As you read this, I’m in Lafayette, Louisiana eating something that’s changing my life.
It’s rearranging the cells in my body and digging new pathways in my brain.
Okay, maybe by the time you’re read this, I’ll be knee-deep in a bowl of Cheerios, but you see what I’m saying.
I’m spending the next month traveling through one of America’s most delicious states and I’m taking you with me.
5 Louisiana Foods That Will Change Your Life
(and if you can’t get here, you should make your own in your Yankee kitchen)
Louisiana food you should eat: Corn and crab bisque with a side of pickled okra
Where you should eat it– Poupart Bistro
How you should make it if you can’t get here: Cajun bisque
I’ve been a vegetarian for twenty years and I’ve always stayed away from seafood because cracking open an exoskeleton is gross, you guys. But! If you put tender, sweet, delicious crab meat in a creamy corn bisque? And then serve it with a side of pickled okra to cut through all that richness? Now we’re talking.
Louisiana food you should eat: Soft, fluffy hush puppies
Where you should eat it: High hat cafe
How you should make it if you can’t get here: Hush puppy recipe
It’s slightly ridiculous that I’m recommending the hush puppies at this amazing restaurant. Just imagine that in addition to the hush puppies, I’m recommending EVERYTHING EVER. The grits, the moonshine, the pasta with crab. Yes, please. But those hush puppies? Perfect. Savory, a little spicy and I wanted to lift that tiny mayo dish to my face and lick it clean.
Louisiana food you should eat: Drive through daiquiri
Where you should eat it: Frozen Sun Daquiris
How you should make it if you can’t get here: Best strawberry daiquiri recipe (and then drink it in your parked car?)
I’m not a particularly big drinker and when I do drink, it’s usually in the form of Vodka Gimlets, favored drink of rich old ladies everywhere. But I would be remiss in my duty as a traveler if I didn’t take advantage of Louisiana’s famous drive-thru daiquiri stands.
And how exactly is it legal to have open alcohol in your car? Well, if they hand you a be-lidded daiquiri and an unopened straw then it doesn’t count as open, guys! So wait till you get back to your porch to indulge.
Louisiana food you should eat: Beignets
Where you should eat it: T-Coon’s
How you should make it if you can’t get here: Buttermilk beignets
A beignet is the donut’s significantly more awesome cousin – none of that boring hole business and perfect for dipping in your coffee. Sure, all that powdered sugar seems excessive, but I assure you, you’ll be rubbing the tail end of your beignet around your plate to grab every last bit.
T-Coon’s is a fantastic, locals-only place with adorable waitresses and a taxidermied raccoon on top of the Coke machine. And that name? It’s a nickname for Cajuns.
Louisiana food you should eat: The best Old Fashioned that’s ever happened to your mouth
Where you should eat it: Don’s Seafood and Steakhouse
How you should make it if you can’t get here: Classic Old Fashioned
Just about everything at Don’s is fantastic – the food, the friendly staff, the 1970s steakhouse decor. But let’s talk about how their Old Fashioneds are the best ever. Whiskey + bitters + a cherry + an orange wedge makes you feel like a posh, old-money southerner.
But wait! At Don’s they give you a stick with rock sugar candy with which to stir your drink. Sold.
Cajuns! What am I missing? Tell me in the comments!
P.S. 5 unmissable Louisiana adventures
Woman, stop it! It's not even noon here and you've got me salivating. I foresee an early lunch for meeeeeee (but it won't involve crab, damnit).
These all look delicious, but you've got my tummy grumbling waaay too early! 🙂
OMG NOM, I HAVE to go to Lafayette!!!
oh my god i want all of these! i'm so hungry right now and the only thing within reach is a bag of Red Hots and a glass of water my cat was just drinking out of. Fail.
Mmmmm, Beignets….The donut's sexier younger sister.
Drive-thru booze?! This is a place I would enjoy…
As a Lafayette native, I have to recommend Soop's in Maurice! It's the best Cajun food you will ever eat in a restaurant. Fried shrimp platter=Heaven. Also, a wonderful band called Feufollet is playing tonight at Downtown Alive, so you should definitely go and see them! so much to do in 4 weeks!
Cafe du Monde, the famous beignet place in New Orleans, has a boxed mix you can get at grocery stores. I may or may not have carted several boxes which I definitely didn't have room in my car for across the country with me when I moved from Louisiana…
Ummm YUM! I have always wanted to visit Louisiana. I can't believe they have a drive thru daquiri place, haha. Everything sounds so great. I love cajun food so I need to get there.
Looks so good! Mail me one of everything please? 🙂
Wow! So yummy! This post really makes me hungry. I wanted to try Corn and crab bisque with a side of pickled okra for dinner tonight. I hope I can search for a detailed instructions on how to do this one.
I just drove from Houston to New Orleans and back and stopped in Lafayette both times and went to 4 of these places. Some in each direction. When a coonass like myself tells you you picked some of the best it's a compliment.
😀 I had help from a friend who's a third generation Cajun 😉