« Best Chocolate Desserts | Main | Winning Wednesday - Lush Toner Tab Contest Giveaway Results »
Top Reasons To Visit Southwest Louisiana
By DesertMama | October 14, 2008
- Seafood Palace Crabs
Recently I made my way to Southwest Louisiana to experience its culture, history and culinary delights. The Lake Charles area, or rather Calcasieu Parish, makes up the Southwest region and today I’m going to give you four reasons I plan to return to this special part of one of my favorite states - very soon.
1. Cuisine. I heard the area described as a melting pot and even more appropriately, the “real gumbo” of Louisiana. The variety of Acadians, Americans, Creoles and Indians calling this area home have influenced the cuisine in such a way that it’s impossible not to be completely enthralled with the restaurant options. For example, Mazen’s is a wonderful Mediterranean restaurant with an array of mouthwatering menu times (I fell for the fried asparagus and hollandaise) while Seafood Palace and Steamboat Bills are two local casual restaurants with menus bursting with good ol’ Louisiana cookin’. (I’m officially addicted to the seafood stuffed peppers at Seafood Palace.)
2. Delicious Donuts & Bakery’s King Cake. Having spent 14 years of my life in Louisiana, I have enjoyed my share of King Cake, I even make my own every year, but Delicious Donuts & Bakery has to make the best King Cake I have ever tasted. And they have a new filling - Banana Foster. (They ship King Cakes if you want to order one this Mardi Gras 337-479-2986.)
3. Community Coffee. I remember my parents drinking “CC” when I was a kid, but I have a personal appreciation for it as well, I’m even drinking a cup right now. If you didn’t know, Louisiana has a rich coffee history but Community Coffee is seen everywhere, from the local restaurants to Albertson’s grocery store (you can pick a fresh cup in the bakery or take home a few bags for yourself).
4. Mardi Gras Museum. This six-room museum, located in the retired Central High School in Lake Charles, has the most extensive costume display in the South and a Mardi Gras Float - absolutely stunning.
Learn more at Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Topics: Budget Travel, Culinary Travel, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways, The Cookie Jar |
TravelMuse
October 14th, 2008 at
I just returned from a vacation, too. Guess I’m a travling grandmother. Though my granddaughter weren’t with us. I’m glad to see you going to Louisiana. We all still need to be supportive of that area when we can.
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Author of the multi award-winning novel This Is the Place
http://www.carolynhoward-Johnson.com
October 14th, 2008 at
I’ve only been to Louisiana once. I was on a book tour, traveling west on Interstate 20 with Kathy Patrick, head of the Pulpwood Queens (a story in itself), when she said to me, “Are you thirsty?” I nodded yes, thinking she was asking if I wanted to stop for a soda. But as soon as she pulled off the highway and turned down a dirt road, I realized she had something else in mind. At the end of the path was a shack with a drive-through window and a blackboard menu. No Cokes or Pepsis. Just frozen alcoholic drinks. I laughed as I read the offerings. It was only two-thirty in the afternoon, but we ordered Mudslides–thick, chocolaty concoctions lacked with Kalua. A shot of liqueur along with the local color. I’m not a big drinker, but I’ve never had quite as much fun on tour as I did that day in Louisiana.
You’ve inspired me to return.
October 14th, 2008 at
[...] More here: Top Reasons To Visit Southwest Louisiana [...]
October 14th, 2008 at
I was born in Louisiana! I love the state. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to that part of the state.
Now, you made me very curious about King’s Cake. I’ll have to ask for that next visit. I left the state when I was six weeks old, explaining why I wouldn’t know what King Cake is.
Now, I need to find an excuse to visit NO.