A Taste of Lafayette, Louisiana
Festive and Flavorful Culinary Adventures
On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s Food, Wine & Travel Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), travel writer Jo Clark shares her delicious journey through Lafayette—a destination often called the “Happiest City in America.” Enjoy the podcast interview above and her article below.
ENJOY AN EPIC CULINARY ADVENTURE IN LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA
Story and photos by Jo Clark
Lafayette holds the title of “Happiest City in America” from both The Times and Wall Street Journal. TravelLemming.com named Lafayette “Best Place to Travel.” And The Local Palate dubbed Lafayette the Best Culinary Town in the South. I think they’re all right.
TOUR LAFAYETTE
Touring Lafayette with Cajun Food Tours means riding between hidden culinary gems with Marie Ducote at the wheel. Along the way, she shares the area’s history and the culture behind the food. Her curated stops feature local favorites like crawfish, gumbo, po-boys, and king cake.
Vermilionville is a 23-acre living history park along Bayou Vermilion. It highlights the cultures of Acadians, Creoles, and Native Americans from the 18th through 20th centuries. Visitors explore Lafayette’s roots through guided tours, costumed artisans, live music, dancing, and cooking classes.
Southwest Louisiana Acadie Vibes
KRVS.org is an NPR affiliate founded in 1963 at the University of Louisiana Lafayette. They have three different audio streams playing French and Creole sounds. There is also a KRVS app and HD Radio on 88.7 to make it easy to tune in on the go.
Food—Delicious Food
Louisiana food names roll off your tongue: gumbo, jambalaya, andouille, étouffée, po-boy, boudin. And the spices tickle (or downright attack) your taste buds. Cajun is more French, while Creole is a blend of African and Caribbean, added to European dishes.
Jambalaya and Gumbo
I met Kristen Preau, the “Jambalaya Girl”. She is the brains behind Jambalaya Girl New Orleans Food Products. Anyone can recreate Louisiana cooking at home, even in New York City *smile*. I came home with boxes to start my jambalaya and my gumbo. I can’t wait to start cooking—yum! You’ll find her mixes on her webpage and Amazon.
Po-Boys (Poor Boys)
The Po-Boy, born in New Orleans, may be Louisiana’s most popular sandwich. Think of it as a cousin to a hoagie or sub: French bread stuffed with seafood, cold cuts, cheese, slaw, lettuce, or even gravy. Lafayette alone boasts 49 stops on the publicized Po-Boy Trail.
What else could you ask for? Sweets. I could ask for sweets. There: it’s been said. Beignets, pralines, king cake (a colorful cinnamon bread), bread pudding, or Bananas Foster (born in New Orleans). They all have a place on my plate. And I found them all in Lafayette.
Restaurant Stops
In a town with nearly 700 restaurants, let me share some of the stops I made in Lafayette on foodie tours, in small groups, and independently wandering the historic district.
Bon Temps Grill|
From Alligator to Sausage and Boudin, when you visit Steve n Pat’s Bon Temps Grill, you will leave full. I filled up on chicken-and-sausage gumbo. That was my biggest mistake—not leaving room for dessert in a spot with Bananas Foster Bread Pudding. *sigh*
Johnson’s Boucanière
You’ll smell the enticing aroma of meat before you get to Johnson’s Boucanière’s door. Pit-cooked BBQ is an unmistakable scent to any Southerner. Johnson’s started life as a grocery store in nearby Eunice, Louisiana, in 1937. Five generations of Johnsons have operated the store.
In 2008, Lori Johnson Walls, a granddaughter, opened Johnson’s Boucanière, using family recipes to create seasonings, boudin, smoked and unsmoked sausages, and tasso. It didn’t take long for Lori’s husband, Greg, to bring his talents as a pit master to the kitchen. Today Greg’s BBQ and smoked meats are in daily demand.
Minami
In a town known for fresh ingredients and local seafood, an authentic Japanese restaurant using traditional techniques is a delightful find. The Cajun twist Minami put on sushi rolls was a surprising flavor profile, but it sure hit the spot.
Walking in on the recommendation of strangers, I found a Happy Hour special for drinks and sushi, as well as sashimi, ramen, and Japanese hibachi treats. The atmosphere was inviting, and sitting at the bar made it easy to chat with Bartender Kelli. The service and attention to detail were outstanding.
Olde Tyme Grocery
Another historic spot on the Cajun Food Tour, the Olde Tyme Grocery was a neighborhood grocery when Glenn Murphree bought it in 1982.
When Glenn opened his sandwich counter, his goal was the best po-boy. Glenn was the only employee and made 10 po-boys a day. My, how times have changed! I spotted eight workers at 10 am on a weekday, and more than 10 sandwiches left the counter in the hour I was there. On a busy day, they turn out more than 100 po-boys.
