Pelican Publishing - 100th Anniversary Picks

Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, a New Orleans landmark and celebrated bastion of fine Creole food, has welcomed notable individuals as well as thousands of locals through its doors since opening in 1941. The unquestionable authority in the restaurant’s kitchen for many of those years, Leah Chase offers here a collection of recipes from the menu and her personal files that have delighted patrons for decades.

Spiced with exquisite works from the African American art collection that hangs in the restaurant’s dining room, this cookbook pairs the flavors of Leah Chase’s dishes with anecdotes recounting the restaurant’s traditions, origins of the recipes, and memories. This revised and expanded edition presents even more of the restaurant’s favorite offerings and features a new chapter on drinks. Dooky Chase’s longtime chef and proprietor passed away in 2019, but these pages honor Leah’s legacy through recipes and sentiments that will be forever intertwined with the history of New Orleans.

“Forget Dancer, Prancer, Comet, and Vixen. . . . Good Clement, wherever he is, will not be gnashing his teeth.” —New York Times Book Review

Take the classic story of jolly old St. Nicholas, place it in a Louisiana bayou setting, dress Santa Claus in muskrat “from his head to his foot,” pile his skiff high with toys, and hitch it to eight friendly alligators. The result is this modern classic. Fifty years after its first appearance, Cajun Night Before Christmas® has sold more than one million copies and has served as the model for Pelican’s ongoing, best-selling Night Before Christmas Series.

The Cajun Night Before Christmas® has been a part of Louisiana’s holiday traditions since it was first published in 1973. A delight to both young and old with its rustic full-color illustrations and lively story, it has become a timeless addition to holiday celebrations far beyond south Louisiana, reaching all corners of the country with its charming presentation of Christmas on the bayou and the break-out star of Gaston® the Green-Nosed Alligator.

Conceived by J. B. Kling, Jr., Cajun Night Before Christmas® originally appeared as a Christmas message from Bergeron Plymouth Company of New Orleans. Under the pseudonymous byline “Trosclair,” the story won a Clio Award in 1967 from the Academy of Television and Radio Advertising.

Brought to life by the talented James Rice, the humorous illustrations of a colorful bayou Christmas have been nationally recognized as a classic in its genre.

Featuring eight pages of curated content released from the Pelican archives, this special Fiftieth Anniversary Edition showcases the rich legacy of storytelling within our state and the far reach that a humble (or not so humble!) gator has had on Cajun culture, Louisiana, and the entire country.

The true story of one man's reluctant but relentless war against the invaders of his country.

Winner of the General Nathan Bedford Forrest Southern History Award 

Finalist, History, National Best Books Awards, USA Book News

Jack Hinson never planned to become a deadly sniper.

A quiet, wealthy plantation owner, Jack Hinson watched the start of the Civil War with disinterest. Opposed to secession and a friend to Union and Confederate commanders alike, he did not want a war. After Union soldiers seized and murdered his sons, placing their decapitated heads on the gateposts of his estate, Hinson could remain indifferent no longer. He commissioned a special rifle for long-range accuracy, he took to the woods, and he set out for revenge.

This remarkable biography presents the story of Jack Hinson, a lone Confederate sniper who, at the age of 57, waged a personal war on Grant's army and navy. By the end of the Civil War, the Union had committed infantry and cavalry from nine regiments and a specially equipped amphibious task force of marines to capture Hinson, who was by that time nearly sixty years old. They never caught him. Since then, the story of Jack Hinson has evaded astute historians, and until now, he has remained invisible in the history of sniper warfare.

The result of 15 years of scholarship, this meticulously researched and beautifully written work is the only account of Hinson's life ever recorded and involves an unbelievable cast of characters, including the Earp brothers, Jesse James, and Nathan Bedford Forrest.

In this unprecedented and incredible biography, Lt. Col. Tom C. McKenney masterfully recounts Hinson’s extraordinary feats as a lone Confederate sniper.

