542. Elista Istre, part 1

542. Part 1 of our conversation with our friend Elista Istre. She has written a book entitled, Josette and Friends Cook a Gumbo. “This beautifully written and illustrated children’s book is a brilliant blend of Louisiana’s culture and cuisine.”— Chef John Folse "Cool fall days and warm, cozy friendships bring Josette and her friends together to cook a delicious gumbo bursting with flavor. As the children add their favorite ingredients to the pot, they stir up some fascinating stories about Louisiana’s people—including Cajuns, Creoles, American Indians, French, Africans, Germans, and Spanish Isleños. While spicing up their friendship in Mama’s kitchen, what will Josette and her friends discover about each other and their own connections to this tasty dish? Bon appétit!" "Dr. Elista Istre, a native and lifelong resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, is a descendant of Cajuns, French Creoles, and Spanish Isleños. An avid traveler with a passion for cultures across the globe, Elista has been sharing her region’s diverse heritage with audiences of all ages around the world for more than twenty years. Elista founded her own company Belle Heritage to provide consulting expertise and create cultural experiences that inspire individuals and organizations to celebrate the beauty of heritage." (ULL Press)

1. This week in Louisiana history. September 30, 1764. D'Abbadie acknowledges receipt of transfer of colony from French to Spanish.
2. This week in New Orleans history.
   
3. This week in Louisiana. Steamboat Washington Arrives in New Orleans
   October 7, 1816. Commemorative Stamp Issued March 3, 1989. Watercolor by Richard Schlecht. On October 7, 1816 the Washington, built by Henry M. Shreve, was the first double-decker. steamboat to arrive in New Orleans and became the model for the classic style of Mississippi river boats -- flat-bottomed, two stories, steam-powered paddle wheel mounted on the stern, two smoke-stacks. First used to carry cargo it was soon open for passenger transportation. The Washington moved at lightning speed compared to other boats on the rivers -- 16 mph upstream and downstream at as much as 25 mph. Shreve launched the boat earlier that year on the Monongahela River just above Pittsburgh. Shreve's cleverly designed Washington had all the features that would soon come to characterize the classic Mississippi riverboat: a two-story deck, a stern-mounted paddle wheel powered by a high-pressure steam engine, a shallow, flat-bottomed hull, and a pilothouse framed by two tall chimneys. Perfectly designed for the often-shallow western rivers like the Mississippi and Missouri, the Washington proved itself on its inaugural voyage the following spring. Steaming upriver against the current with full cargo, the Washington reached Louisville in only 25 days, demonstrating that the powerful new generation of steamboats could master the often-treacherous currents of the mighty western rivers. Soon the Washington began to offer regular passenger and cargo service between New Orleans and Louisville.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Single Malt Please with Maude Caillat at the BMC Bar on Decatur St. in New Orleans. 

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