Food and Drink

Liquid Epiphany

A seductive Twelfth Night Sour inspires winter imbibing and revelry with an afterglow

Game On

Restaurants around Acadiana are serving up wild meat, fowl and gator, you just have to know where to go

Rise and Dine

5 breakfast and brunch favorites that’ll stick to your ribs day or night

There was a time when visitors from around the world were drawn to Acadiana for its unique Cajun culinary specialties. That fact remains true, but today what Acadiana’s chefs offer is more a mix of the traditional, the innovative and the international. For the 2017 installment of our Best Chefs feature, we spotlight three chefs who learned the culinary arts in their communities at the elbows of family members and two who bring a special style from abroad. Some obtained their education from formal institutions and others by simply doing. It’s a mixture that still makes Acadiana a unique culinary hub that attracts visitors to our region year after year.

NEW New Orleans

A guide to

Whip it good

Enjoy a sweet, smooth, syrup-laced cocktail with holiday spices on the water’s edge

mollusk memories

Oysters three ways to share and savor

seasonal shift

Welcoming autumn with soothing soups, stews, gumbos and oysters at their peak

2017 TOPS OF ACADIANA

Person of the Year Nic Hunter The night before Nic Hunter was sworn in as Lake Charles’ first new mayor in 17 years, he and his wife stayed in and play board games. Monopoly and Scattergories, specifically. Nic got crushed…

Burger Kings

From standard to outrageous, Acadiana has a burger for every palate

mayo- daze

Creamy, dreamy homemade mayo elevates sandwiches, sauces and salads

tiki-tini time

Enjoy a blast of cold air and refreshing end-of-summer cocktails with a tropical kick

Around Acadiana

Bon temps in and around Cajun Country

Best New Restaurant

Throughout the year, we scour Acadiana in search of the latest crop of eateries striving to uncover new favorites and those poised to stand the test of time. Our 2017 picks will keep you well-entertained and, better yet, well-fed for months to come.

LAWN BEVS BUDS FOOD PLAY

Add the above ingredients, mix in a pinch of music and prepare for a steamy summer featuring tasty bites and cold drinks with friends in the backyard

Beat Summer Heat

When the temperatures rise in Cajun Country, the cool kids go for cold treats

Summer Fruits

Tomatoes, corn and figs take center stage during the hottest season

Lucille’s Bubbles and Bite

An invigorating summer cocktail that delivers eye candy and wow factor in Lake Charles

Around Acadiana

Bon temps in and around Cajun Country

LIGHTEN UP

6 salads that pack powerful flavor and nutritional punch

Warming Effect

Thaitini at Blu Basil in Lafayette will keep your spirits high

Spring Thaw

Winter’s heavy bounty gives way to light, seasonal vegetables

Crawfish Tales

The best mudbugs in Acadiana are worth time, trouble and effort

locavore

The importance of locally-sourced foods on the Acadiana table

the ice man cometh

Sourcing the ‘good ice’ for better cocktails

golden grapes

Warm up with a sweet, citrusy wine-infused libation

My Oh My Cakes and Pies

The holiday season is also the baking season, the time when many who never bake do so nonstop. I would wager that the sales of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, shortening, nuts, dried fruits and all the other essentials skyrocket…