Among her many hobbies, Jacquelyn D. Kirkland has cultivated a love for cooking since her early childhood. As she matured, Jacquelyn D. Kirkland’s culinary interests widened from desserts to the complex flavors offered by the cuisine of the Cajun people, who have a long and fascinating history.

1. HISTORY AND
CULTURE OF THE
CAJUN PEOPLE
By Jacquelyn D Kirkland

2. Introduction
 Among her many hobbies, Jacquelyn D. Kirkland
has cultivated a love for cooking since her early
childhood. As she matured, Jacquelyn D.
Kirkland’s culinary interests widened from
desserts to the complex flavors offered by the
cuisine of the Cajun people, who have a long and
fascinating history.
Before learning about Cajun cuisine, it is
important to understand the origins of the Cajun
people. Cajuns, an ethnic group encompassing
hundreds of thousands of people residing largely
in and around Louisiana, trace their heritage back
to very early North American colonists from
France.

3. Cajun People
 These colonists settled in parts of what is now Canada. In the
mid-18th century, these colonists were exiled from Canada
due to their religious faith. About 30 years later, they were
welcomed to Louisiana, then under the control of Catholic
Spain.
Once resettled, the Cajun people developed a unique culture
that gave rise to food traditions that have influenced chefs
throughout the modern world. People know Cajun food best
for its variety of spices, a feature that reflects the Cajun
penchant for experimentation. Moreover, Cajun cuisine draws
on unique, local ingredients like crawfish, which are common
to the bayous and ponds that dot the Louisiana landscape.
Other local ingredients common to Cajun dishes include
alligator and rice.