Marshes to Mansions Awards
2010 Indie Excellence Awards
2010 Mom’s Choice Awards Silver Award
2009 Nashville Book Festival Honorable Mention
2008 Regional South Non-Fiction IPPY Category Award Bronze Medal
2008 DIY Book Festival Cookbook Category Runner-up
2008 USA Book News Award Cookbook Regional Category Finalist
2007 South Regional Tabasco Community Award Winner
2007 ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Cookbook Regional Category Award Finalist
2007 Erick Hoffer Award Finalist

Reviews
Best Dinner Tables!
“One of the great attractions in Lake Charles is that if you get invited or happen to stumble into  someone’s home for dinner, you won’t be disappointed!  While most cookbooks are the inspiration of a single culinary talent, such as a  Wolfgang Puck, Dean Fearing or an  Emeril Lagasse,  Marshes to Mansions is much more than that.  Hosting over 200 contributors, who love to entertain and prepare great meals, Marshes to Mansions opens up the recipe box of generations. These thoroughly tested, easy to follow, authentic, original recipes represent the continuous thread of our community’s gastronomic tradition.  Marshes to Mansions offers the reader an open invitation to the best dinner tables in our town, and you won’t be disappointed!”
-DC FLYNT MW MASTER OF WINE, Lake Charles, LA

More Than a Cookbook!
Marshes to Mansions offers a wealth of recipes reflecting the incomparable cuisine of Southwest Louisiana.  Enjoy a visual and verbal glimpse of our magical part of the country while deciding which of these tempting dishes will be your next meal.  Marshes to Mansions is a triumphant celebration of our heritage and of the place we call home.
-Randy Roach, Mayor, Lake Charles, Louisiana

A Balanced Mix Between Every Day and Entertaining!
Having experienced many Junior League cookbooks in the past, including Pirate’s Pantry from the Junior League of Lake Charles, I was totally surprised by the look of this book. It is a superior presentation-different from the normally bound book. It is easy to read and has interesting facts about our area. The recipes are a balanced mix between every day and entertaining. It is a book that I would be proud to share with others as it truly represents our culture and shows the beauty of our area.
I received a copy of Marshes to Mansions, as a gift, and I feel as though I’ve just returned from South Louisiana! It is not only a beautiful book, it is a great cookbook! The recipes are enticing and delicious (I’ve already started cooking out of it!), the history fascinating, the tips worth noting and the photography extraordinary! I can’t wait to continue my “journey” through Marshes to Mansions! Well done Junior League of Lake Charles, you have a winner!!!
– Anonymous

Delicious and Simple!
The recipes and the tips are just amazing! There is truly a mix of elegant and easy recipes included – in some cases they are one in the same! As if that weren’t enough, there are also such beautifully inspiring pictures that really make me proud to call Southwest Louisiana my home. If you’re not from here, I highly recommend you purchase this book so that you can experience what so many visitors have already discovered – there is no better food made than that made from the recipes of Southern Louisiana. I highly recommend the amazingly simple but delicious Toasted Pecan Clusters made with White Chocolate ** Caution ** they will go fast!
– Allison White, Sulphur, LA

A Beautiful Compilation! A Beautiful Partnership!
The book is a beautiful compilation of what makes south Louisiana special, thanks to our rich heritage and way of life. The Junior League of Lake Charles supports many area projects and we’re proud to partner with them.
– Roy Raftery, President & CEO Cameron State Bank, Lake Charles, Louisiana

A Wonderful Gift!
This is one of the most beautiful cookbooks I have ever seen. Being from the region, I feel that sometimes people do not get an accurate picture of who and what we are. This book tells it beautifully. Not only with wonderful regional recipes, but with beautiful photography and interesting and insightful information.
This would be a wonderful gift for someone not from here who would like to get an idea about the area and the culture of Southwest Louisiana.
– Patricia Duhon, SWLA

The Daily Advertiser:
“Marshes to Mansions: Treasured Recipes of South Louisiana, recently released by the Junior League of Lake Charles, offers several appetizer options. Its Parmesan Puff and Nutty and Fruity Brie add a touch of sophistication for little effort and not a lot of money.
The Parmesan Puff is a creamy, spicy rush served on top of a slightly crisp slice of white bread.
The Nutty and Fruity Brie explodes across the tongue with succulent flavor. Each ingredient can be tasted in every bite, which is a real accomplishment for the strong, creamy nature of Brie.”
Trevis R. Badeaux
The Daily Advertiser
Lafayette Louisiana

The Shreveport Times:
“Lake Charles’ 223-page “Marshes to Mansions,” cookbook, which made its public debut in September 2007, offers a collection of 256 recipes in six chapters. The photography, by Lake Charles veteran photographer Victor Monsour Jr., creates an image of the unique blend of nature, rich heritage and culture of the area. The book’s introduction describes the recipes as “carefully guarded family secrets, both old and new.” This culinary adventure presents an exciting blend of recipes, photographs and stories of south Louisiana….Another ageless cookbook, Lake Charles “Pirate’s Pantry” remains among the best cookbooks in Louisiana history. “Marshes to Mansions” is Lake Charles Junior League’s newest cookbook in more than 30 years.

The mission of the Junior League is to “promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women and improve communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” I’d like to be counted as one of the grateful people of this community for the many caring acts and projects performed by these energetic women.”
Marlyn Monette
The Shreveport Times