We’d arrived in Downtown Mamou, but despite the weather, we quickly had ourselves a story with Don Secia, the owner of the Krazy Cajun Cafe, whose story goes all the way back to the California coast.
Don grew up in southern California, the son of a professional roller derby skater, Don lived all up and down California before finally settling in the redwoods.
“I lived in the redwoods for ten years and on a vacation to New Orleans, I wanted to go to an LSU game,” says Secia. “It was LSU Auburn a sell out crowd it was everything it was built up to be.”
And it’s no exaggeration to say that the game changed his life.
“I met my wife at that game and 19 years later I’m a CaliCajun.”
He eventually moved to Louisiana, quickly adopting it as his home state and the Purple and Gold.
It’s a football fandom that would serve him well.
“I’ve been in the sports collectibles business for 30 years and so I started collecting LSU stuff and had a few private signing with guys from the past,” says Secia.
A self-described autograph hound, Don’s collections stretch from the current day to blasts from the past.
Some of the items can be found at his Krazy Cajun Cafe along with other mementos from famous visitors.
“I had the pleasure of cooking for Anthony Bourdain and sitting down and talking with him,” says Secia. “He was a great guy and he generated a lot of business for us. People came in wanting the same breakfast Anthony Bourdain had.”
To Mamou’s most famous holiday.
“The first Mardi Gras was in 2000 in Mamou,” says Secia. “My wife wanted to show me the country Mardi Gras and what it was like here in Mamou.”
The holiday is a little different for Don these days.
“It’s a big task you start three months ago planning,” he says. “Planning the menu and purchasing the food because it’s such a large event.”
So as the run makes its way in front of the cafe, don has one night to thank
One Saturday night in Baton Rouge.
We’ll see you next time when we head to St. Landry Parish.
