September 06
Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier Lafayette's Birthday

Michel Le Royer as Gilbert du Motier, Lafayette and Liselotte Pulver as Marie Antoinette in La Fayette (1961)

Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, Lafayette was a French military officer and aristocrat who participated in both the American and French revolutions. Lafayette served in the American Revolutionary War both as a general and as a diplomat, serving entirely without pay in both roles. Lafayette offered his services as an volunteer and presented himself to the Continental Congress who passed a resolution on July 31, 1777, "that his services be accepted, and that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family, and connections, he have the rank and commission of major-general of the United States." The next day, Lafayette met George Washington, who became his lifelong friend.

In the first months of 1778, Lafayette commanded troops detailed for the projected expedition against Canada. After that plan was aborted, Lafayette participated in the campaign in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where he was commended for his retreat from Barren Hill and fought at the Battle of Monmouth. After the signing of a formal Treaty of Alliance between the United States and France on February 6, 1778, prompted by Great Britain to declare war against France. Lafayette asked leave to return to France to consult Louis XVI as to the further direction of his services. Although he spent a total of less than five years in America, he was more admired there than perhaps any other foreign visitor in American history,

Lafayette has been a featured character in a few films and TV productions with some interesting performances by Lambert Wilson in Jefferson in Paris (1995), Sam Neill in La Révolution française (1989, Ike Eisenmann in the TV film The Bastard (1978), and Michel Le Royer in La Fayette (1961).

Lafayette accepted an official invitation to visit the United States in 1824/25 and visited several cities including Fayetteville, North Carolina, the first city to have been named in his honor; St. Louis, Missouri where Lafayette Square Park was named in his honor; and New Orleans where Lafayette Square was renamed to commemorate his visit. There was Lafayette mania in New Orleans during his visit and many dishes were named in his honor and are still featured in many of the popular restaurants.

So to celebrate Lafayette's birthday, we suggest a New Orleans specialty, Shrimp Lafayette, and a watching a DVD of Jefferson in Paris.

Shrimp Lafayette

Ingredients

1&1/4 lbs large shrimp, unpeeled
1&1/2 cups water
1 tsp salt, divided
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 TB butter, melted and divided
2 large bell peppers, chopped

1 large onion, chopped
2 TB hot sauce
4 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
2 TB brown sugar
4 garlic cloves, minced
hot cooked linguine

Instructions

Peel shrimp, reserving the shells. Devein shrimp and set aside.
Combine the shrimp shells, 1 cup water, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Pour the stock through a strainer into a bowl and discard the shells. Reserve 1/4 cup for this recipe.
Cook shrimp in 1 TB butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Remove shrimp from pan, set aside and keep warm.
Cook the bell pepper, onion and in remaining 1 tablespoon butter in pan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in remaining 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper, tomato, brown sugar, hot sauce and garlic; cook for 5 min, stirring occasionally. Add the reserved 1/4 cup shrimp stock and cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the shrimp and cook until mixture is thoroughly heated
Serve over warm linguine.