Maison D'Memoire Bed and Breakfast

Spring 2012 Downtown Alive Concert Series Near our Lafayette Bed and Breakfast

2012-02-22T07:06:00.000-06:00

For 29 years now, Downtown Alive has been Acadiana's premiere concert series. It unites community and culture to create a weekly tradition and celebration in Downtown Lafayette every Fall and Spring. The 2012 Spring Series kicks off March 9 with local legends Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress and with special guest G.G. Shinn. To view photos and find out more information, visit the Downtown Alive Facebook page. This is a free event open to the public, just a short distance from Maison D'Memoire, our romantic Lafayette Bed and Breakfast!

Hawk's Restaurant Opening near our Louisiana Bed and Breakfast!

2012-02-13T09:15:00.001-06:00

For all Hawk's Restaurant fans - You will be pleased to discover that it will open for Crawfish season on February 15, 2012.

Hawk's is world renowned for serving "The best boiled crawfish" and is only open during Crawfish season. They select and grow their own crawfish and purge them, resulting in a rich, savory flavor.

I always tell guests that Hawk's comes with a warning - Once you have had their famous boiled crawfish, you are sure to plan your next visit to our Louisiana bed and breakfast when these tasty mudbugs will be served again!

Hawk's Restaurant is located just a short distance from Maison D'Memoire. Treat your taste buds during your next visit to our bed and breakfast in Louisiana !

Cupid's Add-on Package!

2012-02-07T03:30:00.001-06:00

During the month of February we are offering the Cupid's Add-on Package at our romantic bed and breakfast in Louisiana.

Looking for a perfect Valentine's Day idea? Treat your loved one to:

*Dinner at Chef Roy's, which includes; Tea or Soft Drink, Entree and Dessert
*Dozen Roses
*Wine or Sparkling Juice
*Camille Beckman Love Sprinkles Gift Bag includes; Body Butter, Body Silk and Shower Lather
*Chocolate Covered Strawberries

This romantic package is just $225, which will be added towards the suite of your choice in one of our romantic Louisiana Cottages!

Mardi Gras Calendar of Events For The Acadiana Area

2012-02-02T05:08:00.001-06:00

MARDI GRAS CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2012

FRIDAY NIGHT, PARADE, FEB 10
Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette 6:30 pm

SATURDAY, FEB 11
Krewe des Chiens - Parade for Dogs Downtown, Lafayette Parade at 2 pm, Registration opens at noon, $25 registration fee in advance; $35 day of parade.

Carencro Mardi Gras Parade - 11 am. Starts at Carencro High. Ends by Carencro Community Center.

SUNDAY, FEB 17-19
51^ST Courir de Mardi Gras - Downtown Church point, Friday 5-10:30 pm, Saturday 8:30 am-10:30 pm, Sunday 7 am-4 pm.

Saturday - Children’s Run & Children’s Parade.

Sunday - Adult run & Courir de Mardi Gras Parade. Free admission.

FRIDAY, FEB 17
Eunice Street Dance - 8pm until

SATURDAY, FEB 18
Lafayette Mardi Gras, 6:30 pm Lafayette, Downtown to Cajun Field

Children's Parade - Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette 12:30 pm

Eunice Street Dance - 8pm until

SUNDAY, TUESDAY FEB 19-21
Carnival d' Acadie - Downtown Crowley, Sun 3-10 pm Mon 3-11 pm, Tues 10am-7pm. Carnival celebration with music entertainment, carnival rides, street dancing, festival foods, with traditional parade featuring bands, floats and plenty of beads. Free.

SUNDAY, FEB 19
Eunice Lil Mardi Gras Run.

Children 0-12 years old, run begins at 9 am, parade downtown at 3 pm.

MONDAY, FEB 20
Queen Evangeline's Parade in Lafayette - Downtown to Cajun Field, 6 pm,

TUESDAY, FEB 21
Eunice, late morning music and dancing Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys.

Le Vieux Mardi Gras De Cajuns, Eunice, run begins 8am-3pm parade.

25^th Tee Mamou-Iota Mardi Gras Folklife Festival - Downtown, Iota 9am-5pm.

Mamou Courir de Mardi Gras, street dances begin at 10 am - until riders enter town.

King Gabriel's Parade - Downtown to Cajun Field, Lafayette 10 am.

Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade - Downtown to Cajun Field Lafayette, 1 pm.

Krewe De Mardi Gras Creole Parade - Rayne, 1 pm.

We hope you have the opportunity to enjoy some of these wonderful cultural events near our Bed and Breakfast in Louisiana!

Cajun Extravaganza!

