Q & A with Chef Dave Hulin & WR Holman III of Cajun180

There’s a new direction in Cajun seasoning, one that merges perfectly with the trend of healthy, cleaner eating, while remaining faithful to traditional Cajun foodways. Chef Dave Hulin and WR Holman III have found the perfect blend with their Cajun180 line of seasonings. 

How did Cajun180 get started? 

In 2018, Founder & Executive Chef David Hulin along with business partner WR Holman III began 180° Cajun Blendz & Seasonings Co. LLC® (AKA Cajun180®) Cajun180 is not just a company, brand or logo.  It is a way of life, both a new direction and one with ties to old Cajun traditions and flavor profiles.   

The 180 means that one must make a conscious decision to change.  Today, that change is to break from tradition, live healthier and make sustainable healthy choices when seasoning our food. 

 Chef Dave Hulin grew up around the food industry; many of his family members had restaurants, cafés and delis in South Louisiana. Helping family members with illnesses or restrictions challenged him to develop healthier ways to cook. He created convenient, cleaner seasoning blends with a masterful array of flavors that his competitors can’t match. 

WR Holman III adds: “We both had strong ties to family dinners and wanted a way to bring that back, returning to our Cajun roots, food and family. Cajun180 is not just a brand or a name of a product, it’s tied into a lifestyle.”    

What was your motivation when developing your business? 

Chef Dave: We were motivated to begin this line because of requests for a cleaner, healthier and true authentic flavor profile for Cajun/Creole cooking.  One thing that I have learned in life and in this business is that you have to listen to others.   

We don’t always have the answers within ourselves.  We may have an idea of what others want, but until you stop to truly listen, that idea seems just selfish.  I have learned to listen to what my customers want. We make these seasoning blends so that they please the customer, not me. 

What do you like to cook? 

WR: For everyday cooking I like simple, easy clean-up, which means it usually involves the grill.  Grilled steaks, chicken, pork, fish or lobster, with a side of grilled vegetables, each seasoned with an appropriate complementary, Cajun180 seasoning.  

Chef Dave: I enjoy boiling seafood, grilling seafood or chicken or smoking meats all with Cajun180 seasoning products.  

What are your plans for the company? 

WR: We want to grow, diversify, bring Family Dinner back to the families, be it family of origin or family of choice.  Enhance the concept of #HowDoYou180 into the lifestyle and education on healthier and cleaner cooking and eating.   

Chef Dave: We would love to work with the Chamber of Commerce and City Leaders to develop a plan to become the next prominent landmark company for New Iberia. We also want to educate people that healthy choices do not have to limit flavor. Also, watch for our upcoming live cooking shows, we’ll have more on those shortly! 

Tell us about the awards the company has won. 

We were the 2019 recipient of the Iberia Chamber of Commerce Business Impact Award, an honor we shared with Distillerie Acadian. Indirectly, numerous BBQ and cooking teams have risen up competitive ranks using our products, including one that won a National Grand BBQ Championship. Of course, we have wins every day in our customers’ kitchens and dinner tables.  

 What makes you unique in the market?  

Our products are made with healthy low sodium, all-natural ingredients, each with a unique label designed by Chef Dave himself.  Our labels reflect the indigenous flavors, people and cultures our products represent.  

Our customers are not just purchasing spices, they are purchasing a brand and a story to be told, not only by us, but by the user as they create their own stories around the dinner table.   

Where can we find your products?  

There are over 100 locations that sell our products.  The easiest way to find a location near you is  cajun180.com/locations.  In New Iberia; we’re in Rouses, Bi-Lo, Gonsoulin Land & Cattle Company, Hung’s Seafood, and soon to be in Candlewood Suites Hotel Cupboard.  

Try our products on everything in your kitchen: eggs in the morning, salads, fruit, popcorn while watching TV at night. 

 Recipes can be found at.  https://cajun180.com/recipes     

Cajun180 Products 

  1. La Cajun Gold seasoning blend 

  1. Cajun Trinity 

  1. La Cajun Gold Premium Cocktail Rimmer & Seasoning 

  1. Cajun180 Dry Mojo 

  1. Cajun180 Spiced Peanuts 

  1. Cajun180 Ultimate Pro Boil 

  1. Cajun180 MORE Spiced Peanuts 

  1. Cajun Harmony BBQ Rub 

  1. La Cajun Gold NO SALT 

 

#HowDoYou180? refers to a number of things: 

1. A healthier choice of seasoning with less salt and all-natural ingredients which is a 180 degree turn from stereotypical ‘Cajun’ flavor. 

2. It’s family.  We want to bring people together, not just to come to dinner but to take part in dinner.  Whether it’s blood relatives or it’s friends, it’s still family. The real event is preparing dinner together, enjoying the conversation and the company.   

3. After a long hard day at work, how do you 180 from your work day and transition into your time?   Is it a glass of wine by a fire pit?  Is it cooking and bringing the family together to see how everyone’s day went?  Or is it just some quiet time with a good book?   #HowDoYou180?