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Tasty Tuesdays: Best Cajun/Creole Food in Austin

11 May 2010 527 views View Comments

My boyfriend loves some Louisiana eats. So does my friend and Mississippi native, Betsy. Her husband, David, a recently reformed vegetarian, is pretty happy eating just about anything. When Betsy and David invited us to road trip down to New Orleans for Jazz Fest this year, I knew there would be some delicious meals ahead.

The drive from Austin to New Orleans is about 8-9 hours. To be honest, I’m not really sure how long it took since I indulged in healthy naps on both legs of the journey. A couple hours away from New Orleans, we stopped in Lafayette, LA for dinner at Dwight’s to enjoy some tasty crawfish and shrimp. Crawfish season in the Gulf goes from January through May — and we learned that Dwight’s is only open during that time of year. With the oil spill in the Gulf at top of mind, the seafood tasted extra sweet knowing it might not be there next year….

Crawfish and Shrimp at Dwight's in Lafayette, LA

Crawfish and Shrimp at Dwight's in Lafayette, LA

David and Adam each ordered the Dwight’s special — crawfish etouffe and fried crawfish on a toasted baguette.

David and Adam Chow on the Dwight's Special at Dwight's

David and Adam Chow on the Dwight's Special at Dwight's

At Jazz Fest the next day, I went with a super combo plate from one of the food court vendors for $12. The plate included  Pecan Catfish Meuniere, Seafood Mirliton Casserole, and Fried Crab Cake with Smoked Tomato and Jalapeno Tartar. Fun fact: mirliton is another word for chayote – a summer squash!

Jazz Fest Combo Plate

Jazz Fest Combo Plate

Adam went for the Cochon de Lait (Literally translates to “pig in milk” and is suckling pig – a VERY non-Kosher dish).

Cochon de Lait at Jazz Fest

Cochon de Lait at Jazz Fest

Wearing my food blogging hat, I stopped on the way to the food court to ask these guys what they were eating. As we walked away, Adam told me one of them was Adam Gertler, a contestant on the Next Food Network Star who now has his own show, Will Work for Food. I hadn’t heard of him before but decided to go back for a picture anyway. Thanks, Adam and friends!

Adam Gertler (center) from Food Network's "Will Work for Food" at Jazz Fest

Adam Gertler (center) from Food Network's "Will Work for Food" at Jazz Fest

On the morning we were leaving New Orleans, we had to stop at Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter for some beignets and coffee! Delicious.

Adam enjoys a Cafe du Monde Beignet

Adam enjoys a Cafe du Monde Beignet

And now for our Tasty Tuesdays question — where do you go for your cajun/creole food fix in Austin? And, is there anywhere that serves delicious beignets and chicory coffee (other than Nubian Queen Lola’s — who makes wonderful cajun dishes — including beignets)?

  • Stephaniefvincent
    I grew up in Lafayette and Dwight's is awesome. I was also at Jazz fest this year eating what you guys ate!
  • Katie Taylor
    There's a great Southern / Cajun place on the Eastside called Mr. Catfish. It's on Springdale Rd. South of MLK. They have the BEST boudin balls I've had outside of South Louisiana! It definitely hits the spot when I'm hungry for home.
  • FoodieIsTheNewForty
    The new Osmos Kitchen trailer has beignets, I believe...I haven't tried them yet, though.

    http://twitter.com/OsmosKitchen
  • Betsy
    That was such a fun trip - so much delicious food; so little time, and the music wasn't too shabby either.

    Although you can't get Dwight's crawfish here in Austin, you can get tasty Louisiana-style eats at Nubian Queen Lola's and Shuck Shack. You can also buy reasonably-priced Gulf shrimp at Quality Seafood. Boil it with a packet of their spicy swamp seafood boil, maybe throw in some fresh corn, new potatoes and sliced sausage and serve with a cold Abita. If you're lucky, Adam will bring along some of his excellent gumbo and you've got yourself a fine feast. Whodat!
  • When I'm down in far South Austin I enjoy the Evangeline Cafe (http://www.evangelinecafe.com/). Good Cajun food from an owner/chef who knows his Louisiana cooking, and live music every night of the week.

    Nubian Queen Lola's is a true experience.

    I really miss Gene's on the east side, though. I've never had a better po-boy here in town.
  • I saw in a recent Statesman that there is a new po-boy place to try: The Original New Orleans Po-Boy and Gumbo Shop, a trailer at East 11th and East Sixth streets serving lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays. 406-9237. Sounds like a Law School Friday lunch potential future location to me!
  • Southwest Austin has two really good places: Evangeline Cafe and Cypress Grill. Neither has beignets, but Evangeline has fabulous hot pistolettes served plain, stuffed with shrimp/crawfish, or topped with pecan praline for dessert.
  • Pecan praline...you're speakin' my language, girl!
  • I love me some Mama Roux's! They have delicious cajun food and the folks who run it are really wonderful. I can't get enough of the pork tenderloin (enough for lunch the next day) with the tiny, awesome onion rings and rich mushroom sauce. If you can get the corn as a side dish, I recommend it. The key to this place is to go early. I think around 6:30 or so they already had an hour wait. Tiny restaurant in a strip center.
  • This is a new spot off 183 near all of the Vietnamese places and that Target, right? It's definitely on the list. Thanks, April!
  • It's actually off I35 near Parmer.
  • Holly
    there is actually one next to target off 183 near all of the Vietnamese places. It's called the Crazy Cajun Kitchen. It used to be Cafe Bella that served up a different style of banh mi. Didn't stop in cause we were heading to Din Ho.
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