Our neighbors invited us to their annual crawfish boil. Wade is from New Orleans, and has been hosting this annual event for the past 8 years.
Neither of us had ever been to a crawfish boil. And neither of us knew the *proper* way to eat a crawfish.
But Wade was sure eager to show us.
He served up 160 lbs of crawfish that day. Plus potatoes, corn on the cob, mushrooms, carrots and lil’ smokies.
It was quite a feast.
We were seated at one of the many newspaper-covered stations, with a roll of paper towels at our disposal, when our lesson in all things crawfish began.
Wade gave us the step-by-step instructions, and if you haven’t eaten crawfish like this before, let me tell you it’s a whole lot of work for such a tiny bit of fish.
Kate had been so excited to go, but the moment she crawled up on her chair and laid eyes on the hundreds of boiled, dead crawfish lying in front of her, it all changed.
A look of terror came over her, and I could see her heart sink.
She said, “Mommy, those have eyes. They are animals, and they have eyes. It’s not nice to eat animals.”
==So that pretty much went over like a fart in church.==
Craig and I took turns enjoying the food while the other wrangled the kids. Less than an hour after our arrival, we headed out.
In search of dinner.
And something a lot easier – and less animal-like – to eat.
I don’t blame Kate…i do not want to look into their eyes and then go ahead and eat them. What a great neighbor you have though!
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Okay, too funny…my favorite line: “that went over like a fart in church” going to have to use that one! LOL
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Oh, how funny!
Although I live near many who have this custom, I’ve just never been into crawfish boils. All my friends would have them for graduation parties and such, and I just never got it!
I must add, though, that Hubs’ aunt really gets into it and sucks the heads. Yes, you read correctly, she sucks the brains out – Isn’t that just gross?!?!
I do like the corn and potatoes with the spicy flavor, though!
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Word-Filled Wednesday: Romans 12:15 =-.
That is so funny. I don’t know if I could eat anything that was looking back at me either.
Mike’s company has a crawfish boil every year. I enjoy the taste of the crawfish, but admit to having a problem with the process of getting the meat out. So I usually stick to the sausage, potatoes and corn. Keegan usually just plays with them. Presley has yet to experience her first crawfish boil. Should be interesting….
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Such great smiles! I’ve never had a crawfish. Perhaps it was the meat to face ratio that threw Kate off.
.-= Kristin Glasbergen´s last blog ..Size Does Matter =-.
Ok, I would have had a great time and loved every bite, but I doubt any one of my kids (all well into their teens) would have been happy to decapitate little shrimpy animals.
However, if I make shrimp scampii….there are injuries on the way to the table.
They think meat comes from grocery stores.
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That sounds like so much fun! Too bad it wasn’t more appealing to the little tykes.
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I would have been with Kate too. I have to completely dis-associate myself with the thought of a live animal in order to eat it… you may have a little vegetarian in the making on your hands there
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Equal parts yum and ick – I know they’re delicious, but I do have trouble eating things with the eyes still attached, so I understand!
That’s exactly why I don’t eat crab…too much work for not enough meat! poor little Kate…I also dont’ like when my food stares back at me!
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Oh what a day; then I forgot my password =-.
Love crawfish! They do look like big red bugs though! Not for the squeamish! Good thing they didn’t like them, it would have worked you to death to get enough to fill them up! That is if you wanted to eat yourself!
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Though it looks like a lot of fun, I’m with Kate on this one!!!
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Hahaha…mommy those have eyes. I don’t blame her though, I don’t like to eat anything that still looks like it did when it was alive. Crawfish are pretty good, but I understand why you went looking for dinner after.
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Aw, you’ve got a vegetarian in the making.
I want to have a friend/husband/mailman who hosts a crawfish boil and invites me!
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160 lbs? How much does that possible cost? Terrifying – like eating something with eyes.
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As much as I love some crabs, I actually have a lot of trouble with crawfish. I feel like I’m not doing it right whenever I eat them. Plus the whole sucking stuff out of the head thing is a bit off-putting.
That sounds like such an awesome event – no need to travel down to New Orleans, it comes to you! And having unsuspectingly gotten fish in a restaurant with heads still attached, I know exactly how your daughter felt.
Yikes!! I don’t blame Kate. I don’t think I could stomach it myself. She is such a sweet little girl. I love her comment about the eyes. I’m not super keen on eating things that still look like what they did when they were alive either. I think you guys are all great troopers though!!
And that was a neat event for your neighbor to throw. I always feel bad in those situations cuz I don’t want to offend anyone, but I have trouble choking down certain foods too. When I went to live in Chile as an exchange student I had told the program heads that I was a vegetarian ahead of time. The family I moved in with had been informed, so I was told.
