What defines one as a person are the many facets from their life. One of my building blocks are memories. When I was a kid and after school, my mom would always have a snack waiting. When I was around 7 or 8, my mom had to plan a party for about 15 customers of my dad's so we went to Rouses'. It was their first , and only, store at the time on Hwy 1 just West of town. If I am not mistaken Mister Rouse lived right next door. Anyway, that day she and I had to rush to the store so my snack would be delayed, so I thought. We lived clear across town and I remember the fall wind blowing into passanger window as we drove to her favorite grocery store. We entered the store and waited just inside and I thought to myself, 'what are we doing.' Well after several minutes, I soon saw a man in a white apron pushing this rack of bread towards the front door. Mom grabbed several loafs and a new snack was born. At that moment, I learned the value of freshness. At that point, my desire to cook was born. The warm fresh baked bread with its golden firm crust seemed to close my hands around it as my fingers melted into the soft inner core. I savored every morsel and I wanted to help my mom whenever I could in the kitchen. At the age of 10, I was preparing my own dishes and creating what I thought were classics. They have now fallen from my repertoire. I find that as people get older, they tend to think peanut butter should not be mixed with grape jelly until it's a pasty faded purple color and spread on that french bread. I loved it.
The reason why I am going so deep into who I am is because my fondness for and earliest memories of food come from this grocery store. Cooking has been apart of my life since the day I tasted that warm bread. Rouses' quailty and service is second to none. I have lived in many different states and countries and I have never found a store that could compare. Sure you all are saying, 'yeah well I have a store that I bet is better.' You may have a store that is close but I promise you this. It does not compare to this store. Rouses' isnt only family owned and believes in service and quality, they also believe in the community from which it has risen. They buy as much local produce, seafood and meat as they can from local farmers. A local business buying local for the locals. Think about it. South Louisiana is all about food and that is because of it's culture. Why would anyone visit a grocery store that is a chain from an entirely different state. A state that has no clue as to what South Louisiana culture is about. Rouses' understands that cajuns love food and that they love cajun food.
If you ever visit South Louisiana, you must make way to Thibodaux and see the place where it all started. Get there just before 4pm and wait for the freshest and best baked fench bread you will ever taste. Even better than the original sourdough of Boudin Bakery in San Francisco. read more
