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Crawfish Boat
Festival Punch
Waffle Sandwich
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
FESTIVAL
WHERE THE
SHOP
S H O P
CHEFS