"I'm happy to see the real story of the evolution of Cajun cuisine finally put in print. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the subject, this book will be a great reference. -Emeril Lagasse "The real history of America's favorite cuisine. The authors dish up a delightful blend of foodways and lifeways. This book cooks " -John Mack Faragher, Professor of American History, Yale University Cajun foods such as gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and boudin are increasingly popular, yet relatively little is known about the history of this fascinating cooking tradition. Stir the Pot explores how Cajun cuisine...

In 1946, Harry Choates, a Cajun fiddle virtuoso, changed the course of American musical history when his recording of the so-called Cajun national anthem "Jole Blon" reached number four on the national Billboard charts. Cajun music became part of the American consciousness for the first time thanks to the unprecedented success of this issue, as the French tune crossed cultural, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic boundaries. Country music stars Moon Mullican, Roy Acuff, Bob Wills, and Hank Snow rushed into the studio to record their own interpretations of the waltz-followed years later by...