You can always count on Louisiana to throw an epic festival, the bigger the better. If that’s the motto, then this particular festival fits right in. Every November, the town of Abbeville brings out all the stops to create a massive, 5,000-egg omelet that’s easily the most enormous you’ve ever seen.
While we know “omelette” is the British spelling and “omelet” is the American spelling, the festival prefers the British spelling, so that’s how we’ll spell it in this article.
Before we get into the festival, let’s look at the history.
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook As the legend goes, as Napoleon and his army were riding through southern France, they stopped for a night in the town of Bessieres. A local innkeeper prepared an omelette for him, and he was so impressed with it that he ordered all of the eggs in the town to be used to make a giant omelette for his army. It then morphed into a tradition that continues today.
There are actually several cities around the world that celebrate this tradition.
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook Bessieres, France; Frejus, France; Dumbea, New Caledonia; Granby in Quebec, Canada; Malmedy, Belgium, and Pigue, Argentina each hold their own omelette festivals.
Every year, representatives from each of these cities arrive in Abbeville to be knighted as chevaliers (chefs), and they help prepare the omelette.
It takes a lot of time to crack 5,000 eggs.
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook Most of the prep work takes place the day before. They actually crack 5,000 eggs plus an additional egg for every year that the festival has taken place. For 2022, they’ll actually be cracking 5,038 eggs, since the festival is in its 38th season.
When this many eggs are involved, you break out some unique kitchen utensils…
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook It’s the easiest way to get them scrambled.
There’s more than just eggs to prep, though.
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook Here’s a quick ingredient list of what goes into the omelette:
50 lbs. onions
75 bell peppers
4 gallons onion tops
2 gallons parsley
1 1/2 gallons cooking oil
6 1/2 gallons milk
52 lbs. butter
3 boxes salt
2 boxes black pepper
15 lbs of Louisiana crawfish tails
TABASCO® Pepper Sauce
The omelette is served with a slice of bread from Poupart Bakery, one of the only authentic French bakeries in this part of Louisiana.
Once everything has been prepped, it’s time to get cooking!
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook A massive oven is created in the middle of the street, and the chefs get to work. The cooking process is pretty quick!
Once it’s ready, it’s plated up and everyone can eat.
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook
There will be an arts and crafts market plus live entertainment throughout the two-day festival, so bring the whole family out for this family-friendly festival!
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook Mark your calendars: the festival takes place November 5-6, 2022!
For more information, visit the festival’s Giant Omelette Celebration website.
Giant Omelette Celebration/Facebook
As the legend goes, as Napoleon and his army were riding through southern France, they stopped for a night in the town of Bessieres. A local innkeeper prepared an omelette for him, and he was so impressed with it that he ordered all of the eggs in the town to be used to make a giant omelette for his army. It then morphed into a tradition that continues today.
Bessieres, France; Frejus, France; Dumbea, New Caledonia; Granby in Quebec, Canada; Malmedy, Belgium, and Pigue, Argentina each hold their own omelette festivals.
Every year, representatives from each of these cities arrive in Abbeville to be knighted as chevaliers (chefs), and they help prepare the omelette.
Most of the prep work takes place the day before. They actually crack 5,000 eggs plus an additional egg for every year that the festival has taken place. For 2022, they’ll actually be cracking 5,038 eggs, since the festival is in its 38th season.
It’s the easiest way to get them scrambled.
Here’s a quick ingredient list of what goes into the omelette:
50 lbs. onions
75 bell peppers
4 gallons onion tops
2 gallons parsley
1 1/2 gallons cooking oil
6 1/2 gallons milk
52 lbs. butter
3 boxes salt
2 boxes black pepper
15 lbs of Louisiana crawfish tails
TABASCO® Pepper Sauce
The omelette is served with a slice of bread from Poupart Bakery, one of the only authentic French bakeries in this part of Louisiana.
A massive oven is created in the middle of the street, and the chefs get to work. The cooking process is pretty quick!
Mark your calendars: the festival takes place November 5-6, 2022!
While you’re nearby, swing by Palmetto Island State Park, one of the most beautiful state parks in Louisiana.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Abbeville, LA 70510, USA
