CULINARY HALL OF FAME Beignets Louisiana’s answer to doughnuts are pillowy, fried dough squares blanketed with powdered sugar. Café Du Monde in New Orleans is the iconic go-to for a beignet and café au lait. In West Monroe, Caster and Chicory has a truck offering beignets filled with extra goodies like blueberry cheesecake or savory ham and cheese. FOOD & DRINK Po’boys These sandwiches are stuffed with fried seafood, deli meats or hot roast beef on split French bread. Ray’s PeGe in Monroe is a longtime gem known for its gravy-accompanied roast beef po’boy, while Parkway Bakery & Tavern in New Orleans has been serving them up since 1911. JAMBALAYA Oysters Whether chargrilled, raw or fried, oysters are a Gulf Coast staple. Follow the Louisiana Oyster Trail and stop at Drago’s Seafood Restaurant in New Orleans for famous charbroiled oysters. In Bossier City, Frozen Pirogue slings them on the half shell with spicy Cajun flair. King Cake Mardi Gras season ushers in this colorful, cinnamon-laced specialty. Manny Randazzo King Cakes in Metairie is often considered the gold standard; while in Central Louisiana, Atwood’s Bakery in Alexandria boasts a crowd-pleasing, cream cheese-filled variety. Boudin Bottom: Neal Alfano/Larry Lynn Sazerac Widely recognized as “America’s First Cocktail,” this boozy blend of rye whiskey, Herbsaint, Peychaud’s bitters, sugar and lemon peel was invented in Louisiana. Try it at the aptly name Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, then swing by The Sazerac House to explore the drink’s full history. THE SAZERAC HOUSE, NEW ORLEANS This sausage made of pork, rice and spices is best explored in Southwest Louisiana on the Cajun Boudin Trail. For a true pilgrimage, stop for fresh-out-of-the-fryer boudin balls at Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins in Scott, a city named the “Boudin Capital of the World.” EXPLORE LOUISIANA LIBATIONS! ExploreLouisiana.com 35
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