Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Cajun humorist and chef Justin Wilson, host of 'Cookin' Cajun' and other shows, dead at 87
AP | September 6, 2001

Posted on 09/06/2001 7:34:30 AM PDT by HAL9000

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Justin Wilson, the Cajun humorist and chef whose distinctive accent delighted viewers of his "Cookin' Cajun'' television show, has died. He was 87.

His daughter Sarah Sue Easterly said Wilson died Wednesday in Baton Rouge. She would not give details but said more information would be released later Thursday.

Over Wilson's career, he released five cookbooks, 27 albums of short stories and an album of Christmas songs. He was host of several cooking programs, including "Louisiana Cookin'.''

He referred to himself as JOOS-tain and became known for the expression: "I ga-ron-tee!'' (guarantee), from the Cajun "J'vous garantis.''

"Cajun cooking is the ability to take what you have and create a good dish and season it right,'' Wilson told The Associated Press in 1990.

"It isn't all that hard, but so few people know how to take what they have and put it together and season it properly,'' he said. "It's creative cooking -- that's all it is.''

"I am a gourmet, but I am more of a gourmand,'' he explained. "A gourmet is somebody that's an epicurean. But a gourmand is somebody that's a P-I-G hog and that's what I am.''

A native of Amite, La., Wilson had lived in Summit, Miss., for about six years, his daughter said.

His last syndicated series of shows was titled "Easy Cooking.''

Wilson called himself a "half-bleed'' Cajun. His father was Louisiana's commissioner of agriculture for 32 years, and his mother, Olivet, was Louisiana French. She taught him how to cook.

"She was a great improviser,'' Wilson said. "She'd cook a dish and we'd go 'Mama, w'at's this here, hanh?' And she'd say, 'Children, that's a mus-go. It mus' go down yo' t'roat.'''

Some Cajuns found his fractured language annoying, but Wilson insisted he didn't mean to ridicule. He said his critics were "people who take themselves too seriously.''

Originally a safety engineer, he was inspired to pursue a career in public speaking after he met Will Rogers in the 1930s.

"He told me always to tell 'em clean, and always tell your audience something serious -- or they'll think you're a complete fool,'' he recalled.

Survivors include three daughters.

Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: HAL9000
This is a sad day for me.

When my husband was alive we both would sit and watch The Cajun Cook. If you knew my husband you would know he could not boil water and cared very little for learning how to cook but watching The Cajun Cook made him take an interest in things going on in the kitchen (besides me of course)

It is indeed a sad day for me. GA Lady

21 posted on 09/06/2001 8:19:57 AM PDT by dwhite (Lady from GA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free State Four
My grandpa LOVED Justin Wilson and had several of his records which I got to hear every time I went to visit. I hope he's still able to hunt with his huntin' dog Phideaux(Fido) and drive around in his pickin' up truck(country cadillac), at least 4 or 3 miles. God rest!
22 posted on 09/06/2001 8:21:44 AM PDT by ModestoMama
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
"I remember Justin Wilson's comedy records from the 60s and 70s."

Then you must remember 'Moose turd pie.' The funniest bit if ever heard. My father would just gasp from laughing so hard.

23 posted on 09/06/2001 8:22:19 AM PDT by nimc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
Thanks for the laughs, Justin.
24 posted on 09/06/2001 8:29:06 AM PDT by T. Buzzard Trueblood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
What a loss for those of us who love cooking and for his family! He will be missed, but think of the cookin' going on in Heaven today!
25 posted on 09/06/2001 8:30:51 AM PDT by ladyinred
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
Au revoir, mon ami! Je suis inconsolable. Et maintenant, dans ton honor, Laissez-les bon temps roulez. (Que the upbeat dixieland band)

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic!)

26 posted on 09/06/2001 8:31:19 AM PDT by LonePalm (Le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
"The Lord will be enjoying Crawdads, beans and rice, and a long funny story for lunch today. Godspeed, Justin."

For some reason, "Judgement Day" comes to mind.

27 posted on 09/06/2001 8:35:12 AM PDT by TEXASPROUD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
But wasn't it later shown that he was not even "Cajun"?

He was from Texas, but one of his parents was a cajun. An' mais, I tell you one ting; you got yo'self one pah'ent dat's a coon ass, den YOU a coon ass too. Once you get a little cajun spice in yah blood, yah ain't gettin' it out.

28 posted on 09/06/2001 8:35:39 AM PDT by geaux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: LoanPalm
Indeed, a southern icon has passed.

Rest in peace, Ju-stan.

29 posted on 09/06/2001 8:37:01 AM PDT by dtel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
Oh My, no no. This is like loosing a frien'. Justin was a true pioneer in more ways than one. He was one of the first along with Brother Dave Gardner to bring out comedy records. The later he cleaned up with the cooking shows. Not many of us folks would watch Julia Child or Graham Kerr, but we'd sure as Hell watch Justin and drool all the way through his thirty minutes, and laugh at his stories even if we heard it all before.

My wife and her family knew Justin and he was a true Southern Gentleman and never a put on. In other words he was jes' folks. He could also be called the Firsr Ambasador of Arcadia. Millions of Americans would have never known a Cajon if it wasnt for Mr. Wilson. Later today, I think I'll drink a pearl pop witht he foam on top in his honor. God bless his soul.

30 posted on 09/06/2001 8:44:08 AM PDT by oyez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
I assume this is the guy... If i am wrong, sorry.


31 posted on 09/06/2001 8:58:37 AM PDT by Phantom Lord
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Sorry, Cajun.
32 posted on 09/06/2001 8:59:32 AM PDT by oyez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000

www.justinwilson.com

33 posted on 09/06/2001 9:01:10 AM PDT by HAL9000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bio
http://www.justinwilson.com/biography.html
34 posted on 09/06/2001 9:08:14 AM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
The world just became a little grayer.
35 posted on 09/06/2001 9:10:09 AM PDT by Valin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
Justin was around a long time, and I, too, had read that he was from New Jersey. As I remember it, his Cajun "act" was his most successful public speaking device. At any rate, in my heart, Justin Wilson could be whatever he wanted to be. One of his earliest comedy records about duck hunting was repeated endlessly by southern boys "from Canada to Mexico." Justin, refering to a double barrel shotgun, "Boudreau pick up his twice-barrel carbine and shot all dem ducks flying in a group all by dem selves."
36 posted on 09/06/2001 9:14:17 AM PDT by billhilly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: billhilly
his twice-barrel carbine

Thats a two hole gun. I prefer an aromatic.

37 posted on 09/06/2001 9:48:08 AM PDT by oyez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: nimc
The only one I remember, sad to say, is about the little boy stuck at the back of a very crowded elevator. Suddenly a very large woman lets out a blood-curdling scream.

The little boy is heard to say "I did it, I did it, I did it! She stuck it in my face, and I bit it!"

38 posted on 09/06/2001 9:54:04 AM PDT by Illbay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: oyez
Brother Dave Gardner! Now THAT'S a name I ain't heard in a LONG time!

My dad used to have all HIS records, and we'd listen to him pontificate about Elvis and Billy Craham, and so on. Pretty funny stuff.

39 posted on 09/06/2001 9:55:47 AM PDT by Illbay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: HAL9000
The world has lost a good man with the loss of Justin Wilson. May he rest in peace and laugh with the angels.
40 posted on 09/06/2001 10:01:54 AM PDT by DeckTheHallsHolly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson