Chef Carolyn Shelton Offers Demonstration

Chef Carolyn Shelton joined our students in the Café on the morning of February 4th to speak with our students about what they need to do to create a bright future and to demonstrate her Zydeco Crab Cakes. Chef Carolyn has been featured on CNN, BET, and 60 Minutes. She currently resides in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Chef Carolyn was born in Louisiana and grew up in Texas learning how to cook Creole food from her mother who she said was the greatest influence on her life. Her mother made all her children believe that you can attain any goal with hard work and determination. Carolyn started her professional life as a flight attendant traveling the Pacific Rim where she was able to sample the diverse cuisine. Carolyn decided to change careers after working with youth in the Cabrini Green Housing Projects of Chicago, one of the most dangerous projects in the city. Carolyn believed that by teaching etiquette to young men and women this would build self esteem and they could use this foundation to create a successful life for themselves. Carolyn started opening Creole restaurants in Louisiana and worked with youth as an Etiquette Consultant.

Chef Carolyn spoke with our students at our breakfast discussion about her life and the different influences that helped her achieve so much success. She also told our students that the first step to success is to realize their personal value and how they can be positive influences for others. Chef Carolyn prepared her Zydeco Crab Cakes for our students and Café Reconcile’s daily special. They are “Zydeco” because they have some extra pepper and kick to them. As usual the crab cakes were a hot item at lunch. They sold out quickly.

Thank you Chef Carolyn for coming in to teach our students about Creole cuisine and the heights they can reach after our program.

For more information about Chef Carolyn Shelton and her newest cookbook, “Zydeco Blues and Gumbo,” visit her website www.chefcarolynshelton.info.