What it means to be Cajun

Being Cajun isn’t something you just claim, it’s something you live.

I can make a gumbo, I can make a roux, and I’ve field-dressed and cooked just about everything that swims, crawls, flies, and walks in the Atchafalaya Basin.

Every experience, every meal, every story adds another chapter to the life I’ve built.

This week, I find myself back in Granbury, Texas.

I had coffee with the mayor this morning, we talked about AI, construction, and my choice of Rice over Northwestern.

Funny enough, I’ve seen the mayor at least 15 times in the past three months, but today was the first time we officially met.

And today, the mayor of Granbury met the Cajun contractor who’s been working in his town all this time.

Being from South Louisiana, I learned three things early:
1. How to cook
2. How to tell a damn good story
3. How to work hard.

I love my Cajun accent because it always makes people pause

“Where’s this guy from?”

Then they hear about my roots at UL Lafayette (not the purple tigers, no offense, LSU),

my move to Houston (bigger and better than all other Texas cities, just saying),

and my time at Rice University.

Put all that together, and people start thinking… is this guy for real?

Now, back to the picture.

Growing up in South Louisiana, we always ate well, and I learned to cook at a young age.

No offense to the restaurants in Granbury, but my crew prefers my cooking.

Last night was Chinese food, Cajun style.

Sharing a meal together is more than just eating, it builds camaraderie, trust, and a damn good story.

I know I ask a lot of my crew, having them out here for weeks at a time.

I also know that every night, they call home, just like I do.

And part of me hopes that in those calls, they tell their families about the meals we share, that maybe their wives feel a little more at ease knowing that I’m doing my best to take care of my team.

At the end of the day, I learned these values young:

1. Be good to people
2. Never turn down a cup of coffee
3. Always make the meal memorable.

PS: How do you integrate your heritage with your business?