Aieee! Crawfest for Therapetics

You’re invited to Crawfest 2009, the biggest Cajun party in town, on Saturday, May 16.

You’re invited to Crawfest 2009, the biggest Cajun party in town, on Saturday, May 16. The event is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hebert’s Specialty Meats, 2101 E. 71st St., the big red house just west of 71st and Lewis. A portion of the proceeds from Crawfest 2009 will support Therapetics Service Dogs of Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization that specializes in training service dogs for Oklahomans with physical disabilities.

A special festival menu features boiled crawfish with corn, potatoes or onion, crawfish boudin, crawfish etouffee, corn maque choux, red beans and rice, cajun sausage sandwiches, and bread pudding with bourbon sauce. Soft drinks and suds will be on hand, too.

The Cajun rhythms of Jr. Hebert and the Maurice Playboys are sure to get toes tapping and people dancing in the parking lot. Kids can once again enjoy crawfish races, as well as the new Jupiter Jump in the children’s play area. There will be plenty of Sno-Cones and popcorn also. For those who don’t mind putting aside their manners and social graces, there’s a crawfish eating contest where you just…suck it up!

From its humble origins as peasant food, this “poor man’s lobster” now boasts celebrity status at festivals throughout the South. Hebert’s owner, “Cajun Ed” Richard, throws the biggest crawfish celebration within hundreds of miles.

During the time this seasonal crustacean is harvested, Hebert’s receives shipments of fresh crawfish every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and offers it daily on the menu. “People can get them live, boiled or cooked. Any way they want crawfish, we’ll have them,” says Cajun Ed.

That includes crawfish on t-shirts, kitchen boards, trays, trivets, salt and pepper shakers, hot mitts, cocktail sauce bowls, and hats, and you can get special cookies stamped in the shape of a crawfish.

If home cooking suits you, Hebert’s features Tulsa’s largest selection of gourmet Cajun spices, herbs and seasonings. Favorites include Louisiana Fish Fry products, Swamp Dust, Zatarain’s and Ball’s Cajun Seasoning. Ed uses these flavorings on shrimp and vegetables as well. You can buy the spices in small cupboard-size containers or by the gallon.

In addition to the delicious food and fun activities enticing you to stop by Crawfest is the added incentive of supporting Therapetics Service Dogs of Oklahoma.

Since 1992, Therapetics has trained more than 30 service and companion dogs for people in the greater Tulsa area and throughout the state. Therapetics dogs are trained to open and close doors, pull a wheelchair, provide balance, turn lights on and off, retrieve dropped items and get help. A few of the dogs will be on hand for you to meet. It can take up to two years and more than $14,000 to train each service dog. Because of generous supporters, Therapetics is able to provide them free of charge to qualified applicants.

Enjoy a whole day of fun with live music, dancing, feasting and raising funds for a worthy cause. Eat in or carry out. Ed says the party will go on rain or shine; if the weather turns bad, they’ll move inside. Crawfest 2009 is Saturday, May 16 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Hebert’s Specialty Meats.

Keep in mind that Cajun Ed and his crew can do catering for weddings, showers, graduations, or any other event. They’ll cook, serve, and clean up while you enjoy your guests.

Regular hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The home of the world-famous turducken and deboned poultry also offers a lunch special from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and café au lait every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. 

For more information, contact

Hebert’s Specialty Meats

www.cajuned.com

About Author Deanna Rebro

Deanna Rebro has worked in the publishing industry 30+ years, including eight years writing for Value News. She has also worked in real estate for the past six years. Deanna graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a B.A. in Journalism. Outside of work, she serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Pet Adoption League. “Every story I write is a learning experience,” she said.