Taste of Vermilion 2009

Calvin Broussard (left) and Kenneth Broussard of Caffe Maria’s stir their dishes.

Chris Rosa

Buy photo reprints

By Chris Rosa

The taste buds were buzzing Tuesday night at Magdalen Place.

The reason they were buzzing was that Taste of Vermilion, a Chamber of Commerce fund-raiser, took place. Each person who attended was able to sample dishes.

A combination of restaurants and caterers gathered in Magdalen Place and prepared some of their best dishes, while others used the event as a way to try out new dishes.

There were gumbo dishes, a beef and vegetable soup, shrimp and egg stew, crawfish pies, desserts and a stuffed jalapeno pepper wrapped with bacon just to name a few.

For some chefs, this was their first Taste of Vermilion, but some were regulars.

Darlyn Bush, owner of Darlyn’s Courtyard located downtown Abbeville, is one of two first-time restaurants to participate in the fund- raiser.

“I am a new member to the Chamber, and I was invited as a way to expose the business,” Bush said. It gave me a chance to show people what we have to offer.”

One of her biggest decisions on the night was trying to decide what to cook. “It was a hard decision to decide because we probably have six or seven specialty soups, including gumbo.”

The new kid on the block who had everyone buzzing about his Mexican food last year was Manuel Rodriguez, owner of Azul Tequila Mexican Restaurant in Abbeville. He said attending the Chamber event with his food last year brought him extra business days later.

“The purpose is to bring in more business,” Rodriguez said. “Eighty percent of the people who are here, have now eaten at the restaurant. Before last year, many had not eaten there.”

Another newcomer who had everyone buzzing about its food was Caffé Maria’s, a restaurant that has now been open for almost a year.

The chefs cooked shrimp and egg stew, along with a chicken casserole. The shrimp and egg stew was a big hit with Chamber members.

“One guy came back two and three times,” Chef Calvin Broussard said. “When you hear that, that means someone is paying attention to your cooking.”

Jody Hebert, owner of Dupuy’s Oyster Bar in Abbeville, has been taking part in the fund-raiser since it began. “This is a way to get my product out. It is a great advertisement.”

Hebert had his restaurant prepare shrimp and okra gumbo. “It is a good time of the year for gumbo.”

Bryan Rush, co-owner of Riverfront Restaurant in Abbeville, likes to try new food at the Taste of Vermilion. He brought crawfish cakes with a cream sauce.

“We try new things out,” said Rush.

Restaurants attending the fund-raiser were: Quizno’s, Rachel’s Sweet Shop, Riverfront, Shucks, Community Coffee, Rachel’s Sweet Shop, Azul Tequila Mexican Restaurant, Caffe Maria, Chef Bobby and Dot Breaux, Darlyn Courtyard, Dupuy’s Oyster Bar and LaReve Catering.