If you want to travel from Atlanta to the Louisiana Cajun Bayou, you can fly or you can take the drive from Interstate 85 south to I-65 to Interstate 10. Either way, good eatin’ awaits.
Much has been said about the delights of New Orleans food, but there are other parts of Louisiana that don’t get the national recognition, but are just as good if not better. One such place is Lafourche Parish.
Want to know what’s cooking in Nawlins? Here’s more locally flavored news.
Cajun Bayou: What’s Cookin’ in Lafourche Parish?
Lafourche is in the southern part of the state, about 7.2 hours from Atlanta, Georgia. Louisiana is shaped like a boot — and in those terms, Lafourche would be considered one of the toes. But when it comes to great food, the parish may be head and shoulders in the state.
Atlantafi.com got to talk to a main proponent of Pelican State cuisine, Timothy Bush, president/CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou tourism.
Cajun Bayou is the convention and visitors bureau for Lafourche Parish. Here is an edited transcript of our email interview.
Where are you from?
I grew up in West Monroe, Louisiana. My appreciation for Louisiana food is rooted in my upbringing. My mama cooked and still cooks gumbo, which is one of my favorite meals to this day! The food throughout Louisiana is so amazing. It’s flavorful and its soulful at the same time because Louisiana food is rooted in our culture and all the folks that settled here many generations ago.
Can you tell me a little about “Cajun Bayou,” what it is and what’s the message behind it?
Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is the brand of Lafourche Parish. It promotes the parish as a community that is rich, natural and unapologetically Cajun in every way. Lafourche Parish sits along Bayou Lafourche and stretches 106 miles from north to south. The message that our brand pushes is that if you want to come to a place with authentic Cajun culture and experiences, then Lafourche Parish is that place because of our food, festivals and outdoor experiences. We aren’t the most polish of communities and we don’t strive to be. Here, what you see is what you get and the folks who live around the bayou are proud to share and showcase their culture to visitors.
How would you distinguish Southern Louisiana cuisine from, say, seafood from some of the other major port areas in the U.S. (San Francisco, Maryland, Boston, etc.)?
Food has always been a way of life down here. When people came down to settle in the area, they made their living off the land and the bounties it provides. Southern Louisiana and more specifically Cajun food, is full of flavor and culture. Seafood is used in so many different ways from gumbos and stews to boils and poboys. The way Cajun food is prepared is rooted deep in tradition and passed down from generation to generation, making our food such a big part of the story here.
What is the difference, in your opinion between Cajun and Creole, when it comes to food?
Creole food originated in New Orleans hundreds of years ago and really came about because of the city’s access to the port that brought in imported spices. It also has an influence from the African culture because slaves were also being brought in through the port. Creole tends to be a bit more spicy and usually starts with a tomato base in dishes. Cajun is a little simpler and more robust in flavor from things like onions and vegetables and herbs as the base. These are foods that were more accessible to rural areas outside the city and grown by farmers.
Now the big question: Where are some of the best places to eat in Lafourche Parish?
Here Are The Best Places To Eat In Lafourche Parish?
Thibodaux, Kajun Twist, etc.: Best Lafourche Restaurants