Louisiana Cookin

Lafayette is at the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole Country, where you can truly feel the pulse of the distinct food, music, and culture Lafayette has to offer. Whether you’re itching to try authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine, to dive into the area’s rich history and culture, or to take in the scenery of the great outdoors, Lafayette has something to suit every interest. Here are just a few of the unique sights, sounds, bites, and more that can only be found in Lafayette.

Cajun Music
Hear an accordion along with a rubboard, triangle, and fiddle, and you know you’re in Cajun Country. Because of its unique sound and proud heritage, Acadiana is fertile ground for local and internationally renowned musicians. Listen to local music and do the zydeco two-step at local dance halls like Rock ‘n’ Bowl de Lafayette and Randol’s as well as at Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, the Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market at the Horse Farm, and the Louisiana Crossroads series at Acadiana Center for the Arts.

Cajun French Culture
Lafayette has been noted by CNN as one of the best places to experience French culture in the United States. The area was settled in the late 1700s by Acadians who were exiled from Canada when they refused to give up speaking French and practicing Catholicism. They found refuge in south Louisiana, and today, their French roots remain strong. Public school children can enroll in French immersion as early as pre-K, and high school seniors can receive a Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma. Around town, visitors might hear a distinct dialect of Cajun-French, notice names like Hebert (pronounced “a-bair”), Boudreaux, LeBlanc, and Thibodeaux, and hear expressions like cher bébé, meaning “darling.”

Evangeline Maid Bread
The most famous Acadian refugee to the area is Evangeline, who was immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem. Drive around town, and you’ll see her name on everything from an oak tree and highway signs to a giant billboard with a spinning loaf of bread. Now 100 years old, Evangeline Maid bread is still produced in Acadiana, where some half a million loaves are made each week. Get a photo by the iconic sign and be sure to pick up a loaf of the soft white bread at a local grocer. You’ll thank us later!

A One-of-a-Kind George Rodrigue
Acadiana’s native son George Rodrigue became famous for his Blue Dog paintings, but before creating the pop art icon, he documented the distinct Cajun culture through paintings and sculpture. Fans can see his work at galleries in Lafayette, New Orleans, and California, but few know about his 12-foot monument depicting the poet Longfellow and the reunion of Evangeline and her lost love Gabriel, which he created in Italy in the early 1980s and had shipped home to Acadiana where it now stands on Asma Boulevard off of Kaliste Saloom Road.

America’s Largest Swamp
The Atchafalaya Basin is even bigger than the Florida Everglades. This mystical cypress swamp is home to 250 known species of birds, 22 million pounds of crawfish, and massive alligators. Legend has it, the swamp is also home to the Rougarou, a French werewolf. If you’re ready to brave the wild, local airboat and kayaking outfitters provide tours

Cajun Food
Cajuns are famous for their cuisine. Not to be confused with New Orleans’ fancy Creole cuisine, Cajun food is good ol’ down-home cookin.’ A few Cajun specialties you must try include crawfish étouffée, jambalaya, rice dressing, and chicken and sausage gumbo. One great way to taste a little of everything is on Cajun Food Tours.

Borden’s Last Ice Cream Shoppe
Dating back to the 1800s, Borden’s became one of the most recognized dairy brands with its iconic Elsie the Cow mascot. Visitors to Lafayette can savor a blast from the past in the very last Borden’s in the world. The Lafayette outpost has been a mainstay since 1940 and still serves old-fashioned ice cream malts, shakes, sodas, and scoops as well as ice-cold milk right out of the machine.