Louisiana

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dave bodle

LOUISIANA

e t s a T ats e r T

From Cajun dance halls to f ine dining restaurants, mealtimes highlight itineraries in all parts of the state

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Any list of Louisiana food favorites has to include shrimp etouffee.

n six occasions this fall, Tiger Stadium, home of the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers, fills to more than 92,000 fans, becoming the fifth largest city in the state. However, festivities get into full swing long before action on the field begins.

The inviting aromas of grillades, jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish etouffee, fried catfish and barbecue fill the air.

Louisianans love to eat and take that passion to their tailgating. It’s that affection for good food and fun that bodes well for group tour visitors. If you cannot make it to the game, here are a few favorites to get you started on sampling Louisiana culinary delights.

Possibly the place to begin exploring Louisiana food is the New Orleans LeisureGroupTravel.com

Every meal is a special occasion in culinary havens like Lake Charles, La.

School of Cooking. Promising a “garron-teed” good time for all, it offers Open Demonstration Lunch Classes seven days a week, Private Demonstration Lunch Classes for groups of 25 or more, and a Hands On Cooking Class.

Group rates are available. (neworleansschoolofcooking.com) A New Orleans tradition, Parkway Bakery & Tavern, is the place to go for po’boys. This submarine-style sandwich is served on a baguette-like French bread and filled with roasted meat or fried seafood. A frequent winner in “best of ” surveys, Parkway cooks its meat for 24 hours and uses only the freshest ingredients. (parkwaybakeryandtavernnola.com) Another Louisiana staple is the muffuletta sandwich and the best one might just be found at the Central Grocery in New Orleans. Italian bread is piled high with Italian cold cuts and provolone, then topped with an intriguing olive salad. Just about any New Orleans food, including Central Grocery Italian Olive Salad, can be purchased online at nolacajun.com.

Metairie, located just outside New Orleans, is home to Sal’s Snow Balls.

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Only in Louisiana does a childhood staple become more than just ice and colored syrup. Steven Bel, owner of Sal’s, goes through 1,000 pounds of ice daily during the summer. Add this one to your itinerary; it’s a fun stop on a hot day.

Of course, New Orleans has a welldeserved reputation for fabulous food and world-class dining. Featuring many of the Crescent City’s restaurants, the New Orleans CVB is preparing for the

8th Annual COOLinary restaurant promotion Aug. 1-31, 2012. A wonderful way to sample the gastronomic delights of the Big Easy, the event celebrates the cuisine of New Orleans and its culinary community. (coolinaryneworleans.com) Less than an hour’s drive from New Orleans is Darrow, La. and Houmas House Plantation and Gardens. In addition to a tour of the magnificent main house, guests are welcomed to a fine dining experience at Latil’s Landing Restaurant. Located in the French House built in the 1770s, the restaurant is complete with the original beamed ceiling and floor. (houmashouse.com/restaurant.htm) Cajun Country is located in South Louisiana and is well known for festivals celebrating crops, heritage and holidays. However, you will not have to wait for a festival to enjoy great food and fun. Visitors travel to McGee’s Landing in Henderson for Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Tours and McGee’s Cafe & Bar, which features traditional, home-style Cajun and seafood entrees like alligator, fried shrimp and crawfish etouffee. (mcgeeslanding.com)

Louisiana dishes take center stage at the New Orleans School of Cooking.

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on location: south ❖ A Breaux Bridge favorite is Mulate’s The Original Cajun Restaurant. Live Cajun music and wonderful food are all available at a reasonable price. Be careful though—you may want to dance the night away. (mulates.com/breauxbridge).

Also in Breaux Bridge, Cafe des Amis is a local favorite where great Cajun food and music daily with a Saturday morning Zydeco Breakfast beg a visit. (cafedesamis.com) Nearby in Lafayette, two distinct Cajun dance hall restaurants can be found. Since 1980 Prejean’s has been welcoming groups with the best in Cajun cuisine and live dance music. (prejeans.com). Randol’s, with its distinctive old time dance hall feel, takes pride in food that nourishes the body, while good times and good friends feed the soul. (randols.com) In New Iberia, there’s plenty to see and do, but one thing’s for sure; seafood doesn’t get any fresher than what you’ll be served at Bon Creole Lunch Counter. Oversized po’boys, fried seafood baskets and plates are featured. You will wait in line, though,

Latil’s Landing Restaurant offers fine dining at Houmas House Plantation.

just like the locals. (boncreolela.com).

Not far down the road is Avery Island, home to the McIlhenny Co.’s Tabasco sauce bottling plant. Look for the lunch truck under the live oak trees.

It’s homemade Cajun cooking. After lunch and a plant tour, make time for the gift shop. (tabasco.com) Lake Charles is home to one of the

Cajun music and food make the good times roll at Lake Charles dance halls.

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state’s premier gaming destinations.

Luxurious rooms, more than 1,000 slots, all your favorite table games and a fine dining experience all come together at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort. Both Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill and Ember Grille & Wine Bar offer extensive menus in a comfortable setting. (ldlcasino.com) The historically rich roads running on both sides of the Mississippi River have rightfully earned the moniker Great River Road. Many of Louisiana’s majestic plantations can be found in the area. For an enjoyable dining experience, consider The Cabin in Burnside. It has been serving great food since 1973. Do save some time for a visit to the General Store. (thecabinrestaurant.com) In the central area of the state just off I-49 is Natchitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. It’s here you’ll discover Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant. The owners have been serving Cajun/Creole cuisine and their famous meat pies for more than 40 years. (lasyones.com) The Mabry House in Shreveport presents fine dining in a historically LeisureGroupTravel.com

rich, 100-year-old Victorian house.

The menu is French and the setting is exquisite. Small groups are welcome and provided outstanding service.

(318-227-1121) Louisiana’s passion for food is much more than flavor. Of course, the foods reflect the state’s French, German, African and Spanish influences. However, to the people of Louisiana dining is an event, a reason to celebrate and a chance to bring family and friends together. Each of the state’s tourism regions reflects those values and offer culinary experiences to match. They’ll treat you like family. LGT Obtain Louisiana visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

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