The Couscous Chronicles

I am not much of a sports trash talker probably because I was never good in any one sport save maybe the occasional vintage video sports game.  Dr. J versus Larry Bird anyone?   [Read more →]

Upon entering Slim Goodies Diner, my buddy the good Doctor and I were greeted by a purple and gold clad waitress who greeted us with a pleasant smile and “welcome” and then looked past us shouting to no one in particular, “hey and no Buckeye fans are allowed here”!    [Read more →]

Re-new-al

1. the act or process of renewing something,  or the state of being renewed
2. something that is being or has been renewed
3. the rebuilding and revitalization  of an urban area

When the deacon of my church asked me to write about my spiritual renewal, I had no idea it would indirectly become the underpinnings of this blog.  As a result my research lead me back to the humble beginnings of my own spiritual journey and an important gastronomic chapter in my life at my grandparents church in LeBeau, LA. 

LeBeau is one of those “blink and you’ll miss it” towns.  Actually to call it a town would be generous, what LeBeau simply is not is a city, town or even a village it is a small community made up primarily of the ancestors of a former colony of freed slaves. 

[Read more →]

The Couscous Chronicles are dedicated to my parents for our all of their patience in raising and guiding me through childhood and for my father buying me my first computer back in 1984…a Commodore 64.  I also want to recognize my maternal grandparents of Kansas City, Mo., the late Ollie Mae Knox for her inspiration as an entrepreneur selling clothing out of the basement and her excellent soul food cooking, my grandfather Ellis Knox for sharing his entrepreneurial spirit during tours to his salvage yard and my paternal grandparents, the late Ernestine Labrie another entrepreneur who sold “fresh eggs” on the roadside and as an accomplished cook who provided ample me helpings of creole and cajun cooking and the late Harrington Labrie, who provided me another entrepreneurial hero in his accomplishment of being a self made insurance/cattle/oil/justice of the peace millionaire with what he described as a only a “sixth grade” education.

I also want to recognize, Eugene Varnado II for all is guidance and inspiration in putting a blog together.  Eugene is a true friend for life where he and I have known each other since the early seventies beginning in Miss Dink’s kindergarten class at Lakewood Elementary school in Park Forest, IL.  Eugene’s website the Chronicles of Roosevelt Franklin provided me a great deal of motivation to put together a blog.