When I was about 18 I was dating the daughter of a doctor in Columbus Georgia. Her uncle was a Federal judge. They were as old school as you could get, even for the Deep South.They also had the family duck camp (established 1920) in the panhandle of Florida. There's a point I promise. I was invited to join their clan on opening day. I can still see the sunrise, hear the bark of the L C Smith doubles, and smell the wet old Labs as they climbed back into the blind. These men were true gentlemen, and they made the day great. The Blackjacks(Ringnecks to you Yankees) were plentiful and the day too short. And now to the point. When we returned to the cabin I was given a jar of sweet tea and a bowl of duck gumbo. My first gumbo, and thank the L0rd not my last. That day started a 40 year love affair with gumbo. I have had it in NYC and New Orleans, I even had a decent bowl in New Lexington Ohio. I learned two things that day. How to make a real roux. Also that a real man doesn't need to brag about how many birds he has bagged or beers he can drink or women he has known. A real man only has to smile and say"nice shot son" to show what hes made of. Francis ( the daughter) headed to Auburn University and I was off to the Big Ten. I never got to go back. The lessons stayed with me and oh yeah Gumbo!
You do know how to tell a tale.
ReplyDeleteYou can make a real roux? I'm impressed.
Well yes ma'am I can! I like to cook. Thank you for your comment.Enjoy your Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI made a fifty dollar pot of gumbo yesterday. I'm gonna post on it later in the week. I learned to make a decent gumbo when I lived in New Orleans.
ReplyDeleteOnward.
Isn't it odd that today the 'average' young man somehow has become this messy, lazy ill mannered clog, whose baseball cap can never seem to stay straight, whose pants are far too large and whose ego is entirely based upon the amount of 'honies' he has experience, rather true or not. The country gentleman does still exist, but even among their youth has crept in the 'hip hop' atitude. Sad, indeed. Though I am certainly a Yankee born and breed, such quiet mornings of guns and duck followed by delicious food often served outdoors with dogs at the feet is part of my history. And even wives sipping tea and 'other' drinks from darling thermos and dinnerware certainly was once more a normal part of cool Autmn days. I do wish we could get back the gentility of the thing. When I think of orange clad idiots with high powered guns tossing beer cans about in printed t-shirts it almost makes me want to join PETA just to remove them. Learning to make a roux is a skill, indeed, one in which I am only just mastering.
ReplyDeleteNo idea what Gumbo (Sounds Scottish? Like Haggis?) is, but I like your 'tale' and your tie! Nice story and writing style!
ReplyDelete50s gal As you know I share your pain!
ReplyDeleteADG Cost is a big reason I don't make it at home as much as I'd like.
Lize Thank you. Gumbo, I believe, originated in Cajun country along the Gulf coast of the USA. It is a soup/stew made of shrimp, chicken,sausage, okra and about what ever else you want. Saying its a stew is like saying Aretha Franklin is female singer!
Looks delicious! And I love the duck story-so true. xoxo
ReplyDeleteSC
When us yankees are talking about ringnecks...it is Pheasants...not ducks.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great duck hunt and one of which I am envious. Nevr have chased ducks below Mason Dixon Line.