2012-01-30T05:03:00.000-06:00

Looking for a cultural experience in Louisiana? Enjoy the Cajun Extravaganza Package at our Lafayette bed and breakfast!
Includes:
*2 Nights accommodations at our romantic Louisiana getaway.
*2 Tickets for Liberty Theatre (Some black out days do apply.)
Held every Saturday in Eunice from 6-7:30 pm only.
*Swamp tour for two (At least 48 hours notice and requires cell phone number for contact.)
*Fezzo's Cajun Restaurant gift card.
*Lagniappe - Cajun term meaning a little something extra!
Subject to price change without notice.
Cost is $645

Lafayette Events Taking Place

2012-01-16T05:48:00.019-06:00

In addition to the many Louisiana festivals that take place near our Lafayette Bed and Breakfast, there are other fantastic opportunities for experiencing the local culture and flavors of Cajun Country.The Museum at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette is currently displaying beautiful Icons by artists Rev. Rex Broussard & Lynda Mitchell. For more information, contact Jan McNeil at 337-232-1322. Guests who enjoy sports events can watch the Southern Professional Hockey League team, Louisiana IceGators at the Cajundome. Contact Liz Webb at 337-265-2323 for details. These events are both easily reached within a short distance of Maison D'Memoire, our Bed and Breakfast in Louisiana.

Make your Mardi Gras and Courir de Mardi Gras plans now!

2012-01-04T04:18:00.000-06:00

This year Mardi Gras will take place on February 21st! There will be fun filled festivities held on Mardi Gras, as well as the days leading up to this popular festival. Courir de Mardi Gras will be held on Sunday, February 19th in Church Point. Some other events planned are the Carnival d'Acadie in Crowley, the Tee Mamou Iota Mardi Gras Festival and numerous celebrations to enjoy in Lafayette. Festival-goers will enjoy the many colorful costumes, parades, live music and numerous other spectacular festivities. These wonderful cultural events will all take place within a short distance from our Lafayette Bed and Breakfast!

Tastiest Towns of the South

2011-12-22T10:03:00.001-06:00

Lafayette has recently been named among the top 10 "Tastiest Towns in the South" according to the January issue of Southern Living magazine. Readers will determine the winner, so rally around Lafayette and cast your vote from December 23-January 31.
Lafayette is cited for its new breed of homegrown chefs. Southern living will profile each of the towns and reveal the "Tastiest Town in the South" in the April 2012 issue. We hope you have the chance to enjoy some of this famously delicious Acadian cuisine during your stay at our Lafayette Bed and Breakfast!

New Year's Fireworks Display!!!!

2011-12-18T11:43:00.000-06:00

Every year on New Year's Eve at midnight, the community of Rayne has a phenomenal fireworks display! Located just across Interstate 10 from our Romantic Louisiana Cottages, you can enjoy this wonderful display with a five minute trip across the highway, or watch from the comfort of your suite outside on the porch at our Rayne LA Bed and Breakfast for a more limited view.
Wishing everyone a blessed & Happy New Year!!!

Noel Acadien au Village

2011-12-08T14:09:00.000-06:00

Noel Acadien au Village is a wonderful holiday festival happening now, near our Lafayette Bed and Breakfast!

Enjoy the splendor of over a half million lights, nightly entertainment, local cuisine, photos with Santa and kiddie carnival rides. Held December 1-23 from 5:30-9PM nightly. $7 in advance or $9 at the gate. We hope you have the chance to experience this family friendly event during your stay at our Bed and Breakfast in Louisiana.

International Rice Festival

2011-10-17T04:05:00.001-06:00

Guests at Maison D'Memoire are invited to attend the 75th Annual International Rice Festival, held in Crowley, Louisiana. Enjoy this family friendly event from October 20-23! Located just a short distance west of Rayne, this is one of the oldest festivals in Louisiana. Events at the festival will include Family Fun Day, Poster Contest, Cooking Contest, and Children's Day on Friday, October 21 which will include Crowning of a Junior King & Queen along with a Children's Parade. Saturday's events will feature selecting a International Rice Festival Queen and the Grand Parade, along with an Acadian Accordion Contest and Fiddle Contest. Enjoy entertainment Thursday night by Molly Ringwalds, Friday night with Wayne Toups and Saturday by Tracy Lawrence.

Our own granddaughter Emma is competing for the Junior Queen on Friday! Good luck Emma!

Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

2011-09-22T03:51:00.002-06:00

The annual Festivals Acadiens et Creoles will be held on October 14-16, 2011 in the beautiful setting of Girard Park in Lafayette LA. This is a free event just minutes from Maison D'Memoire and is great for the whole family! There will be many activities to enjoy such as: Festival de Musique, Bayou Food Festival, Louisiana Crafts Fair, Louisiana Folk Roots, Culture Sur la Table and La Place des Petits. Enjoy some of the biggest names in Cajun & Zydeco music, cooking demonstrations, activities for the children and Louisiana craft booths including unique handmade items such as pottery, wood, metal gourds and textiles. Experience good music, good food and good times during your stay at our Lafayette Bed and Breakfast!

