Celebrating Louisiana’s World-Renowned Cuisine

Louisiana’s cuisine is unlike anywhere else, and locals have conjured up a plethora of ways to honor these traditional dishes and the influences that brought them to life.

Food trails are the perfect venue for real foodies to explore the best of the best, and there’s a trail for every taste. The Andouille Trail runs through Louisiana’s River Parishes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Louisiana loves boudin so much, there are two food trails dedicated to it for an all-encompassing boudin experience: the SWLA Boudin Trail in the Lake Charles area and the Cajun Boudin Trail in the Lafayette area. For the seafood lovers, the Louisiana Oyster Trail features the top spots shucking the freshest local oysters you can find.

And we can’t forget the state’s favorite crustacean – the crawfish! Try an array of crawfish dishes along the Bayou Country Crawfish Trail in the Houma area. Don’t forget the shrimp along the Shrimply Delicious Food Trail! Locally caught Louisiana shrimp are a staple in the bayou state. Rounding up Loui-siana’s unique culinary trails, you’ll find the Gas Station Eats trail in the “No Man’s Land” region on Louisiana’s western border. From boudin, barbecue, burgers, baked goods and more home-style plates in unassuming spots, what’s not to love?

Now, Louisiana is known to find any excuse to have a good time. Why not host a festival centered around good eats? Natchitoches Meat Pies are the signature dish of Natchitoches. Find them all over town including at Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant and celebrated the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival. Find crawfish étouffée and other tasty crawfish dishes celebrated at the Étouffée Festival in Arnaudville or the World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-Off in Eunice.

Gumbo is the official dish of Louisiana. There are several events honoring this beloved dish, such as the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff in New Iberia, the Opelousas Gumbo Cook-Off, the Bridge City Gumbo Festival, Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Chackbay, New Orleans’ Treme Creole Gumbo Festival and more. While Café Du Monde in New Orleans’ French Quarter is the unofficial world capital of beignets, New Orleans also has an annual Beignet Festival that you won’t want to miss.

If you’re looking for a one-stop opportunity to try dozens of creative po’boy concoctions, plan a trip to the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival in New Orleans. Gonzales, a town known as the world capital of jambalaya, hosts the Jambalaya Festival every May. Curious about cracklins? Think pork rinds, but meatier and fattier. These are a Cajun specialty honored at the Port Barre Cracklin Festival. Learn more and plan your delicious journey at ExploreLouisiana.com.

The Most Instagrammable Spots in Louisiana

French Quarter

It goes without saying that the “Vieux Carré” is a Louisiana icon. Heavily influenced by the Spanish colonial rule of the late 1700s, stucco masonry buildings stand shoulder-to-shoulder along the street with courtyards on the interior. The wrought iron balconies that line the streets and landmarks like the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square mean that enthusiastic instagrammers have their pick of what to shoot and share.

Giant Shrimp Boots

These are some big shoes to fill! The classic Louisiana shrimp boot looks like these white rubber beauties and is so well-known the locals affectionately call them the “Cajun Reebok.” Standard sizes boots are used for navigating over 2,200 square miles of coastal marsh in Louisiana’s bayous. These giant ones are the perfect way to share that you’ve explored the swamps. So, swing by the Explore Houma Visitors Center, strike a pose and use #thebigboots!

The King

Many don’t realize that perhaps one of the most famous Elvis moments occurred in Louisiana. The Shreveport Municipal Auditorium became an internationally famous performance hall in 1948 when “the Louisiana Hayride” began shining a light on up-and-coming artists who would later become stars. What kind of stars? The likes of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King and, yes, Elvis Presley. The first show on the Hayride by the future “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” was so well received he was offered a contract to play for the next 52 Saturday nights. And the rest, as they say, is history. In fact, it was Presley’s last performance on the Louisiana Hayride that prompted the show’s emcee to coin the phrase, “Elvis has left the building,” in an attempt to appease frenzied fans who were shocked he would play there no more. Today, a statue of Elvis sits outside the auditorium, so grab a selfie with the King!

The Heron Hunt

Louisiana is a haven for birdwatchers. The mild climate, varied terrain and position along migratory paths mean the state is often host to a huge variety of birds. But in Monroe, it’s the heron that you’re looking out for. In homage to this local bird and to support the local art community, Herons on the Bayou features 87 heron sculptures. Each one has its own unique and beautiful design. Visitors can grab a map of the herons and explore the city while enjoying these local works of art.

Put the “Y” in Lafayette

Lafayette was once named the happiest city in America. It’s also got the distinction of being named the Best Food City in the U.S. And that doesn’t even touch the city’s proximity to the beautiful landscapes of the Atchafalaya Basin, the Bayou Teche or Lake Martin (just to name a few). Beyond that, here in the heart of Cajun Country, the people are friendly and welcoming, and community events are the way of life.

For nearly 40 years the Lafayette parks have hosted notable events like live music at Downtown Alive!, the Sno-Ball Festival, Festival International and more. And at Parc San Souci you’ll also find another great photo stop. The Y Lafayette sign is made of 7-foot-tall letters spelling out the city’s name that are available for artists, non-profits and volunteer groups to paint throughout the year on a rotating basis. Visitors can stand in the center and raise their arms to become the Y.

Learn about more of Louisiana’s must-see locations at ExploreLouisiana.com. ■