“Squirrel with Apple” © Gavin Spencer, RGBStock.com

During my great “swamp artist” adventure (aka midlife crisis) in Louisiana a few years back, one of my close friends planned a visit from Texas. I met Willem Overwijk several years back when he was new in Houston by way of Amsterdam.

Recruited to the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Overwijk’s specific area of proficiency, in layman’s terms, is cancer immunotherapy and vaccines research, tumor immunology, with specific emphasis how immune cells can be manipulated to destroy cancer. It’s wildly complex, technical, intellectual, and important. At any rate, he is tall and handsome, gregarious, exceedingly meticulous, a bit eccentric, and spiritual—he meditates daily and he is a devoted vegetarian.

I once threw a dinner party in Houston where I served chicken & sausage gumbo as the main course; Willem was a guest and I attempted to create a separate vegetarian gumbo for him. My ingredients were fresh, my technique seemed sound, but without the proper greases and fats comingling with the spices, it just did not turn out—it was terrible! But Willem gladly ate it. And while he gave me kudos for trying I still felt awful as a host.

My TroysArt entry last Thursday about Amy Guidry (See TroysArt “Artist Amy Guidry” August 7, 2014) reminded me about difficulties for vegetarians in Louisiana.   And we can all imagine how problematic it can be to find vegetarian cuisine in Louisiana—even fresh vegetable dishes start with bacon grease. So as Willem’s excursion to Jeff Davis Parish grew near I lamented how restrictive our choice of restaurants for vegetarian fare would be.

“Hell, I’ll cook for you boys,” my father offered.

“Willem is a vegetarian,” I reiterated.

“I know. So no beef, no pork chops, no chicken.”

“And no shrimp or fish either,” I added.

“I can handle it,” he assured. “Go to your party and I’ll have dinner ready when y’all get back.” And given the breadth of his garden I had little doubt that he was up for the challenge.

Willem Overwijk, left

Downtown Lafayette hosts an Art Walk the second Saturday of each month. Art galleries, museums, antique shops, boutiques, cafes, and bars along Jefferson Street are open for the evening of revelry. Street performers and musicians entertain as the crowd explores from one place to the next. I think I had a couple paintings up in the exhibit at Gallery 549.

Lake Charles’ glamazon Terry Donovan joined Willem and me for the jaunt to Lafayette. We started with a martini then ambled in and out of exhibits for hours. By the time we got back to Jennings we were famished.

Dad’s own group of VIPs were assembled on his back patio, drinking, smoking, and generally yucking it up. We crossed the gathering, up the porch, and at the kitchen door were greeted by a most delicious aroma. I was impressed, and a bit relieved.

Terry exclaimed, “Oh, Eddie that smells wonderful!”

“Yes it does,” I agreed. “What’d you cook?”

Father answered, “Squirrel.”

I was mortified. But then again, squirrel was not on my list of prohibited protiens.   I should know that in dealing with old Cajuns one should never assume mutual understanding. I expected a smorgasbord of Creole style squash, beans, okra, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, rice… almost anything but tree rat.

Terry and I poured a few big glasses of wine and shamelessly served ourselves heaping bowls of squirrel over rice; Willem had a bowl of white rice and a slice of yellow cheese. Once again my skill as a host to a VIP vegetarian was tested and I once again failed.

Next time you’re in a vegetarian restaurant order the squirrel; the expression on your server’s face will likely mimic mine when I heard it.

As an addendum:  Upon father’s learning of this post he wanted it known, “But I put a lot of vegetables in that!”  He also added that squirrels are low in fat… he obviously still has no concept what a vegetarian is!

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center