CONRAD RICE MILL - KONRIKO

It is the oldest surviving rice mill in the United States, opened in 1912 by Phillip Conrad and now a listed historic building. Conrad planted his own rice, dried it on the levees, put it in hundred-pound bags and took it to the mill in town, which operated from September through Christmas. As Conrad's business grew considerably, in the 1950s he created his own brand name: Konriko, named after his company, Conrad Rice Company. The rice is still prepared in the traditional way. A very vintage and not very objective slide show, entitled The Cajun Culture, presents in about twenty minutes the life and customs of the country. It's quite amusing, but you won't really hear about the rice culture. In the mill, the guided tour shows you the different varieties of rice (with jambalaya or paella mix, with artichoke, pilaf, brown...), the making of rice cakes and the packaging stage. The house also offers, for example, all kinds of seasonings for cooking as well as brown rice crackers with sesame seeds or onion and garlic flavor, not to mention the famous Bay Island secret sauce that goes wonderfully well with rice dishes. While waiting for the guided tour, in the store, you will be offered a tasting of Konriko rice and other local products, souvenirs and crafts. A very interesting and inexpensive visit!