Far removed from the neon lights and Bourbon Street tourists of New Orleans lies the deep, swampy, and fiercely traditional heart of Acadiana. Venturing into rural Louisiana for a 2018 episode of Parts Unknown, the mission was to celebrate the incredibly unique, deeply resilient Cajun culture by participating in the chaotic, joyful madness of the rural Courir de Mardi Gras. The culinary landscape here is unapologetically heavy, rooted entirely in resourcefulness, massive amounts of pork fat, and the incredible bounty of the local bayous. The exploration dove into the genuine, working-class soul of the region, seeking out the finest gas station boudin balls, soul-warming plates of rice and gravy after Sunday church, and remote grocery stores serving legendary crawfish étouffée and oyster po-boys. It is a loud, incredibly fun celebration of a community that works hard and parties even harder, refusing to let their distinct heritage fade. To truly understand the magic of this southern enclave, you must eat like a local. Here are the essential, incredibly flavorful stops that defined this wild, unforgettable journey.
The great Anthony Bourdain left his mark everywhere he went. When his death was announced to the world in June 2018, media throughout the globe chimed in and listed all the great things he had done for their respective city, town, province, country. Whereas before, tourists would shy away from exotic foods, thanks to him, travellers now go the extra mile to find and try local bites. With this in mind, here are all the restaurants Bourdain visited and the dishes he tasted when he shot Anthony Bourdain Cajun Mardi Gras in Louisiana for his show, Parts Unknown Season 11 Episode 7 (Originally aired June 17, 2018):
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DISH – Boudin Ball, Boudin, and Cracklings
WHAT IS IT?
Boudin Ball – battered and fried ball of sausage and molten pepper jack cheese; Boudin – sausage of meat, fat, rice, vegetables and spices; Cracklings – fried pork rinds.
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WHERE IS IT?
Billy’s Boudin
904 Short Vine St
Opelousas, LA, United States
ANTHONY BOURDAIN CAJUN MARDI GRAS NOTES
Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins is a popular boudin spot in Louisiana.
DISH – Rice and Gravy, Fried Catfish, BBQ Ribs and Stuffed Turkey Wings
WHAT IS IT?
Rice and Gravy – brown gravy served over rice; Fried Catfish – battered and fried catfish fillet; BBQ Ribs – barbecued ribs; Stuffed Turkey Wings – baked stuffed turkey wings.
WHERE IS IT?
Laura’s Plate Lunch II
1904 W University Ave
Lafayette, LA, United States
ANTHONY BOURDAIN CAJUN MARDI GRAS NOTES
Laura’s Two is popular all the time, but particularly busy during Sundays after church.
DISH – Oyster Po-Boy, Crawfish Étouffée and Pecan Pie
WHAT IS IT?
Oyster Po-Boy – sandwich of fried oysters; Crawfish Étouffée – rice smothered with crawfish; Pecan Pie – pie made of pecan nuts.
WHERE IS IT?
Suire’s Grocery
13923 LA-35
Kaplan, LA, United States
ANTHONY BOURDAIN CAJUN MARDI GRAS NOTES
In Parts Unknown Cajun Mardi Gras, Bourdain describes Suire’s Grocery and Restaurant as “one of the more awesome locations” he has “ever found, the kind of breakfast spot” he “loves deeply. Menu right on the wall as you walk in, so you know what you’re getting”.
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Airing mere weeks after his tragic death in 2018, this joyful, chaotic plunge into Cajun country stands as one of the most poignant, life-affirming episodes he ever filmed. In his broader body of work, it is a masterpiece of highlighting incredibly distinct, often overlooked regional American cultures, proving that the most profound culinary traditions are usually found far from the major cities. The sheer delight he experienced while eating gas station boudin and participating in the wild, masked traditions of a rural Mardi Gras showcased a man who genuinely loved the strange, beautiful corners of the country. It remains a beautiful, historically significant tribute to a community that knows exactly how to celebrate life. Venture into the bayous, embrace the spice, and let the incredible, deep-fried traditions of Acadiana win you over.17981
