On any given Monday, the daily lunch special at Benoit’s Country Meat Block in Addis includes meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and dessert for $10.99. But these days, every plate lunch comes with a generous side of John Foster pride.
Located just half a mile from the Mississippi River, Benoit’s Country Meat Block has deep roots in Cajun Country. The store is owned by the family of American Idol sensation John Foster, whose grandparents hail from Church Point and Lawtell.
When Foster showed up for his American Idol audition in Nashville, he brought care packages of boudin, Benoit’s seasoning, and beef jerky from his family’s business in Addis, where they sell a full range of Cajun specialties: hog head cheese, tasso, hot tamales, three types of gumbo, grillades, alligator, and 78 other items.
“John Foster loves the beef jerky,” said his grandmother, Verbie Benoit. “And somebody at American Idol loves the seasoning because they ordered a bunch that I delivered the last time we were out there. That’s what Luke Bryan was licking off his fingers because he said it was so good.”
At 75, Benoit says she never expected “all of this” and admits that the attention surrounding her grandson can sometimes feel overwhelming. But she’s ready for the show, in every sense.
“Every week, it’s better and better,” she said. “I didn’t know he had more talent to show us, but he does.”
She’s packed her suitcase and has a rosary in her purse. She’ll be heading back to Hollywood, along with 31 family members, to watch John Foster perform during the “Top Ten” show of the ABC singing competition.
While the whole family will cheer him on, his grandmother will also be praying.
“I pray for him — not necessarily for him to win,” she said, “but for God to be with him.”
Benoit says she’s not concerned that fame will go to her grandson’s head. She recognized his potential early on, and when he was 4 years old, she knew he had a bright future ahead of him.
He’s still studying biology at LSU, taking classes online. His dream of becoming a doctor one day remains intact, with his grandmother saying he aspires to be an oncologist.
“He has such a good head on his shoulders that I don’t think he could ever stray from anything good,” she said. “He’s just that kid.”
Yes, he’s smart—co-valedictorian of his graduating class last year. Yes, he’s talented—Top 10 on American Idol. But what his grandmother is most proud of is that “he’s a good Christian boy.”
She remembers one of his middle school teachers who once predicted Foster would become governor of Louisiana one day.
“We always told him to be president,” his grandmother said.
Behind the meat counter
Back in Addis, the folks behind the meat counter have their own stories to share.
Rick Bourgoyne has worked at Benoit’s Country Meat Block since 1988, and he has a message for people: John Foster is a stage name. His full name is John Foster Benoit.
“I was telling his daddy,” Bourgoyne said, “I hope people don’t think that’s his last name because he is a Benoit, and this (the store) is Benoit’s. His middle name is Foster, just like his daddy and grandfather’s. He’s the third.”
Blake Sarradet has worked at the store for 17 years. He and Bourgoyne have watched Foster grow up.
“He works here some during the Christmas holidays,” Sarradet said. “But we’ve also watched him perform locally. We knew he was good, but he keeps getting better.”
They both credit his uncle, Gaylen Martin, a local musician, for introducing John Foster to performing.
Regina DeBenedetto has only worked at Benoit’s for two years, but she’s fully supporting Foster on American Idol. She voted for him 30 times on Monday night by texting the number 13 to 21523. She encourages everyone to do the same.
“He’s a great person. I’ve seen, since I’ve watched the show, that he listens to what they say,” DeBenedetto said. “The coaches tell him to do something, and he listens, and then he brings it on stage.”
Whether he becomes a superstar or a doctor, the people at Benoit’s know one thing for sure: John Foster Benoit will always be one of their own. They’ve always known he has the right ingredients—talent, humility, and a dash of Cajun seasoning.
