Judice family a part of Port Arthur tradition

 

Since 1927 the Judice family has called this area home. Their hearts have been full of Louisiana tradition and Texas innovation. Word spread quickly when Judice’s 1927 in Nederland recently announced their closing. Al Judice IV announced that a chapter is closing.

I reminisced about the Cajun Ambassador A.J. Judice that I knew from crawfish races, all the boudain we shared and the deli hamburgers I’ve enjoyed while parked along the seawall. I loved watching from all over the world pass by while enjoying a juicy local burger.

Then I thought about the Nederland restaurant and all those family photos on the wall sharing those family memories. Where they will go next?

 I pulled out my copy of “Cajun Cookin’ with Maw Maw Judice” and got all emotional flipping through the pages. Lariza Judice, who came here in 1927 with the family that opened Judice Grocery on Seventh Street. Boudain, seafood and Cajun staples made them famous. Her son A.J. became a Cajun Ambassador celebrity.

Lariza, or Maw Maw, wrote a book that sounded like her. Take the following as an example:

“Cajuns catch or trap anything that doesn’t eat them first.”

             This little binder book has some treasures.

Flip open to pages 44-45 and I’d take any one of the offerings that look easy to make and easy to enjoy: Sweet Potato Fluff, Cornbread Salad, Okra and Mushrooms, Maque Choux and Bacon Coleslaw.

I can imagine her family asking her to make that “good corn dish” with cans of creamed corn, flour and egg. She included it in the book and it’s called Good Corn Dish. Her extra note: “Especially good with fried chicken.”

Do these sound good?

·       Cow Bayou Cream of Crab Soup

·       Cajun Venison with Currant Jelly

·       No Fail Divinity

·       Frito Squash (the chips are a topping)

·       Blackeye Pea Casserole with rice and cream of mushroom soup

·       Acadian Couche Couche

 

Maw Maw Took Some Shortcuts

No Worry Jambalaya is made in a rice cooker and Kitchen Bouquet is in the gravy.

 

Something Old

Lots of life advice, remedies and tips are featured as “odds and ends.” Here’s one:

Leftover coffee makes a great addition to many foods: ice cream, chocolate sauce, spice or chocolate cake, icings or any chocolate dessert.

Something New

Do you know about benne pralines? I can’t say that I did. Benne is an African word for sesame seeds and can be substituted for pecans. I may have gobbled some up without realizing it.

From Lariza

Near the end of this collection is a note.

“Do things in moderation. Don’t overdo anything. Don’t over work, over eat or get over tired.”

Sounds good to me, Maw Maw.

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie embracing her Cajun heritage. Share your foodie adventures via panews@panews.com