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WHITE BEANS OR RED: Last week I asked whether cooking red beans and rice on Monday was/is a custom in St. James Parish or is our custom to have white beans and rice on Monday? Judging from the comments and responses, Vacherie people eat white beans on Monday and red beans later in the week. Susan Bourgeois Hotard, daughter of Mr. Ellis Bourgeois, the owner of the Service Inn Restaurant, which was located on the north side of the railroad tracks on Hwy. 20, called to tell me of their weekly menu. According to Susan, the Monday meal consisted of white beans and rice, fresh sausage and coleslaw. Red beans and rice, fried chicken and candied yams were the Wednesday fare. Spaghetti and meatballs were served on another day, likely Tuesday. Beef stew, rice and buttered bread was another day and on Friday were shrimp stew and fried fish. Service Inn had great cooks. Edna Mae Smith, Margaret Williams and Jean Carey were exceptional at their craft and Mildred Harris was on task as the dining room manager. Ora Belle F. Simon worked there for years, as did Ina Clare Falgoust and her sister Annette F. Gauthreaux. There were many more great personalities who mixed the best drinks, worked the front register and cooked the food we all loved. Many people ate at the Service Inn over the years. Let’s not forget the barbershop right inside the next door.