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FESTIVAL

C RAWFISH BOAT, WAFFLE SANDWICH, FESTIVAL PUNCH, MELTDOWN, and of course BOUDIN are some of the most important words to know during Festival International de Louisiane 2014. As FIL takes over downtown Lafayette, the streets fill with the aromas and flavors of Acadiana’s culinary culture. As the official photographer for the festival, my job is to capture images of over 60 different bands and performers from around the world. Somewhere in-between making images of those acts and the crowds, I have to find time to eat. Planning your FIL food tour is just as important as making your schedule to catch all your favorite bands. The crawfish boat brought to you by Bon Creole, a plate lunch house in New Iberia, is possibly the most famous dish of the festival week. The bubbling bread volcano of creamy spinach and crawfish is definitely one to be shared. To wash down your boat, grab a cup of Festival Punch. The tropical, boozy, and refreshing concoction can be found at beverage booths run by FIL volunteers. Give them a tip, and they may even do a little dance for you. Of course there will be lines, especially for the Viva la Waffle food truck. My plan will be to get my waffle sandwich, most likely the fried chicken and blue cheese slaw covered Roscoe created by chef Collin Cormier, early in the day before the rest of the festival goers get too hungry. As the heat of the day sets in, I’ll seek out a Meltdown gourmet ice pop made by New Orleans’ frozen treat wizard Michelle Weaver. You can find Weaver at her booth making fresh fruit and sweet pops daily during the festival. No visit to a Lafayette festival is complete without sampling a little Cajun fare. There will be no shortage of delicious fried shrimp, alligator bites, jambalaya, and red beans to be tasted, but the most important thing you can do for yourself is get a link of boudin. The Lagneaux’s or Norbert’s restaurant booths are both great options for your spicy link, which should always be washed down by a nice cold beer and then most likely another Festival Punch. Festival International by Denny Culbert + photos by Denny Culbert “When I need inspiration, I go to Rouses. There’s always something on the shelf or in the case that makes the light bulb go off.” —Chef Collin Cormier, Viva La Waffle, Lafayette WHERE THE SHOP CHEFS

Crawfish Boat

Festival Punch

S H O P

Waffle Sandwich

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