Eat like a boar at Wild Game Supper

Crowds gather in the Larose Civic Center, attracted by the sounds of fellowship and the smell of fresh Cajun cooking.

You’re curious and wander inside. As you approach the civic center, you pass the chefs, hard at work and notice a pig roasting – but this is no ordinary pig.

“What are you cooking?” you ask.

“Honey-baked wild boar,” the chef replies.

As you ask the question over and over to the other chefs proudly preparing their signature items, you hear similarly unique answers, such as “Buffalo Ragu Patot,” “Elk Sausage” and “Antelope Stew.”

It suddenly occurs to you – you’re at the Larose Regional Park’s Wild Game Supper.

Twelve years ago, a springtime tradition of event founder John and Pat Brady turned into a major fundraiser for the Larose Civic Center and Park. It’s an event like none other in the state.

“This is the 13th annual Wild Game Supper, and it’s a huge event. It ranges anywhere from 700 to 900 people,” explained Randi Lowe, assistant director of the park.

Most of the items offered on the menu are donated by hunters and prepared by some of south Louisiana’s finest cooks.

“The game comes from donations. It is mostly donations and things that we have had given to us throughout the year,” said Lowe. “These are local hunters. We have to buy some things, like white beans, but mostly everything is donated.”

In addition to the game, all of the chef’s cooking for the supper donate their time.

“They are all people from the bayou. They all get together, and they all start cooking that day,” said the assistant director.

Larose resident James Bouvier Sr. is one such chef. He’s cooking crab fricassee and white shrimp soup and says whether cooking wild game or Louisiana seafood, the technique is basically the same.

“If you use onions, it’s hard to mess something up. That’s my famous philosophy. If you cook it a Cajun way it’s hard to mess anything up,” he explained.

This is Bouvier’s seventh year cooking for the event.

“We tried cooking nutria once, and I didn’t like it. It was like a 3-hour waste,” he said.

Fortunately, nutria won’t be on this year’s menu. Among the items that will be is grilled boar, rabbit in applesauce, venison chili, mushroom duck and moose salami – to name a few. Desserts consist of bread pudding and alimony pie. Complimentary coffee is served throughout the evening, and a cash bar is also available.

“I’m from South Carolina, and some of the things on the menu are new to me. But when you say fried rabbit, frog legs and hogshead cheese … that’s all me,” said Lowe.

The idea of the wild game supper started with only a handful of hunters at a local warehouse. As the word spread, not to mention the great aromas, the guest list grew to hundreds.

Eventually, the event began to draw some of Bayou Lafourche’s finest cooks giving their entire day to help prepare a dish or two.

It was a large, but private event, hosted by local businessmen. In 1999, the Bradys offered the annual feast to the Larose Regional Park, as a mechanism to develop the parks’ endowment fund.

“I am really looking forward to this event, because these are things my grandfather use to do, like we used to have deer chili,” explained Lowe. “So, I’m really excited to be here for this one.”

But, will the South Carolina native be sampling the more exotic dishes?

“Oh, I’ll try everything,” she said.

A large assortment of animal mounts adorns the civic center at the supper, also donated by local hunters.

Because of regulations prohibiting restaurants or the park from generating revenue from wild game, festival organizers can’t sell tickets at the door, Lowe explained. The event is actually an appreciation supper for individuals making an advance donation to the Larose Regional Park Endowment Fund.

Larose Regional Park’s Wild Game Supper

Where: Larose Civic Center and Park, 307 E. 5th St.

When: Thursday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m. for VIPs, 6:45 p.m. for individuals

Cost: $35 per person; VIP tables for eight or more, $500 (includes complimentry bottle of wine)

To order tickets: Send check to Larose Regional Park Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 1105, Larose, LA 70373. Invitations will be returned via mail. Tickets can also be purchased at the Larose Civic Center. For More Info: (985) 693-7355