Where are we today ?
Very mild last night the low about 56f so again windows open and a great sleep. And a nice colorful sunrise that we could enjoy for a bit early this morning too. Got a nice walkabout on the back streets behind Betty's for about an hour was interesting exploring the local neighborhoods.
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| wonderful sunrise |
We had a plan today to take a ride down to Avery Island and visit the
Tabasco factory again, its been quite a few years since we were here last. On the way down were are driving through Cajun country and with the low elevation and close proximity to the Gulf and hurricanes we see many house and trailers on stilts.
With couple detours (bridges washed out) we finally arrived but really got to see some more interesting back country sights.
We were are at the Tabasco factory for the FREE tour. Perfect weather today sunny and in the mid 70;s, love it! It has been in production since the mid 1860's you can read about it
HERE
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| yep thats me |
Waiting about 15 minutes for the next tour enjoyed some old tv shows and commercials in the lobby from the 1930's,40's, 50's,60's and 70's where Tabasco was used or seen on the screen.
Then a video about the history and process and check out the factory viewing area where they bottle the Tabasco sauce labelled in about 70 different languages and shipped to 170 countries around the world. This is the only place in the world that Tabasco sauce is made.
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| todays's production is going to Japan |
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| barrels of pepper mash with salt covered lids |
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| this is the factory |
Tour done then of course walk past the eating place and the factory store. Its a nice day to wander about and love my hot sauces too.
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| lunch if you like |
Now everything you see from here on this property is Tabasco, of course.
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| this be the store and lotsa stuff here |
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| want gallons of tabasco? |
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| 1/2 gallons ? |
So many flavors and tastes that they have developed I am really enjoying this even more. And free samples of all their products too is a bonus.
Now to sample all the flavors, almost all are good and some new very hot ones too (right up my alley).
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| Even Tabasco ice cream, interesting ! |
On the way home an nice country drive enjoying the great weather and scenery.
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| this fellow fishing next to the bridge |
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| above ground cemeteries too |
Passed by a sugar cane field that they burn off after the harvest.
Now home in time for our lunch. Made a huge pot of chilli with ground turkey, veggies and bean sprouts in the slow cooker this morning, 5 hours on high done by noon when we got home.
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| very tasty |
After the tour of he factory we were given whole mess of free samples, 4 different flavors each all very good.
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| our free samples |
After sampling all the sauces I decided on 2 that I would enjoy both very hot and tasty, below.
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| will really enjoy these |
On the way home actually saw one of these boats next to a rice field with crawfish traps in place. They are soo cool. Like John said yesterday would love to take one of these out.
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| Cool boat |
Back home after lunch we enjoyed some relaxing reading time outside. almost perfect weather, only 62 f in the shade, but sure much better than back home.
Then at 4:30 its time for!
So over the Betty's room, snacks and conversation, tips and fun things to do.
We had so many ideas etc. but one thing that appealed to us was a Jam session tomorrow afternoon, so we decide to stay one more night, just because we can, then play it by ear from there.
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| we all having too much fun here |
Happy hour(s) done and we back home to settle in for he night, no Supper again after a nice lunch and snacks. Yep this is a very nice place to hang out for a few days or longer. So much to see and do in the area.
Thank y'all for stopping by again, hope you had a good day too.
Posted by George (the Weber Q Man is taking a time out down here).
Check out the interactive map below to see where we have been this Winter.
We enjoyed the tour also - especially the itty bitty sample bottles - sure looks like they have some new sample flavours. Lucky you guys!
ReplyDeleteThe new flavors, love them and nice to see they are changing with the times.
DeleteThe tour and factory has really changed since I went there 40 years ago. It looks like I need to go back again.
ReplyDeleteYes it has even changed in the half dozen or so years since we were here.
DeleteLots of fun photos. The Tabasco vanilla ice cream was my favorite when we were there. Right up there with green chili beer, the perfect combo of hot and cold!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed them all ,very tasty.
DeleteI'm not a Tabasco fan but it will still be fun to visit the factory. I've never seen a mobile home raised high like that. However, I can certainly understand why they do it. If not, come the rains and it just might have floated away.
ReplyDeleteEspecially when in the low elevation and the swamp land here too.
DeleteMost of the houses you see on stilts were either built after Hurricane Rita or raised after Hurricane Rita. The parish tells us the elevation our houses have to be. Our old house had 4' of water for Rita and 3' for Ike. We built an 11' hill and put a modular house on it after Rita. If you took Hwy 14 to New Iberia you saw how far inland it flooded in some places.
ReplyDeleteIt has been several years since I have been to Avery Island. Looks like they have a lot of new products.
There is a specialty meat market in Maurice that sells all kinds of cajun food. They have deboned stuffed chickens that are stuffed with all kinds of things. My favorite is cornbread stuffing and crawfish pies. You can get all this frozen if you wish. Ask Betty about Hebert's.
Thanks for the information and tips, may just have to check them out.
DeleteYou are definitely enjoying yourselves there. Good for you !!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun place and so much to see and do.
DeleteWow, the Tabassco Factory looks like a great place to visit! Now it is on my bucket list for sure! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteIt is a nice place to stop in and see where this Tabasco sauce originated and sample lots of their products.
DeleteThat is one "HOT" Blog Post today George! Now I really want to take that boat out...
ReplyDeleteHa, ha thanks John it would be fun I am sure.
DeleteSomehow I knew you'd love that tour. Looks like lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteWe have done it before with many changes and improvements from that last tour.
DeleteI do love my hot sauces.
Hot and spicy! Nice blog, George!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rick it was fun.
DeleteSo glad to read that you two are having such a good time at Betty's. We really enjoyed our tour and free samples too. We took a nice long drive around the Island and found out that several Tarzan movies were shot on that island. There is tons and tons of bamboo there.
ReplyDeleteMissed that maybe next time more exploring there, thanks for the tip.
DeleteLots more flavours added since we were there but still a fun place to spend a few hours! There are always reasons to spend an extra day or two at Betty's! So many day trips.
ReplyDeleteYou are right thats why a lot of people stay longer and come back, lots todo around here.
DeleteYa got me thinkin' I need to be planning a trip back to those parts. We really liked being in Louisiana and missed Betty's, Avery Island and I'm sure a lot more. Love it down there.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great place to hang out and explore, very interesting countryside.
DeleteLike you said,right up your alley. Great to be able to try new flavors before buying a large bottle. Nice to seeing you enjoying the area and the park.
ReplyDeleteAll the flavors I enjoyed, but really can't buy them all. It is a fun place to be. Only 17 small sites, not unlike Tres Amigos, just not on the water.
DeleteI love Tabasco sauce and would buy it by the gallon if I had room in the RV for it! ;c)
ReplyDeleteYou can buy it by the gallon here, but then there is the storage issue.
DeleteGeorge, not sure how close you guys are to Abita Springs, but they have the BEST beer and root beer EVER!!!! Also, in Abita Springs, you can go to the UCM Museum - which is - to say - quite different from anything you've seen before. Check out ucmmuseum(dot)com
ReplyDeleteJool in N. Texas
Jool we have been to Abita brewery for their free tours and tastings many times love it ! And even been to the uCM museum a few times as well. We have stayed in Abita Springs at least a dozen times over the years, (we have a membership park there) really love it there too.
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