The Cooks' Day

The arrival of female cooks at Mass to bless their dishes

A day of immersion in the heart of Creole traditions

Every year on August 10, women take power in Guadeloupe to celebrate the richness of Guadeloupe's heritage. Foodies will especially remember the tasty dishes. All those specialties that make your mouth water. All those scents that tickle your nostrils and whet your appetite.

The Guadeloupe Cooks Association

The Chef's Day is much more than that

From generation to generation, they transmit the spirit of fraternity at the origin of their movement. From 14 to 97 years old, just over 200 cooks from the association proudly defend their island identity through their shimmering costumes, their headdresses worn with elegance and pride.

A tradition for a century that began in a surge of solidarity on July 14, 1916.

At the beginning of the last century, a domestic worker lost her husband and was struggling to raise enough money to offer him a decent funeral. Moved by the widow's story, 5 women decide to help her. Organized collection from domestic workers works well. She quickly gave birth to a tontine that took the name of “Le Cuistot Mutuel”. The first mutual insurance company, in Guadeloupe, was thus born. She assures these members of a decent funeral upon their death. Since then, “Les Cuisières” have continued the tradition. They offer their talents during burial ceremonies.

Messe des Cuisières à Pointe à Pitre

True guardians of heritage

These women of character have developed their association to the point of making it a pillar of Guadeloupe's culinary and clothing tradition. True guardians of heritage, they wear with style, on the day of the festival, their traditional costumes and their apron embroidered with the symbol of their patron saint: St Laurent.

Should we see a sense of humor on the part of female cooks in choosing this Patron Saint?

The priest Lorenzo of Rome was condemned to die grilled at the stake. He refused to give the treasures of the church to the prefect of Rome for the maintenance of the emperor's troops. Legend has it that these last words at the stake were:

“Behold, miserable, you have roasted one side; turn the other side over and eat.”

... This earned him the title of Patron Saint of cooks... and roasters!

Portrait of remarkable women: the Cooks of Guadeloupe

The procession: a moment of joy and sharing

After mass, the cooks gather on the cathedral square in front of the cathedral in a colorful festival of madras and headdresses. They get in order for the parade, their arms loaded with authentic Creole dishes, fruit and vegetable baskets and cooking utensils. The president and her deputies are ringing the start with their bells. They announce their arrival at each crossroads and distribute the dishes blessed earlier along the way. The joyful Chef's Day procession crosses the city to the sound of songs and Gwo Ka for a great moment of sharing... tasty little cakes!

Bell from the president of the association

Cook Parade after Mass

The future Cordons Bleus of the Cooks Association

Then it's picnic time. Les Cordons Bleus at the top of their game let them taste their specialties (lunch is not free). A delicious experience of Creole gastronomy! The Chef's Day continues with a ball and ends late at night.

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