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Trudy (left) and Rene Madere talk about the upcoming Cajun Fest. Photo by Penny Ray
Murphy – It’s been hailed as a “once a year opportunity” to enjoy authentic Cajun cuisine in Cherokee County.
"My family was the pioneer of andouille in this country,” said Rene Madere, co-founder and co-chef of the local Cajun Fest. “My family came from France and brought andouille to Louisiana.”
The sixth annual Cajun Fest takes place this weekend under the pavilion behind St. William Catholic Church on Andrews Road. The parish’s major fundraising event is open from 4-9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Madere started the food festival in 2014 after learning the church needed financial assistance. The two-day event has grossed $15,000 from a weekend of selling plates in the past, and he hopes to help more this year.
“It feels good to know that you have contributed something both physically with money and spiritually through comradeship,” said his wife, Trudy Madere. “We get a lot of people from outside the church who look forward to that and come to this event.”
Rene Madere started cooking Cajun cuisine for groups of people years ago while working as a gasoline blender at an oil refinery in Louisiana.
“My job wasn’t confining, so I could get the food and cook for the shift workers,” he said, adding that he is self-taught. “I’ve always enjoyed cooking. Back when my kids were in school in Louisiana, we used to hold festivals as fundraisers at the school. I could teach culinary schools how to cook.”
Today, Madere has his own smokehouse to make andouille from scratch.
“It’s smoked with white oak,” he said. “If I had known then what I know now, I would’ve opened up a restaurant when I first moved here and retired again with a lot of money.”
Festival patrons will have an opportunity to win cash via a 50/50 raffle, which has raised nearly $6,000 in the past. Half of the proceeds from the raffle will be given to the winner, while the other half will be used to further the church’s mission.
The cash will be awarded at 7 p.m. Saturday. The winner does not have to be present.
The festival will also feature a cake walk, a wine walk and live musical entertainment. Beer and wine will be sold as well.