Eating Through Cajun Country

"Don't eat butter for a month prior," is what I was advised when I told an acquaintance about my weekend getaway in Lafayette, La. After a day at home, I now know what he meant.

I rolled out of Lafayette Sunday night and immediately joined a gym yesterday morning. Not because I over indulged in the good eats of Cajun Country, it was just time to join a gym and enjoying the fried goodness of Acadiana flavors was more incentive to get back on track with my health. I have to admit, I haven't seen so many options for fried foods in any other place I've visited. Giving into temptations, I opted for fried over other healthier choices and boy, did my palate enjoy the medley of flavors.

My weekend in Cajun Country included fried alligator, fried catfish, gumbo, chowder, fried shrimp, fried crab cakes, fried oysters, fried hot okra pie, crawfish etouffee and a fried frog leg (note, the frog leg is singular, thank goodness. Images of Kermit the Frog remained in my mind as I ate the dainty frog leg. I will only eat frog again if it's the only thing left to eat on Earth). Did I mention rice?

Breakfast Sunday morning was at the French bakery called Poupart. A tasty and pretty eclair, creme puff and cannoli were my poison that morning and all were to die for! Sunday's lunch dessert was an incredible chocolate chip bread pudding served warm and smothered in a caramel sauce and topped with about a cup of whipped cream. Mmmm. Vermilion Ville was the scene of this delicious crime.

I also sampled pecan rice at the Conrad Rice Mill (it doesn't contain pecans but smells like pecans), tasted spicy sauces at the Tabasco Pepper Sauce Factory, and chewed on fresh peppermint, spearmint and lemon grass (which is an antidepressant) at the grounds of the Joseph Jefferson Mansion at the Rip Van Winkle Gardens.

I was good a little bit by enjoying a salad, fresh figs and satsuma (these were purchased at the Acadiana Farmers Market Saturday morning).

I brought some Cajun goodies home with me to enjoy and share. With you, I'm sharing images of Lafayette, La.

Laissez les bons temps rouler.

Comments

Matthew said…
I'm jealous. I need to introduce my wife to real Cajun food sometime...all I can do is sort of cook gumbo.
Anonymous said…
After reading what you ate maybe the ending should be changed from let the good times roll to let the good times roll aids. LOL