Cajun Cooking

Cajun Cooking
Brian Novacek

Now living in Louisiana for almost two years, I’ve been introduced to many new experiences and it has definitely been a delightful culture shock. I’ve learned how to dance to zydeco music, sing along to every LSU football chant, and be a typical tourist by experiencing a swamp tour. Out of all the new events I have taken part in, I believe Louisiana can be symbolized down to just one specific thing, which is its food. Natives to this part of the country take so much pride in their family recipes that have been passed down through generations and are continually perfected. I grew up enjoying a simple meal of steak and potatoes, unlike here where a vast array of dishes are prepared all across the bayou region. In the picture I chose, there is a large variety of Louisianan dishes, ranging from fried alligator to crawfish etoufee.
The assortment of many different ingredients and spices used in many of the dishes can reflect on the personality of the people who make it. I found the majority of the population here are rich with generosity, and I believe it shows greatly in the food prepared. Hospitality is not only extended to visitors to the state by their gracious attitudes, but also with the care shown when making some of these recipes. Family down to just friendly gatherings, are not put on without great foods like gumbo and jambalaya that take hours upon hours to prepare. Some spices used in most dishes are only prepared in this region of the United States and that makes it especially unique compared to any other part of the country. Maybe if I grew up around this culture I wouldn’t see it as out of the ordinary, but Cajun food is the best example I can associate with describing Louisiana.
Yes, there are many four star Cajun restaurants spread across the map, but nothing compares to enjoying a delicious meal while in the bayou region. The combination of fresh seafood and homemade spices are what make a Louisianan meal a true Cajun delicacy. When you add in a vibrant atmosphere of upbeat music and a few borderline alcoholic natives, it’s an experience unlike any other. When you drive out of the city limits to a local swamp for a delicious crawfish boil, nothing close can be duplicated anywhere else in the world. The mixed cultures of the French-Canadian population that live in this region is incorporated with how the meals are created by mixing French, Latin, and African-American styles of cooking. As a result, the variety of what seems like endless amounts of dishes directly reflects the people who live here.
Maybe not every dish is perhaps the healthiest choice to swallow down, but the assortment of flavors and love put into the dish helps you forget counting any calories. Louisiana and the food that is created here is a huge factor in why the state is one of a kind. I guess after writing about food for an hour, I have worked up an appetite. Time to go grab some crawfish.