eating World Championship at this
year’s French Quarter Festival. Can she reclaim
the Rouses Crawfish Cup, or will a local keep
the cup? Our own Chris Rose will be competing
in the media round.
WHAT I’M DRINKING
I really like Tin Roof’s Parade Ground Coffee
Porter, a winter beer brewed with a special
blend of mocha and French roast coffee from
New Orleans Coffee Company, but with
crawfish season, and the warmer weather, I’ve
switched to Tin Roof’s Blond Ale and Voodoo
Bengal Pale Ale.
WHAT I’M COOKING
I have a baking stone for my Big Green Egg,
and I make a lot of pizza. My wife, Kara, does a
dessert pizza that’s basically a big cookie.
SHOP LOCAL
Louisiana Sportsman’s new signature line
of shirts and hats are a must for Louisiana
Sportsmen — and women — who are fans
of the magazine and website. We have shirts
available at select Rouses Markets.
SUPPORT LOCAL
There are so many different festivals this
time of year that Rouses gets to be a part of.
We’re sponsoring the French Quarter Festival,
Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, Festival
International in Lafayette, the Thibodaux
Firemen’s Fair, and the Annual Gumbo Cookoff
in downtown Mobile, AL, again this year.
photo by Travis Gauthier