By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – A variety of Bayou classics will be available to the public all in place at A Taste of Louisiana on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Oak Mountain State Park’s Lakeside Pavilion.

To help raise money for Louisiana flood victims, the Greater Birmingham LSU Alumni Association is hosting the inaugural event at the pavilion from noon to 3 p.m.

Guests will enjoy food like jambalaya, etouffee, red beans and rice, gumbo, fried catfish, bread pudding and more traditional Louisiana dishes as local chefs and area restaurants offer their favorite Cajun fare.

Then, join the Birmingham Cajun Zydeco Association on the dance floor for high-energy zydeco dancing, which is a partner dance where the follower usually mirrors the steps of the leader.

The benefit event comes after an estimated seven trillion gallons of rainwater—more than four times the amount of water in Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain—were dumped across southern Louisiana in August.

Many families are still trying to recover from the devastation. Ongoing flood relief efforts continue to help families, schools and businesses rebuild, but the need is still great.

Several restaurants in the Greater Birmingham area have committed participating in the event: Boateng’s Cajun Creation, Cajun Cleaver, Cajun Seafood House, Cajun Steamer and Mikey’s Grill.

Everyone is invited to attend. Festival goers do not have to be an LSU graduate or alumnus. For more information about the Birmingham chapter and upcoming events, visit www.lsubirmingham.org.

 Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance by Wednesday, Oct. 26, at LSUbirmingham.org for $25, or the day of the event for $30. Kids 12 and under attend for free.

Got a special Louisiana-inspired recipe you want to cook? Grab your apron and cook it up for the opportunity to earn bragging rights for the best Cajun dish among local chefs. If you or your restaurant would like to participate, contact Kenny Haynes at 613- 5337 or Kdhaynes@haynes-haynes.com