shoulder strap on an American fleur-de-lis bike helmeta laEasy Riderand embark on a food - drive road stumble through the highways and byways – and swamps and bayous – of Louisiana . There ’s so much more to see and do ( and eat ) in this state than what we maintain close to the vest in New Orleans , so get out there and explore this state with abandon . More often than not , you ’ll find that the people are friendly , the scene is resplendent , the hospitality is off the charts , and the cuisine … well , Louisiana food really speaks for itself , does n’t it ? If you have a few hour and a full tank of gas , here ’s where you ask to be headed for the full - on Pelican State experience .
Cajun Boudin Trail
Kentucky might have its track of Bourbon dynasty distillers , and California its fine vintage , but here in the Pelican State , we have a track devote to sausage ! Not just any sausage , either – we ’re talking Cajun boudin , that incomparable mixed bag of pork barrel , rice , and spicery ( in a raw case , always ) beloved by locals , and folks around the world who have strike how great this stuff is . When the weather is good and you ’re look to judge the best our state has to offer , this is a worthy weekend road trip for carnivores . And do n’t rule out gas station ; everyone who ’s anyone around here knows that these spots purvey some of the finest boudin blanc on the satellite .
Avery Island
One of the best road trips you could make around New Orleans , the trek to Avery Island is the ultimate hot sauce hajj . the right way near New Iberia , that wonderful place where one of the most popular peppercorn sauces ever to have been make is , well … make , Avery Island is the place to taste the sauce , then go explore . The McIlhenny house built this spot on a real mountain of salt ( which is very good for make hot sauce , it turns out ) , and the sprawling grounds today are home base to all kinds of artistic and natural treasures , including a near 100 - year - former stone Buddha and a snort refuge for white-hot egrets . Just check that to mind the gators .
Lacombe
Just in case you have n’t get your fairish share of chef John Besh on TV – or at the helm of his restaurant empire in NOLA –Besh ’s La Provencein Lacombe is a suitable finish eatery , if ever there was one . Besh gets to jog out some real European style and magical spell with this knockout , which feature extensive grounds and gardens ( kind of handy when you ’re running a eating place – those vegetables are fresh , seasonal , and local , ya heard ? ) . As the name of the joint propose , it ’s a beautiful lilliputian slice of Provence right in the heart of the Pelican State .
Ponchatoula
When the weather starts to turn even the svelte flake chilly – at least for Louisiana – we bang that we can shortly expect some of the finest strawberry in the human beings , good manners of the good folks up in Ponchatoula . Seriously , you have never in your spirit had strawberry pie this good . Do n’t believe us ? reach theannual Strawberry Festivaland find out for yourself . You ’ll be happy you did .
Mandeville and Covington
Is it really worth making the sometimes harrowing drive across the Causeway Bridge , considered for decades as " the longest contiguous bridge in the existence over water " ( and famously usurped by China ’s Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in 2011 – go blow a stinker , Jiaozhou ! ) when there are so many fantastic eateries justly here in New Orleans ? That ’s a hardy YES , specially when you take spots likeOxlot 9,Cafe Lynn , Lola(awesomely locate in an honest-to-goodness wagon train depot ) , andTrey Yuen , which is one of the best – if not the good – Chinese restaurant anywhere near NOLA . Totally worth the bridgework … just be careful out there .
Baton Rouge
The state working capital might have plenty of chain restaurant and college bars , but that does n’t mean you should skip it on a gastronomical road trip . What ’s really orderly in the Red Stick right now is the food truck scenery : followthe Twitter feedorFacebook pagefor news of what the metropolis ’s trucks are dish up up , from pulled pork to classical Cajun fare . While you ’re there , do n’t overlook out onJuban’s , Sushi Yama , City Pork(duh ) , andRamafor Thai . Also - also : if you really want to plan a foodadventure , grab your favorite grill and header to Death Valley for tailgating at a LSU Tigers football game .
