Abbeville's Giant Omelette Celebration has foreign help

It is no surprise that the Giant Omelette Celebration attracts people from all over Louisiana. But what many people do not know is that the Giant Omelette Celebration brings people from all over the world.
On Sunday, there were 11 foreign visitors in Abbeville from countries that also have Omelette Celebrations.
They came from Argentina, Canada, and Belgium. While in Abbeville, they are housed and entertained by members of Abbeville’s Confrerrie.
Many of them, have been to Abbeville more than once.
Gaby Schleck of Belgium has been to Abbeville’s Omelette Celebration five times. She is the lone representative from Belgium.
“It’s fun, fun to come to Abbeville,” said Schleck. “I enjoy coming to Abbeville because of the people. We are like family.”
Schleck, who is a chef by trade, will stay in Abbeville for a week. She arrived this Friday and will be here all week. She is staying with the Gene Sellers’ family in Abbeville.
There are a lot of similarities to how Abbeville and Belgium celebrate the cooking of the eggs. Abbeville cooks 5,030 eggs and throws in crawfish. Belgium cooks 10,000 eggs and throws in bacon.
Abbeville cooks the 5,030 eggs once and then hands out the eggs to the spectators. Belgium, on the other hand, cooks 5,000 eggs and then another 5,000 eggs. They also distribute to the crowds for free.
In Belgium, there is a person who sports around in a chicken costume during the celebration. Schleck elects not to wear a chef hat because her skin needs protection from the sun, so she wears a straw hat.
As for as the taste of the omelettes she has tasted in France, Belgium or Quebec, they almost taste the same because it’s cooked eggs. What makes the Omelette taste different are the ingredients added to the eggs, said Schleck.
Francois and his wife, Diane, are from Granby, Quebec. They are no strangers to Abbeville after traveling here three times to attend the Giant Omelette Celebration.
“The Omelette Celebration is a reason to come,” said Maheu. “They could serve hamburgers, and we would be here. It is a reason to go around the world and meet people. You don’t stay in a hotel because it’s a rule. You stay with the family and become a family member. You learn so much, and it is fun.”
Maheu said families from Abbeville have stayed with them while attending Canada’s Omelette Celebration. Abbeville families were able to learn a different culture by living with Maheu’s family.
Maheu said in Granby, they crack all 15,000 eggs which take about 50 minutes. They use 40 people to crack the eggs. Abbeville cracks a handful of eggs by hand and uses already cracked eggs.
In Granby, they cook their eggs over butane. In Abbeville, they use fire.
Abbeville has been using fire and cooks 5,000 eggs each time since 1984. The celebration takes place during the first weekend of November every year.
Each chevalier from a different part of the world has their style of white chef’s hat. Some are taller than others.
Each person who has something to do with preparing the eggs is wearing a white garment.
The chevaliers stir the eggs while they cook for about an hour.
The 12-foot skillet is removed from the fire, and then eggs are served to the public.