At Olde Tyme Grocery, you can grab a po-boy to go or take a seat at one of the tables in the back. My recommendation? Their shrimp Po-boy, of course. And today, after 45 years, you can still do your shopping in this neighborhood grocery store.
Poupart’s Bakery
They had me at cookies—my weakness. And Poupart’s Bakery delivered every imaginable choice, plus seasonal Witch and Goblin cookies. Poupart’s is a French Bakery, heading into their 60th year of producing fresh pastry and French roast coffee for the folks of Lafayette.
In Mardi Gras country, cake is king—Mardi Gras King Cake that is. In a tradition dating back to 1311 in France, a special cake is baked to honor the three kings on Twelfth Night or Epiphany.
Poupart’s makes both a French King Cake (round puff pastry with almond filling) and the easily recognized Mardi Gras King Cake (a ring of brioche filled with cream cheese, fruits, nuts, or a combination, covered with icing and colored sugar). And yes, they ship cakes overnight, complete with beads and a plastic baby to insert.
Prejean’s
For 40 years, Prejean’s has been the home of gumbo—three ways—one filled with smoked duck. Get your fill of Alligator bites, crawfish, and char-grilled oysters here. In a town known for its Cajun food, 40 years is an impressive record. Their red beans and rice reminded me of the Gullah dishes back in South Carolina, but with attitude. And the side of fried alligator finished off my visit, but left me planning a return.
Vestal
A group of travel writers gathered for an evening of food and drinks at Vestal. Located in historic downtown, Vestal occupies the former Antlers building, once the oldest bar in Lafayette. Vestal’s menu features fresh Gulf seafood, sustainably sourced ingredients, and dishes prepared in “new Southern Style”, alongside craft cocktails.
Executive Chef Sullivan Zant, one of Vestal’s founders, focuses on live-fire cooking, highlighting seasonal produce and proteins.
Reading the menu ahead of time had me looking forward to this dinner all week, and the dishes delivered. I started with the “Not For Everyone” cocktail, a mix of vodka, pamplemousse (grapefruit), watermelon shrub, and lime.
The meal opened with corn and crab bisque, followed by a watermelon and heirloom tomato salad. My entrée was a perfectly seared Gulf snapper with succotash. The dessert—a lemon tart topped with blueberry gelée—was the perfect finish to the evening.
Wild Child Wines
For something different, stop at Wild Child Wines and ask for their Natural Wine and Tinned Fish Pairing Experience. Trust me. This is not the typical grocery store “sardine in a can”! Wild Child imports tins of sardines, tuna pate, smoked salmon, and anchovies. Pairings with perfect international wines will surprise your taste buds.
Owners Denny and Katie are hardworking with fresh ideas. Like a delightful cocktail of Vermouth, olives, and a bit of lemon juice—lip-smacking good, with just the right amount of brine.
After your tasting, you can purchase your favorite wine by the glass or pick a bottle to take home, along with selections of tins. Their selection of wine by the glass changes weekly. And, if you aren’t a local, once home, they’ll ship anything but wine to you.
Festivals Acadiens Et Creoles
Mid-October means one thing in Lafayette – Festival time: music, food, drink, art, and crafts, all in one place for three days. 2025 marked the 50th year of this fun-packed Cajun and Creole Music Festival. Musicians play nonstop from morning till dark on two stages and at tents scattered throughout the grounds. There is a tent with cooking demonstrations by well-known area chefs and they hand out samples after the demonstrations, but be quick to get in line, or you’ll miss out.
Other tents sell food and drink. Some accept only cash, others take only cards, so come prepared with several payment methods. They had praline-filled beignets, an Absolut tasting tent, Crawfish-étouffée-topped baked potatoes, and so many taste sensations it will take you all three days of the festival to try them.
Where to Stay
A convenient place to stay in Lafayette is the Hilton Garden Inn. While it isn’t walking distance to much, it is close enough to be an inexpensive ride to most places, and it is an easy in-and-out for car pickups. The staff is friendly and helpful, and will go out of their way to help you. The hotel has a bar with a good wine selection and a nice menu. Bonus: they make sweet tea right.
Jo Clark is a travel writer and photographer based on South Carolina’s Grand Strand. She has a thirst for knowledge, history, great food, and wine! She does her very best to live up to her podcast title and Instagram handle, “Jo Goes Everywhere!” Follow her there and on her Facebook page. She is the editor of http://www.RecipesTravelCulture.com and host of the Jo Goes Everywhere! Podcast.
Learn more about IFWTWA at https://www.ifwtwa.org/
