Pelican Bestsellers

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"Honey, if cookin' is a chore, then you ain't been doin' it right."--author and Lord Honey chef Jason Smith From Kentucky 'Nanners Foster Waffles to 'Lasses-Glazed Carrots to Sweet Tea and Bourbon Fried Chicken, celebrate the art of "Country Bling" cooking with recipes that will have you digging out the cast-iron skillet and running to the store for some butter. Complete with colorful descriptions, accessible ingredients, simple directions, and helpful tips, this book will teach you everything you need to know about cooking with love. Kentucky born and bred, Lord Honey Chef Jason Smith honors his roots and, at the same time, refashions cherished classics. Enjoy beloved Southern traditions and odes to the homespun--dishes always perfect just the way Granny did it--but with a twist. Some of these recipes have won awards, and others haven't made it to the competition yet, but all of them are just right for a sit-down with family and friends.

"Strange True Stories of Louisiana is Cable's compilation of seven unusual, factual accounts of life and history in the area. They include tales of two French sisters who made the dangerous trek to the unsettled lands of North Louisiana at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Focusing on New Orleans, Cable adds the story of "The 'Haunted House' in Royal Street" and evil socialite Madame LaLaurie, which spurs the imaginations of ghost hunters more than a century after its original writing. There is also a diary account, in its first published form, of a Union woman trapped behind the battle lines during the Civil War.

At the turn of the century, people outside of New Orleans viewed the city through the eyes of journalist and author George Washington Cable. His writings portrayed a tropical European city nestled on the banks of an American river still teeming with the literary, artistic, and social developments of a late Renaissance. In his own romance with Louisiana, Cable came upon many stories written by its denizens. While Cable assisted some authors in finding places to publish their works, there were many stories he kept for himself. Much of this collection can be found in Strange True Stories of Louisiana.

"They are mine by right of discovery," writes Cable. "From various necessities of the case I am sometimes the story-teller, and sometimes, in the reader's interest, have to abridge; but I add no fact and trim naught of value away. Here are no unconfessed 'restorations,' not one. In time, place, circumstance, in every essential feature, I give them as I got them--strange stories that truly happened, all partly, some wholly, in Louisiana."

A miniature book to hang on your tree (hanger provided).

Under a canopy of magnolias and live oaks, bordered by the streets of Jackson, Magazine, Louisiana, and St. Charles, spacious mansions serve as a gallery of fine architecture in a section of New Orleans known as the Garden District. Once home to a grand plantation, the property was sold and divided for residential use more than 150 years ago. Now, where fertile crops once grew, a garden of magnificent houses has come to bloom, representing one of the most characteristic features of the Crescent City.

In his final work, critically acclaimed photographer Paul Malone visits forty-three picturesque landmarks of the Garden District. With historical text provided by his wife, Lee Malone, The Majesty of the Garden District displays these remarkable homes inside and out, with an emphasis on the gracefully decorated interiors. These brilliant full-color photographs capture the history, design, and grandeur of this New Orleans neighborhood.

Among the buildings in this collection are notable homes ranging from Toby's Corner, believed to be the oldest house in the district, to the Edward Davis house, which is now more commonly known as the headquarters of the New Orleans Opera Association's Women's Guild. The Malones even veer from the usual architectural features to focus on some unusual characteristics of the borough such as Christ Church Cathedral, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, and the world famous Commander's Palace restaurant.

The Majesty of the Garden District is the fifth book produced by Paul and Lee Malone. Paul Malone was a portrait photographer and a member of the Professional Photographers of America. Lee Malone is a former manager of the Paul Malone Photography studio in New Orleans. Their delightful collaboration of textual history and color photography has also produced Louisiana Plantation Homes: A Return to Splendor, long known as the premier photographic book of Louisiana's plantation gems and The Majesty of River Road . The Malones completed work on The Majesty of the Garden District just weeks prior to Mr. Malone's death in 1993. This book serves as a fitting tribute to his photography career.

Puerto Rican Cookery has become the standard reference on traditional native cookery (cocina criolla). According to the San Juan Star, "the cookbook is seen and is more likely better read in some homes than the religious tome. . . . [it] is considered a primer for beginning cooks . . . a textbook for home economists and it is a guide for the gourmet as well."

This second cookbook from Leah Chase not only comes with her famous recipes, but it also contains her reflections on life, business, family, and friends. Now in paperback, the collection includes menus for special events.

This lavishly illustrated volume looks at Christmas in New Orleans from its early days to post-Katrina, in the French Quarter, on Canal Street, and in its houses. It also reminisces about local traditions and lore such as snow, bonfires, foods, literature, music, football, and Twelfth Night.

Revealing historical tales of the Southern mystique.,

"From various necessities of the case I am sometimes the story-teller, and sometimes, in the reader's interest, have to abridge; but I add no fact and trim naught of value away. . . . In time, place, circumstance, in every essential feature, I give them as I got them--strange stories that truly happened, all partly, some wholly, in Louisiana."

Featuring seven factual accounts of life and history in the area, this compilation includes tales of French nuns, haunted houses, and even a Union woman trapped behind Civil War battle lines. Cable brings together all the unusual and unique aspects of New Orleans and the South in this literary collection.

Includes raised tombs, ornate statuary, and the alleged grave of voodoo queen Marie Laveau.

This journal recounts the 65-mile journey, during which prisoners had no food, water, or rest. The author survived the POW camps on the Philippine island of Luzon.

