Happy Birthday Vulcan!

When I was kid and our family headed from New Orleans to Chattanooga to “See Rock City” and Ruby Falls, plus the other attractions in the Smoky Mountains, we knew we were almost “there yet” when we spotted Vulcan towering over the landscape. Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue and the 50-ton homage to the Roman god of fire has been standing sentinel over the Birmingham skyline since the 1930s. You might wonder why an Alabama city would erect a statue to the god of fire, but Birmingham was known for years for its steel production.

When my kids were little, we visited Birmingham for its awesome children’s museum and nearby DeSoto Caverns and, of course, we visited Vulcan and the surrounding park on Red Mountain, now known as Vulcan Park and Museum. The statue’s enormous and visitors are allowed access to the top where a stunning view of Birmingham and region can be seen. What my children enjoyed most of all, however, was the view from behind — literally. Vulcan wears a skirt of some sort while he works at his forge with a cute view underneath. It’s nothing sordid, mind you, but it did bring my kids to giggles.

My kids on Vulcan's foot

The statue created by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti in 1904 and brought to the Alabama town in pieces turns 114 on June 3 and yes, there is a birthday bash for the iron man. From noon to 4 p.m. there will be “V,” Vulcan’s six-foot plush mascot, plus Birmingham City Mayor Randall Woodfin and City Council President Valerie A. Abbott making appearances. And even more importantly, ice cream from Piggly Wiggly and Bud’s Best Cookies will be handed out after V blows out his candles. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children and free for Vulcan Park and Museum members and children 4 and under. Admission includes entrance into the Vulcan Center Museum, Vulcan’s Observation tower, and entrance into the new Linn-Henley Gallery exhibit, “Southern Thunder – The Legacy of Alabama Auto Racing.”

Want to know more about the mythology? Here’s Wikipedia’s explanation.

Weird, Wacky and Wild South is written by food and travel writer Chere Dastugue Coen.

Dat Dog is Dat Delicious!

No more whining and dining. In South Louisiana, flavors are going to the dogs. And if you’re looking for something fun to do this howliday weekend, you’ll go mutts over this idea.  

Okay, we’ll try to limit the dog puns.

Dat Dog first opened in New Orleans in 2011 as an alternative to the boring traditional hot dog usually found in restaurants, concession stands and food trucks. CEO and founder Constantine Georges started with a pawsome 475-square-foot shack on Freret Street that served up unique dogs in unique ways. The small restaurant was wildly successful and Georges moved the colorful eatery across the street to a larger building. Then came additional locations on Magazine and Frenchmen streets in New Orleans, and most recently, a restaurant on historic Jefferson Street in the heart of downtown Lafayette.

We had visited the Freret location and enjoyed a variety of dogs but recently revisited the brand at downtown Lafayette's Dat Dog. We had to ask, “Who’s a good boy?” The answer? All of them. Here’s what we sampled and we loved every bite.

French fries come with a variety of toppings (above chili cheese fries) or none at all. We especially liked the fries topped with crawfish etouffee, but if you want everything, there's the WTF Fries loaded down with all kinds of goodness.

The chicken dog features an all-natural chicken breast that’s brined with Sirochi in-house and served fried or grilled on a hot dog bun with slaw and a special sauce akin to what you get at Raising Cane’s.

This dog was more of a traditional hot dog with a pickle slice and pickled green bean, plus onions, tomatoes, relish and mustard.

This yummy duck sausage dog featured a smoked duck sausage topped with a Creole spice blend, raspberry sauce, mustard and bacon bits. The combination of these flavors sent my taste buds singing.

The special of the week when we visited was a brisket dog, with big slices of crispy beef brisket.

You can even order the Datburger, hamburger that’s served hot dog style. Plus, there are three options for vegans and vegetarians - a chipotle dog with vegan sausage, eggplant vegan sausage with fennel and garlic and a smoked apple sage dog.

The Lafayette restaurant includes locally crafted beers and cocktails at its long bar in the front of the house, surrounded by tables for dining. In back is a fabulous new live music venue called The Platform, which features upstairs seating and another bar. The Platform may be rented out for special events or performances and, since Dat Dog sponsors fund-raising events for community organizations, it may serve as the perfect spot for functions.

There’s even a ghost reportedly living at the Lafayette location. And we don't think it's a dog.

Bone Appetit! 

Weird, Wacky and Wild South is written by food and travel writer Chere Dastugue Coen.

Honoring zydeco's rubboard in Sunset, Louisiana

People outside Louisiana may use rubboards for cleaning clothes, but within the Bayou State it serves another purpose, that of making music. It started with Creole music at the beginning of the 20th century, a musical genre that later became zydeco. Known in French as a “frottoir,” the rubboard providing a rousing addition to the accordions, guitars and drums. The rubboard later evolved for musicians by Willie Landry and “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier when the two created the first wearable rubboard, a true American invention.

Willie Landry’s son, Tee-Don Landry, today carries on the tradition with his company, Key of Z Rubboards, some of which are on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. He’s made so many rubboards out of his Sunset, Louisiana, home that the Louisiana State Legislature dubbed the town the “Rubboard Capital of the World.”

On Tuesday, May 22, the town of Sunset unveils its first public art piece, the Zydeco Rubboard, on the corner of Duffy and Napoleon avenues. The 4 by 6 sculpture was created by local welder Pat Miller. 

“I’m just so thankful for everything going on in my life,” Tee-Don Landry said in a press release. “Sunset is a great little city. I know that this project will put Sunset on the map and hopefully it will bring prosperity to the city and the tourism industry,”

Following the unveiling, Tee-Don and his group, The Wayne Blue Burns Band, will play for a reception at the Sunset Community Center located on Leo Richard Lane.

For more information about Sunset, Louisiana, or tourism in St. Landry Parish, visit CajunTravel.com.

Weird, Wacky and Wild South is written by food and travel writer Chere Dastugue Coen.