Roberts Cove Germanfest

2011-09-07T03:51:00.001-06:00

Roberts Cove Germanfest will take place on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday October 2, 2011. This fun event is held just five minutes from MaisonD’Memoire! Visitors can look forward to: Alpenfest Band, German Costumes, Folklore Presentation, Roberts Cove Germanfest Folk Dancers, Antique Farm Equipment & Rice Threshing, Kinder Auftrit (children singing & dancing), German food such as sauerkraut, wurst (sausage), kartoffel (potatoes), zucker platzchen (sugar cookies), and both imported and domestic beers, just to name a few. My personal favorite is the potato stew. Visitors can also enjoy the German Heritage Museum, Gift Shop, Kinderland Games & Activities, Blacksmith Association Demonstrations and more. Check out the schedule of events to find out more information!

The festival will be located at St. Leo's Catholic Church Grounds on Hwy 98, approximately 3 miles from Interstate 10. Why not plan to take your family to this wonderful event during your stay at our Lafayette LA Bed and Breakfast!

Have the time of your life in Cajun Country!

2011-08-26T14:20:00.000-06:00

Looking for a unique cultural experience? Visitors to the Lafayette area enjoy wonderful food, festivals, great toe-tapping Cajun and Creole style music, swamp tours and much, much more! All located here in the heart of Cajun Country close to Maison D'Memoire!
Why not start making your plans to visit our Louisiana Cottages today!

2011 Fall Season of Downtown Alive in Lafayette!

2011-08-16T15:39:00.001-06:00

Every fall & spring, Lafayette kicks off the Downtown Alive event on Friday evenings! This year it begins on September 2 with a local favorite, Nik-L Beer for entertainment. The event offers a great tradition and celebration with free, family-friendly and smoke-free outdoor concerts.
Located in downtown Lafayette, guests can easily reach the festivities within just 20-25 minutes from Maison D'Memoire. The Downtown Alive event provides a good time and great weekly entertainment. The festival starts at 5:30 pm each Friday with a food & beverage concession. The music can be enjoyed from 6-8:30 pm. They have asked attenders to please leave ice chests & pets at home.

September Schedule:
September 2 - Nik-L Beer (Classic Covers & Varietyat Parc International)
September 9 - The Charmaine Neville Band (New Orleans Jazz & Funk at Parc International)
September 16 - TK Hulin, Steve Adams & Smoke with special guest Charlene Howard (Swamp Pop-Parc International)
September 23 - Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys (Cajun/Zydeco-Parc International)
September 30 - Robbie Taylor Three (Rockabilly-Parc Sans Souci)

We hope that you have a chance to enjoy the festivities during your stay at our Lafayette bed and breakfast!

Enjoy a Cajun Acoustic Jam Session Near our Lafayette Bed and Breakfast!

2011-06-16T09:27:00.000-06:00

We love music at Maison D'Memoire and we'd like to tell you where you can find some great Cajun and Creole style music to enjoy with your entire family.

Every Friday evening a different band is featured at Begnaud House in Scott, LA at 6 PM. This heritage visitor's center is a great place to bring the family, meet some wonderful people and enjoy a free concert!

Scott, Louisiana is located a close 10 minutes from our Lafayette Bed and Breakfast, just off Interstate 10. We hope that you have the opportunity to bring your family and pass a good time during your visit to Maison D'Memoire!

A Favorite New Recipe at our Louisiana Bed and Breakfast!

2011-05-25T09:15:00.000-06:00

We love sweets here in Cajun Country and are excited to find new recipes to work into our rotation. This is a new recipe we have been trying out here at Maison D'Memoire and it has been a huge hit. My grandkids love it and it's quick and easy to prepare.

Mississippi Mud Brownies

1 pkg. brownie mix (I used Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge.)
2 large eggs
1/3 c water
1/3 c vegetable oil
1 7 oz. jar marshmallow cream
1 1/4 c frosting ( I used Duncan Hines Creamy Milk Chocolate)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9 inch pan.

Combine brownie mix, eggs, water and oil in large bowl. Stir with spoon until well blended. Spread in pan. Bake for 27-30 minutes.

Spread marshmallow cream gently over hot brownies. Place frosting in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high power for 15-30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Pour frosting over marshmallow cream. Swirl with knife to marbelize.

Cool completely. Cut into bars.

We hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Be sure and let me know how your family likes them!

Downtown is Alive This Spring in Lafayette

2011-05-15T18:13:00.000-06:00

There is something exciting going on in Lafayette this May and early June. Downtown Alive has been happening for 27 years and is continuing every Friday night this spring and fall in downtown Lafayette, just a few miles down the road from our Cajun Country B&B. These free weekly events take place at either Parc International or Parc Sans Souci and are fun for the whole family.

