SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - ArkLaTex Artistry’s Brittney Hazelton sits down with artist Karen La Beau to discuss her new cookbook, ‘A Creole Lady’s Stories & Recipes’, upcoming book signing, and helping artists grow.
Artist and artist consultant, Karen La Beau shares her family heritage through her new cookbook. A signing for her new cookbook will be held on July 22, at The Agora Borealis, 421 Lake Street, Shreveport, La., from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
During the signing event, there will be an artist talk, cooking samples, and a cooking demo.
Karen La Beau
La Beau is originally from New Orleans, but moved to Shreveport following Hurricane Katrina. She has since discovered and built a career as an artist in the Shreveport-Bossier community.
Now, she is sharing her family’s recipes with all of us.
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“I decided to do this cookbook, ”A Creole Lady’s Stories & Recipes", before my mom passed, we talked about it. Our food, history and heritage, coming from New Orleans it’s our love language. We had gatherings every month, and after Katrina, our lives changed and we weren’t all in the same room," says La Beau.
“I wanted to capture those memories, I wanted to capture the cooking lessons my mother gave me, which were things I didn’t realize were lessons growing up,” explained La Beau. “I wanted to have something tangible for my kids.”
La Beau explains that it was challenging at first; she had to figure out what the exact measurements were for the recipes. Most of the food was made with instincts and a connection to their ancestors.
“I will tell you, the challenge was. It’s really true when we say that people cook, and listen to their ancestors tell them when to stop. I didn’t grow up with a measuring cup and a cooking spoon. So, when I decided to do this, I had to figure it out,” explains La Beau. “I had to go in the kitchen and figure out how many cups or whatever.”
Opens in new windowHer father owned his own restaurant, and her mother was a baker at a long-time bakery in New Orleans.
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“What came easy for me was the baking. Like, I love baking. My buttercream scratch frosting is still one to be contended with. But, I didn’t love cooking. I didn’t love it, my mother made my sister and I assigned cooking days. One day a week that we had to figure out what we were cooking, and I hated it,” La Beau explains.
Having a family of her own changed her feelings about cooking. That is when she realized it was a love language.
“I did not love cooking until I had my own family. Then I wanted to express my love. Then as I grew older, I realized it was my mom’s way to express love,” says La Beau. “Cooking is my love language.”
She has since taught her kids some to carry on cooking. Now, she has made this book so that they can continue to grow that skill.
Not only does Karen La Beau cook, but she is a well-known artist in Shreveport-Bossier. Having been part of several exhibitions.
Her style of painting is reminiscent of her history, capturing the memories and significant moments from her life.
“I’ve chosen to tell my story through visual arts. To me, telling my history on canvas is far more interesting than writing it down on paper,” says her statement on her Culturalyst profile, which can be found at culturalyst.com/klabeau.
La Beau is not only an artist, but is also an advocate for other artists. She has worked as an artist ambassador at Shreveport Regional Arts Council and hosts artist support group talks at the Uneedabiscuit gallery in downtown Shreveport and at Bossier Arts Council. She guides artists on the path to becoming professional and helps educate them.
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