What I didn’t know was that in Chile to be a vegetarian means you still eat chicken and fish. So my host mother was going through all kinds of contortions to cook up nice chicken and fish dishes I would like. She was super sweet. So that’s when I started eating chicken and fish. I couldn’t help but try and eat everything that she so kindly prepared for me. Turns out I actually even liked some if it quite a bit!
I think it’s a lot more fun if you’re eating them on Bourbon Street in New Orleans! It is so much work and there definitely isn’t much of a payoff. Same reason I’m not a fan of crab.
Did you suck the heads? That’s where all the good stuff is…
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Oh that is too bad. I bet it was fun for even just a little bit.
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Ewwww. Not a seafood fan. Them still having their eyes would totally bother me too. I’m 100% feeling Kate here. Yick. The “fart in church” line cracked me up. I can totally see Jellybean doing that (farting in church that is).
The fact that your neighbor does this, though, is so fun. I wish I had neighbors like that. I’d love to go to/be involved in a block party.
Ah, when we lived in Texas we had friends that were from Lousiana that would have a crawfish boil every year. Anything that takes THAT much work to eat..is not worth it, in my humble opinion. But I’m sure for some, that comment would go over like “a fart in church”.
Thanks for that word picture!
.-= Julie´s last blog ..You Know you’re a mom when…. =-.
Too cute! but too bad! Try them again in a year.
.-= Val´s last blog ..Battle of the Elementary Stars =-.
I don’t think JDaniel would like something with a face on it either. Thanks for stopping by.
Had to take a breather after that “fart in church”! Hadn’t heard that one in awhile!
And crawfish scare the crap out of me with their beady little eyes.
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Nine Days & A Wake Up =-.
I won’t eat anything with eyes. You are a brave girl
. But I’m with your kid on this one…LOL.
I hate going to get togethers like that where you eat but then you leave and your kids are crabby and hungry. We’ve been to a lot of those because my in laws can’t cook and I don’t trust their cleanliness. So we always plan to leave early and get “real” food. Like McDonald’s is cleanly? LOL
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Yeah, you can see how that would be pretty traumatizing to a kid, especially one who wasn’t around it from day one. Ah well you tried.
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I am not a fan of foods that take too much work. I don’t do lobster or chicken wings or anything that causes me to exert myself.
But…. I do LOVE me some crawfish. Also, another rule of the crawfish boil is you have to say it like this, “Crawfish Bawyl.” Like a real Nawlins’ native would do.
And, yes, I suck the heads. I know it sounds ridiculously perverse and disgusting, but it’s where all the flavor is!
Try it next time. I dare you.
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Oh I hear your on this one. What a pain. I liked crawfish when it was done for me, but didn’t enjoy doing it myself.
Poor Kate. You just can’t quite prepare them for that, but on the bright side it does look like quite a fun party and awesome weather. I’m jealous.
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I love shellfish but it’s a lot of work for so little! Bless Kate, it must have been a bit of a shock but it looks like fun!
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I must admit, I’m with Kate on this one!!
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I think craw-fish is better after a few hurricanes (the drink lol) My BFF is from Louisiana and she is always trying to get me to make craw-fish for my family, I have yet to do it!!
Cracking up at this post!
One of our favorite dinners is to cover the table w/newspaper and cook up a pot of crab legs. Crawfish? Yeah, they freak me out too.
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Okay, like others, I love the comment about breaking wind in church. I have used that line many a time, and I laugh at it every time I say it or hear it. It’s so colorful!
I agree with your daughter. Eating stuff with eyes freaks me out! hahaha I prefer my food de-eyed.
Cute pic!
.-= Greta´s last blog ..I think they are up to something… =-.
Aw, I love a good crawfish boil! Yum!
.-= Jennifer @ three pugs & a baby´s last blog ..{ one and done } =-.
You are so stinking funny ~ love the fart in church comment ~ my little girl pretty much hates meat b/c it is from animals ~ I tell her she can give up meat when she is 18 ha ha!
I love how you both handled it as parents, you didnt’ force her. That is the way to do it.
The picture is great, though…
.-= Alexandra´s last blog ..If The Name Is Lame…. =-.
I don’t blame your girl for saying what she did! haha. Sounds like fun! You look super cute! As do your girls and hubby! You’re just an adorable little fam!
Happy weekend girly! xo
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Funny! Love the “fart in church”! I don’t blame you and I’m with Kate on this one. My husband and daughters will eat piles of those things but I’m like…order me a pizza!
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I don’t think I’ve ever eaten crawfish in the shell…. I’ve seen it eaten…. Is it yummy? Do you add old bay?
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I’m siding with Kate on this one. I am not a fan of fish (of any kind, in the shell or out) either.
This is the post that made me grab your button for my blog.
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