I have enjoyed Cajun food for a long time and even learned to cook a good bit of it myself. See for example, Making Brown (Country) Jambalaya and Making a Great Gumbo. So I was excited to be going to one of the home bases of Cajun cooking in the Lafayette Opelousas Area. Here is what I found. It did not disappoint.
On the way I went to Houma where my father used to take me fishing in the 50s. I ate lunch at A-Bear’s Café, 809 Bayou Black Dr., Houma, LA, 985-872-6306. I had a shrimp sampler with shrimp gumbo, fried shrimp, stuffed shrimp, and shrimp cakes, along with red beans and rice.
On my first night I went to Prejean’s, 3480 NE Evangeline Trwy, Lafayette, LA (337) 896-3247 that has live Cajun music. I had crawfish sampler – crawfish bisque with a nice thick roux, fried crawfish tails, crawfish corn bread, crawfish etouffee, and corn pie. Everything was wonderful.
The next day I had lunch at Soileau in Opelousas, LA on the recommendation of Herman Fuselier at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center. I had shrimp gumbo, shrimp creole, and fried shrimp.
For dinner I ate at Randol's Restaurant, 2320 Kaliste Saloom Rd, Lafayette 337-981-7080. It also has live Cajun music. I heard Terry Huval & The Jambalaya Cajun Band. I enjoyed 3 lbs of boiled crawfish in a spicy boil. I almost finished them. They were really good.
In the morning I sampled some great food at the Savoy Music Center Cajun Jam I reported on last week. Great food was shared. There was some hot boudin sausage, pecan pie, red velvet cake, and hogshead cheese. I probably do not want to know what is in last item but it was delicious and I had more.
The next day I ate lunch at The Taco Sisters 407 Johnston Street, Lafayette. I had a smoked fish taco and a smoked shrimp taco. They were amazing.
For dinner went to the Pont Breaux Cajun Restaurant, (formerly Mulate's), 325 West Mills Avenue, Breaux Bridge. They had live Cajun music. I had shrimp gumbo and baked duck with rice dressing. I could not get enough of it.
The next day I went to 2Paul's Radically Urban Barbecue, 2668 Johnston St. Suite C-4, in Lafayette. I had the sampler with ribs, brisket, sausage, pulled pork, fried potato chips. It was moist and as good Cue as I have had anywhere. They were really nice and let me stay after they closed to watch the Saints game until the Saints had the victory well in hand.
That is some great, dark gumbo and the photos make the food look good enough to eat right off the screen. Only problem is that I am not there right now.
Posted by: Don L | January 21, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Don = Thanks - we will have to go there some day. :)
Posted by: bill Ives | January 21, 2012 at 01:23 PM
Great road trip scrapbook for the hungry traveler. You sure ate well and put lots of good Louisiana miles on your car.
There's so much to see, do, listen to, taste...my goodness, you didnt miss much.
Posted by: Paul Tamburello | January 27, 2012 at 04:53 PM
Paul
Thanks for your comment. Your ideas were an inspiration for much of this. Bill
Posted by: bill Ives | January 27, 2012 at 05:24 PM