"The foremost authority on Puerto Rican cooking is a silver haired, stylish, and warmly hospitable woman named Carmen Aboy Valldejuli . . . [her books] are considered today to be the definitive books on island cooking."
-New York Times

Written entirely in Spanish, Cocina Criolla, the standard reference work on traditional Puerto Rican cooking, is in its 68th priniting and has special appeal to those who enjoy the island's cuisine.

In addition to offering hundreds of delicious recipes, Cocina Criolla includes advice for the inexperienced cook that ranges from suggestions about the most efficient way to read a recipe to suggestions about what kitchen equipment every cook should have.

Cocina Criolla no puede compararse con la generalidad de los libros de cocina. En muchos puntos difiere grandemente de 'stos. Pero por su encaje perfecto en la necesidad actual de literatura culinaria pr'ctica y 'til y por la forma detallada y caracter'stica de sus rectas es, de por s', 'nico en su clase.

Cocina Criolla solucionar' muchas problemas dom'sticos y por lo tanto, est' llamad a ser un libro indespensable en el hogar.

The English edition of this book, Puerto Rican Cookery, is in its 36th printing with more than 167,000 copies in print and is also available from Pelican.

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."

A classic is updated for a new generation!

The history of 613 Rue Royale, the site of New Orleans’ famous Court of Two Sisters restaurant, dates back to 1732—just fourteen years after the founding of the city, when it was the site of the home of Louisiana’s second governor. 

Beginning in 1886, the legendary “two sisters,” for whom the building and courtyard are named, operated a notions shop on the ground floor of the mansion. Located in the very center of “Governor’s Row,” 613 Royal became the focal point of Creole society. In many ways, the romance and history of the largest courtyard in the Vieux Carre epitomize the charm, the ambience, and the lifestyle of “America’s most European city.”

A tribute to the history that has made the restaurant famous throughout the world, the cookbook has been revised and updated with new recipes from the acclaimed kitchens. The history of the courtyard and the French Quarter offers an intriguing background for the recipes that follow—recipes that are Creole-inspired and taste-tested by the discriminating palates of tens of thousands of customers.

Included are many of the recipes demonstrated on Justin Wilson's Louisiana Cookin', seen on PBS. A sprinkling of the distinctive Justin Wilson humor and color photographs featuring Justin displaying his skills in the kitchen and entertaining his friends capture the earthy joie de vivre that followed Justin everywhere.

Get to know one of the most unique cities in the world!

New Orleans is unlike anywhere else on Earth—the fusion of cultures, people, and food all establish a whole greater than its constituent parts. From migration to politics to music to ethnic culture and identity, this comprehensive volume touches on all aspects of New Orleans history for the past 300 years.

With contributions from some of the leading influencers and scholars of New Orleans cultural history, including a foreword by Professor Emeritus Lawrence N. Powell, no stone is left unturned. This is the quintessential book on New Orleans for every history buff, citizen of New Orleans, or visitor wanting to know more about who we are and how we got here.

The Foreword Writer and Contributors

Foreword by Lawrence N. Powell

Professional historian Lawrence N. Powell is the executive director of the National Center for the Urban Community. With a distinguished educational career, he is professor emeritus in Tulane University’s history department. His many books, papers, and articles have earned him extensive awards and accolades from the history community.

Distinguished Contributors and Their Topics

Sally Asher • Street Names	Susan Larson • Literary Heritage
Connie Zeanah Atkinson • Music	Angus Lind • Characters
Patricia Brady • Women	Brobson Lutz • Health
R. Stephanie Bruno • Flora	Ian McNulty • Dining
Robert Cangelosi Jr. • Architecture	John Magill • Disasters
Raphael Cassimere • Black New Orleans	Dominic Massa • News Media
Robert L. Dupont • Politics	Marty Mulé • Sports
Lolis Eric Elie • Second Line Parades	Peter Ricchiuti • Business
John R. Kemp • Art, History	Suzanne Pfefferle Tafur • Ethnicity
Errol Laborde • Celebrations	Dawn Wilson • Education
Richard Campanella • Geography and Environment

Learn your alphabet the New Orleans way! From Audubon Aquarium to Zatarain's, this book features whimsical illustrations of NOLA favorites for all the ABCs. This children's book also serves as a collectible art book for all New Orleans fans.