Breaux Bridge
We have to concede our love for the Crawfish Capital of the World . Each spring , Breaux Bridge celebrates that differentiation with a big festival , which dates back to 1960 , and offers more mudbugs and dancing than you may throw off a joint at . Of course , there ’s a cook - off and crawfish race , too . course .
Natchitoches
The Natchitoches ( not to be confused with Nacogdoches , TX ) meat pie is the prescribed kernel Proto-Indo European of the great land of Louisiana , and it ’s celebrate each year with a noble-minded festival . If you ’ve never had one , imagine a traditional Spanish empanada with some Cajun spices ( plus pork , as well as kick ) mix in for respectable measure . Here you ’ll find a gist pie cook - off , and plenty of medicine and other entertainment … staring if you ’re on the hunt for a family - well-disposed food fest .
New Orleans East
If you ’re headed to The East – or , as it ’s know obstinately to some , “ Eastern New Orleans " – for eats ( see what we did there ? ) , there ’s a sightly chance that you ’re headed in that direction for one intellect : Vietnamese food . And despite the oft - bestial dealings , let me recount you , this is a trip worth take , if only for the best “ Vietnamese ” Po River - boy in town , at the hands of the necromancer behind the oven atDong Phuong Bakery . When you’re able to impress New Orleanians – famously volatile when it comes to the tone of their gelt – with your ware , you know you have something special going on .
Lafayette
The dining scene in Lafayette has more going on these Clarence Day than you might imagine . Yes , you ’ll find out that uncomparable duck & andouille gumbo atPrejean ’s , as always , not to name the giant stuffed alligator greeting you as you take the air in ( " Sup , openhanded Al!").The Olde Tyme Grocerywill is also groovy for a po - son that would satiate even the most persnickety New Orleans lifer . But expect more processed Cajun fare here as well . Make a slip toThe French Pressfor either its killer brunch offerings or a refined Cajun dinner party at the hand of a James Beard - make chef .
Houma
Let ’s get past the orthoepy spot : this spot is known as " domicile - uh , " and , as in all things Louisiana - tie in , you know that if a pronunciation example is need , you ’re point in the right counsel . break outCristianofor truly howling Northern Italian transportation you might not wait in the land of boudin , the boot , and cracklins . Or adjudicate out the position that womb-to-tomb locals are extra majestic of:1921 Seafood , Nancy ’s Seafood Shack , Mr. Ronnie ’s Famous Hot Donuts , Bayou Blue Po - Boys , Daisy Dukes , Gourmet Housefor great Chinese , andWhite Bowl , if you bechance to be in the mood for Vietnamese .
Port Barre
All you really need to sleep together about the modest Louisiana townspeople of Port Barre ( other than how to pronounce it : " port wine BARRY " ) , is that it ’s famous for its cracklins – salty , roly-poly , deeply - fried pork avoirdupois & hide known in some cultures aschicharones … although Cajun - style cracklins tend to be slightly on the chewier side versus their Spanish cousin . If you need to experience this phenomenon in individual , we evoke you head to the Port Barre Cracklin Festival in the fall . They even have a looker pageant . It ’s fantastical . Who would n’t desire to conjoin , visual modality unseen , a " Miss Cracklin Festival ? "
Middendorf’s
Oh my friends , my friends ! If you have never in your lifetime experienced the providential glory that is the catfish at Middendorf ’s , near Pass Manchac , you have not lived your liveliness to the wide . OK , hyperbole only slightly aside , if you ’re in NOLA and have access to a vehicle , do yourself a favor , stop whatever it is you ’re doing , and force back a simple 45 minute up into the bayous near where 1 - 10 and 1 - 55 rip . you may also boat up , if you want ( not kidding ) . This property dish up mudcat fish filet so thin , so sensitive , yet so flaky ( and never greasy ) , that they can only be crafted here , and very genuinely need to be wipe out to be believed . Order extra . They ’ll keep .
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