This Spring has seen some amazing acts come through and is still featuring some great events over the next few weeks. On May 20th Grupo Fantasma, an amazing Latin Funk band, are bringing their unique sound to Lafayette. On May 27th Horace Trahan, a renowned Cajun and Zydeco artist is visiting and the final show of the Spring season on June 3rd stars Yvette Landry, a fantastic multi-instrumentalist.

Book a stay at our Romantic Louisiana Cottages in nearby Ranye, LA, and catch all the fun this Spring in Lafayette!

Exciting Packages at our Cajun Country Cottages

2011-04-19T14:51:00.001-06:00

There is so much for guests at our bed and breakfast in Rayne, LA to do this Spring. The crawfish are in season down at Hawk's and at the Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge, May 6-8th. The festival spirit is upon us with start of Festival International de Louisiane on April 27th, and it's always a great time to a experience a real Cajun Swamp Tour. With all the excitement going on around us, we wanted to make sure that guests were aware of some special offerings this Spring when they book a romantic Cajun retreat.

Our Mother's Day Package is perfect for the most important woman in your life. She will be pampered with chocolate covered strawberries, a dozen roses, a Candles gift basket, souvenir fluted signature wine glasses, 2 gourmet cupcakes, and a bottle of wine upon arrival. This can be added to any room reservation on her special day.

Or if you are feeling a little more adventurous, check out our Cajun Extravaganza. This exciting package includes 2 nights accommodation, 2 show tickets to the Liberty Theatre, a swamp tour for 2, a restaurant gift card for delicious Cajun cuisine at Fezzo's, and a special parting gift.

We'll be back soon to tell you about some exciting goings on here in Louisiana's Cajun Country!

Announcing the Seasonal Opening of Hawks Crawfish Restaurant in Rayne, LA!

2011-04-08T07:04:00.001-06:00

Hawks Restaurant is only open during Crawfish season and that special time of the year is now upon us. The masters at Hawks are world renowned for purging their Crawfish to make them clean and delicious! This process involves select live, hand graded Crawfish and placing them in a "live well," where they go through a slow moving current of fresh, aerated water for up to a 24 hour period. This process produces one of the cleanest, and for my vote, most flavorful Crawfish around. Hawks has been a favorite spot for guests staying at our Romantic Louisiana Cottages for years now. I always tell guests it comes with an important warning; Once you've tried them, you will have to come back again for every new season at Hawks. They are the best kind of addictive!

Hawks is located approximately 5 miles down the road from our Rayne Bed and Breakfast on Hwy 98. The hours to delight in this regional treat are Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 5-9 PM and Friday & Saturday 5-10 PM. It is only open until end of May or June so don't delay any longer!

25th Anniversary of the Festival International de Louisiane

2011-04-01T14:01:00.001-06:00

Don't miss out on one of the premier events in all of Louisiana this Spring. From April 27th through May 1st in the historic nearby town of Lafayette, travelers will be coming from near and far to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Festival International de Louisiane! We are excited for all of the guests of our Louisiana B&B to come out and enjoy the rhythms of this unique festival right in the center of Downtown Lafayette.

The exciting and vibrant Festival International, which began in 1986, is the largest French speaking festival in the United States and features live music, dancing, authentic cuisine, storytelling, visual arts, cooking demonstrations and so much more. Just a short drive from our romantic Cajun Country bed and breakfast, the spirit of Lafayette comes alive during the last week of April.

The music and food are at the heart of this festival and you are invited to immerse yourself in this wonderful world. The many performances over the week will include an exciting assortment of music from the French-speaking world including calypso, folk song, Cajun waltzes, creole fiddling, reggae, zydeco, and New Orleans R&B. Delight your palette with authentic flavors and spices from countless food vendors. Crawfish, jambalaya, po' boys, gumbo, grilled shrimp, & delectable pastries are just some of the choices you will find lining the streets during the annual celebration.

Make sure the opportunity to experience this amazing festival doesn't pass you by! Come stay at our romantic inn in Rayne, LA and see what has everyone in Lafayette has been enjoying for the last 25 years.

Welcome to the Maison D'Memoire Blog

2011-03-16T11:31:00.042-06:00

Greetings! Welcome to the official blog for Maison D'Memoire, our Rayne, LA bed and breakfast featuring romantic Louisiana cottages in the heart of Cajun Country.

We are excited to use this opportunity to keep guests, old and new, informed of all the amazing events going on throughout the year in nearby Lafayette and Cajun Country.

We will be posting updates, new specials, exciting area activities, favorite recipes, pictures and more to let all of our amazing visitors know what is happening at our Louisiana bed and breakfast throughout the year.

Welcome one and all, and we look forward to your next visit!