Young D.J. is going to be a page for the queen of Zulu, the oldest African-American parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

"Full of sly wit and Cajun Spice."
--Scholastic.com

Chosen as a title for use in the Core Curriculum category of folktales and adaptation for grade set 3.5, this series of trickster tales, stemming from African folklore, bears remarkable resemblance to the Deep South's Brer Rabbit tradition. The Louisiana version of Brer Rabbit, Compere Lapin, is a mischief maker determined to get the best of Compere Bouki. In a trio of stories that praises brains over brawn, this rascally rabbit seems to come out ahead no matter what.

The 25th anniversary edition of the classic motivational and self-improvement book that has sold more than 1.6 million copies in hardcover.

For more than three decades, Zig Ziglar, one of the great motivators of our age, has traveled the world, encouraging, uplifting, and inspiring audiences. His groundbreaking best-seller, See You at the Top, remains an authentic American classic. Its basic premise—that you can get everything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want—has guided generations of readers to personal success.

This revised and updated twenty-fifth anniversary edition stresses the importance of honesty, loyalty, faith, integrity, and strong personal character. See You at the Top emphasizes the value of a healthy self-image and shows how to build it. Setting personal goals is an essential part of any program for success. This important book tells you how to set—and achieve—those goals and provides step-by-step instructions on how to change the way you think about yourself and your surroundings.

See You at the Top is widely used by corporations large and small, schools, government agencies, correctional institutions, and sales organizations—wherever motivation and self-improvement are considered major priorities.

“Pass” a good time in Acadiana in this tour of Cajun country and culture! The sights, sounds, and smells of all things Cajun two-step off the page, introduced letter by letter in alphabetical order. From the alligators in the bayou to the stars of the zydeco stage, the food, music, literature, and language unique to the people of southern Louisiana are delightfully rhymed and beautifully illustrated. From the smallest details of daily life to the fantastical “fifolet” of Cajun folklore, the spirit and the spice of Cajun country infuse these pages. Author Rickey Pittman includes maps of Acadiana, a graph showing the concentration of Cajun speakers by parish, and a glossary of terms. On each page, artist Alexis Braud hides a pelican just waiting to be found by emerging readers.

Georg� Porg� ate crab cakes,
saw one move, cried, Heaven's sakes!
When he found out the crab still lived,
His plate, he dropped-his face, he hid.

Merriment and madness reign as king and queen of Carnival in this playful romp around the Crescent City. Mother Goose takes on Metairie, Mid City, the Mississippi, and more in these delightful twists on classic poems. Rhyme down on the bayou with the Mischievous Nutria and three shrimp in a tub. Cheerful illustrations fill this sweet and silly collection, perfect for Who Dats of all ages.

New Orleans seems to occupy a special geography as unique as its spicy cuisine or its spirited jazz music.

Mixing king cake and ABCs is a recipe for every youngster's enjoyment. From "Ash Wednesday" to "baby" to "colors" to "zesty," each page of this alphabet book highlights a different letter with colors that pop, rhymes that explain, and king cake history that delights as a wonderful decadent dessert. Learn together by understanding, reliving, and cherishing the Carnival season.

On Monday, there are red beans to eat, and on Tuesday, po'boys and on it goes throughout the week, each day bringing a unique and tasty Louisiana dish to the table. Based on a song by New Orleans singer/songwriter Johnette Downing, Today Is Monday in Louisiana offers the best of Cajun, Creole, African, and French foods.