Culture of Louisiana - Food

Food

Seasonings such as Cayenne pepper, Tony Chachere's, Zatarain's are prevalent in the cuisine of Louisiana. While the state is predominantly known for its Cajun cuisine, Native American cuisine preceded their contributions.Creole cuisine is influenced by traditional French cooking with Spanish, African, and Indian influences.

Although the food most identified with the state is the Cajun and Creole food of South Louisiana, North Louisiana also has its own unique cuisine. Traditionally, southern style soul food such as smothered pork chops, chicken and dumplings, candied yams, hot water cornbread, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and black-eyed peas are commonly eaten in North Louisiana. For many years, crayfish were not eaten outside of Cajun country. People north of Alexandria were more likely to eat fried chicken or barbecue. Fish fries featuring catfish took the place of crayfish boils. Today, boiled crayfish is served throughout the state.

Other foods popular in Louisiana include Gumbo, Etouffee, Jambalaya, Mufellettas, Po boys, and Red Beans and Rice (traditionally eaten on Monday). Seafood is especially popular in Louisiana either as an ingredient or as a main dish such as Shrimp, Crayfish, Crabs, Oysters and Catfish. Swamp denizens such as Gator or Alligator, Frog Legs, and Turtle Soup is popular around the bayous of south Louisiana.

Famous desserts and snacks include King Cake, beignets, Pralines, Sweet Potato pie and Pecan pie.

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Famous quotes containing the word food:

    Hume, and other skeptical innovators, are vain men, and will gratify themselves at any expense. Truth will not afford sufficient food to their vanity; so they have betaken themselves to errour. Truth, Sir, is a cow that will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.
    James Boswell (1740–1795)

    Most vegetarians I ever see looked enough like their food to be classed as cannibals.
    Finley Peter Dunne (1867–1936)

    Lead bullets flattened by human teeth have been found on the camp site. Soldiers who had been caught stealing food from nearby farms customarily chewed on a bullet as the lash was laid on their bare backs.
    —For the State of New Jersey, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)