History of Vermilion Pralines

The French nobleman du Plessis-Praslin (pralines) was known as a notorious ladies man, who asked his sweet sugary nuts into little parcels marked with his name, so people began to call the sweets Pralines after him chef to come up with an irresistible treat he could present to the women he courted. Originally made with almonds he would put the . It is believed that pralines were brought over from France by the Ursuline nuns, who came to New Orleans in 1727. Among those tutored by the nuns was a young creole slave girl by the name of Catherine Lenore. A petite fair skinned beauty who developed a unique recipe and artistry in making her pralines. She eventually became known as a master Praline chef (later called Pralineres). in the years before the cival war pralines became a delicacy in New Orleans cuisine and Catherine's praline recipe was among the more popular blends. Catherine was purchased by a young slave owner who settled her into plantation life in the town of Abbeville located in Vermilion Parish about a 150 miles west of New Orleans.  It wasn't long before her praline confections became a favorite of her young master and they would stay up late into the evening enjoying them.

An intense, passionate, love affair was kindled between the two centered around the smooth, sweet, creamy goodness of Catherines' pralines. It was two years before the start of the Civil War and while intimacy between  slave women and their masters was common place, love between them was taboo. The war brought on a shortage of almonds traditionally shipped in from France. It was then that Catherine began substituting delicious pecans and the vermilion pecan praline was born.

Catherine's Pralines became a favorite in her master's house hold and were served to guest who would visit. It wasn't long before the confection's reputation caught up with it and gentleman again began using Catherine's tantalizing pralines as a seductive gift to woo young maidens to their affections. Catherine's unique blend became known as Vermilion Pralines. The family praline recipe has been handed down from generation to generation of pralinieres since 1861

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