Selected from the book by the same title, these framing-quality images evoke the multi-layered architectural history of the five-mile stretch of New Orleans that encompasses a century of architectural styles, including intricate Queen Ann houses, stately Italianate and Richardsonian mansions, and more. This is where the old and new live cheek-by-jowl, where decay is an art form, and where preservation is a way of life.

Photographer Kerri McCaffety's work has won a tremendous outpouring of praise:

"[McCaffety's] photography is flawless and captivating."
-Chere Cohen, Baton Rouge Advocate

"McCaffety captures architectural structures with an unobtrusive and engaging eye, remaining acutely perceptive to light and its consequence of shadow."
-Kyle Norris, ForeWord

"For the reader who enjoys mansions and lavishness . . . also will appeal to those interested in the historic development of New Orleans."
-Reba J. McMellon, The Mississippi Press

Drifting down the bayou the night after Christmas, Boudreau discovers a fat alligator named Pierre, whom he takes home as a pet. The Boudreau children give Pierre their full attention, much to Pierre�s dismay, but in the end, it�s a very happy Cajun night after Christmas all through the year!

Based on exclusive interviews with over 120 groundbreaking musicians, Craig Harris has crafted what feels like the first truly comprehensive history of bluegrass. His research and never-before-seen photos make Bluegrass a new authority on the genre’s strongest influencers. It is arranged chronologically from Bill Monroe in 1927 to the Earls of Leicester today. Highlights include entertaining facts and anecdotes about Flatt & Scruggs, Del McCoury, Doc Watson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and more. Casual readers and mountain-music buffs alike will come away with a rich understanding of the roots and evolution of this uniquely American sound.

From brunch to dessert, these kitchen madams serve up history New Orleans style!

Author and culinary historian Poppy Tooker masterfully combines all the myriad strands that fill the rooms of Tujague's beautifully restored establishment into a whole cloth of foodie lore. As the second oldest restaurant in New Orleans, Tujague's boasts more than a century of fresh Creole cuisine served in the heart of the French Quarter. More than a cookbook, this foray into history combines memorabilia from the restaurant's archives with stunning modern images from New Orleans photographers Sam Hanna and Louis Sahuc. The dramatic story of the successful effort to save the restaurant is included, along with tales of ghostly guests and authentic dishes and drinks celebrating the oldest standup bar in America and the restaurant that created the international tradition of brunch.

From Caf' de R'fugi's, the city's first eatery that later became Antoine's, to Toney's Spaghetti House, Houlihan's, and Bali Hai, this guide recalls restaurants from New Orleans' past. Period photographs provide a glimpse into the history of New Orleans' famous and culturally diverse culinary scene. Recipes offer the reader a chance to try the dishes once served.

A captivating visual guide to New Orleans's history!

Hailed as being one of the most comprehensive collections of photos, paintings, and drawings on its release in 1971, this educational and entertaining selection is now in paperback! From the city's French and Spanish beginnings to American forces fighting off British soldiers in the War of 1812, this is truly a fascinating compilation. These pages chronicle major historical moments along with the architecture, jazz, scandals, duels, cuisine, and fine arts that make New Orleans an amazing city to behold.

On April 27, 1865, the Sultana, a 260-foot, wooden-hulled steamboat, exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee. More than 1,800 men died.

The covers of Cajun Night Before Christmas and Gaston the Green-Nosed Alligator as well as selections from the interiors. Set of 8 notecards with envelopes.

"Set in a Louisiana bayou and told in Cajun dialect-de chirren been nezzle/Good snug on de flo'--the poem has lively illustrations that perfectly suit the unique text."
-Horn Book

"Rice is especially good with facial expressions, whether they are on a Texas jack rabbit, a longhorn steer, a dusty cowboy, or the green and long-nosed alligator named Gaston."
-Library Journal

It's the night before Christmas in a tiny shack on the Louisiana bayou, and Santa Claus, with his eight friendly alligators and toy-laden skiff, is on his way. Written in lively Cajun accents, the best-selling Cajun Night Before Christmas' is a beloved holiday classic. Now, with this innovative coloring book, children of all ages can put their own colorful spin on the story. These brilliant illustrations are sure to inspire some wide Cajun smiles.

Old World recipes, where delicious flavor is the goal and a dollop of love is the most important ingredient. This cookbook contains no calorie counts, carbohydrate statistics, or other nutritional guidelines. Wholly dedicated to good old-fashioned taste, these family recipes'many from the author's grandparents' delicatessen'include everything from knishes to blintzes, with some borscht and kugel thrown in. There are also recipes from celebrities such as Richard Simmons and Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and crowd-pleasers like brisket, chicken wings, and much more.

A winter of recvolutionary cavalry warfare

In the spring of 1862, Confederate troops' lack of infantry men and loss of critical battles forced their commanders to make a bold, strategic change. Using a unique, day-by-day narrative, author Michael R. Bradley recounts how Southern forces utilized horsemen to strike behind enemy lines and complete the most successful mounted operation of the Civil War. Thoroughly detailed, this work relates the daring military pursuits of Confederate commanders Forrest, Wheeler, Van Dorn, and Morgan who were instrumental in leading the South to utilize mobile warfare techniques.

The perfect keepsake of a trip to beautiful, historic Natchez, this delightful postcard book also allows a slice of the antebellum South to be sent to friends and family. Stanton Hall, the headquarters for the world-famous annual Natchez Pilgrimage, and Texada, a brick building that has served as everthing from a tavern to a town meeting hall, are but two of the architectural marvels presented.

For visitors to Natchez, this postcard book will preserve many fond memories and will also allow them to send the essence of the Old South to friends and family unable to visit Natchez themselves.