I often write about the importance of food to the travel experience and for many people, including myself, it’s THE most important aspect of traveling. A simple taste or even smell has the power to transport us to a different place and time in a way that nothing else can. That’s why we re-create favorite dishes at home from our travels and why many folks even travel in the first place. I love exploring a new destination through its food and culinary history which is why I’m thrilled to be partnering with the Louisiana Culinary Trails program to highlight some of the many great dishes and meals that make Louisiana one of the premier culinary destinations in the country. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be traveling around Louisiana stopping in places like Lake Charles, Lafayette and Baton Rouge to see all of these places for the first time and to learn more about the foods that make them so special. From boudin to what apparently are the best donuts in the country, I’ll be sampling a whole host of delicious morsels that help define the culture not only of the regions, but of Louisiana itself.
What Are Louisiana’s Culinary Trails?
Louisiana is known for a lot of things, but arguably at the top of that list is its food. There are a lot of choices, from beignets to crawfish and the mysterious boudin, so Louisiana created the Culinary Trails program. The Trails are guideposts highlighting seven regional trails that traverse byways, prairies, marshlands and waterways that are all great sources of the finest food you’ll ever enjoy. Some of the country’s best chefs and restaurants are all located in Louisiana, and the Trails are a great way to discover them, along with some lesser known but no less great down-home bites.
Some of the highlights of my trip include:
- Learning the difference between Cajun and Creole
- Eating Krispy Kreme doughnut bread pudding
- Following the Boudin Trail
- Learning the fine art of creating spun sugar masterpieces
- Discovering the rich history tucked away in the plantations, bayous and marshes
- Exploring the strange backstory of the King cake, and hopefully eating one
- Many more culinary and cultural discoveries
Follow Along
I’m really excited for this trip; I don’t travel enough around my own country and Louisiana is a great place to start. I love the idea of combining food discoveries along with historical and cultural ones and can’t wait to see what the state has to offer. Please be sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as I eat my way through Lafayette, Lake Charles and Baton Rouge and remember to search for the hashtag #TasteLouisiana.
Is there a certain food or meal I shouldn’t miss trying?
So glad to hear you are exploring this part of the world–and at crawfish season, nonetheless! :) We went to Lake Charles and to Lafayette last winter and loved the boudin trail, crawfish boil, and alligator spotting (the highest gator density we found was on the Pintail Wildlife Drive, in Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, if you are heading out toward Lake Charles. We spotted 27 alligators in the three mile loop. I also really liked Bayou Teche Brewing Company, they should have their seasonal “crawfish season” brew available by now. Have fun!
Really can’t wait and thanks!
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