A Maison Madeleine Secret Supper is a dinner series where a guest chef prepares a surprise menu inside an 1840s Creole cottage in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. That alone would be enough to make it worth the trip. But as I quickly found out, the food is only part of the story.
The cottage itself was moved from Vermilion Parish to save it from demolition, and today it sits on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s surrounded by huge live oaks and gardens, and there’s plenty of time to wander around and enjoy it all before the dinner bell rings.
What Is a Maison Madeleine Secret Supper?
Secret Suppers happen a few times a year, and no two are the same. About a week before each event, the guest chef is announced, but the menu stays a secret until everyone sits down for dinner. The musicians, artisans, and wine pairings change every time, too, so it’s easy to see why so many people come back.
The Story Behind the Secret Suppers
These suppers actually started because of Anthony Bourdain. He was filming No Reservations at Maison Madeleine in 2011 and joined local chefs and musicians for a crawfish boil on the property. He loved how food, music, and conversation came together and suggested they make it a regular event.
The owners launched the series in 2015, and it still focuses on local chefs, musicians, and traditions.
The Evening Begins
My visit was hosted by the St. Martin Parish Tourism Commission and the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, which gave me a chance to see how one of these suppers actually plays out.
The event starts with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, giving everyone time to wander the property and chat. During our cocktail hour, we were served fresh Louisiana oysters from Barataria Beauties, shucked to order, alongside shrimp and grits.
Live Music and Storytelling
A major highlight was listening to Yvette Landry and Beau Thomas play Cajun, Zydeco, and swamp pop tunes. Beau played fiddle while Yvette sang and played guitar. Between songs, Yvette shared stories about Cajun culture, local music, and the colorful differences between Cajun French and standard French.
Watching a Cajun Tradition
Before dinner, we gathered to watch Brandy Aube hand-forge a t’fer, the traditional metal triangle used in Cajun music. A welder and fabricator for 25 years, Aube started making them after a musician friend suggested she give it a try. It took plenty of trial and error to get the shape and tone right.
She explained that t’fers were historically made from old hay rake tines because that was the scrap steel people had on hand. Today she uses cold-rolled steel instead, which provides a more consistent sound and keeps the instrument from cracking over time. Watching the process was fascinating.
Dinner is Served
When it was time for the main event, owner Walt Adams rang a bell to gather everyone in the dining room. There, we met our guest chef, Madonna Broussard, who revealed the night’s secret menu. Madonna is a James Beard Award semifinalist and the owner of Laura’s Two in Lafayette, home to her famous stuffed turkey wings.
The menu highlighted regional flavors with a Creole tomato salad, crawfish étouffée, fried Louisiana catfish with Creole mustard, and pecan caramel cheesecake finished with a Jean Baptiste rum sauce glaze. Since I don’t eat seafood, she prepared a special meal for me with chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and corn maque choux. Phenomenal!
The Jesus Bar
After dinner, everyone drifted over to the property’s quirky Jesus Bar for one last round. The tiny bar originally came from a neighborhood tavern in New Orleans, complete with a portrait of Jesus hanging above the cash register because, as the story goes, Jesus is always watching.
Over the years, visitors began bringing their own portraits, and eventually a visiting Catholic priest blessed the entire collection. Today, the walls are covered in art, making it one of the best conversation pieces on the property.
Planning Your Visit
If you want to attend a Secret Supper, keep these tips in mind:
- Reserve well in advance, as tickets sell out quickly.
- The guest chef is announced a week out, but the menu is a total surprise.
- Every supper features different talent and menus, making each event unique.
- Plan for a slow, leisurely evening rather than a quick meal.
- Come ready to mingle. Meeting new people is half the fun.
Final Thoughts
The meal was excellent, but the atmosphere, the music, and the history were what made the evening stand out to me. Since every supper features a different mix of artists and local makers, your night won’t look exactly like mine, but that’s the whole appeal. If you’re traveling through South Louisiana, it’s definitely worth adding to your itinerary, and don’t skip the Jesus Bar on your way out.
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