Virtually everyone is familiar with the lively party scene in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans is home to free-flowing booze, delectable food, and music galore. Most people are unaware that the residents of virtually every city in South Louisiana love to party until they drop. One of the liveliest cities outside of New Orleans is the small yet mighty city of Lafayette. Many Louisiana residents consider Lafayette to be the cultural capital of the state because it is steeped in a confluence of cultures which are responsible for some of the most unique food, music, and architecture in the United States.
Lafayette has historically been home to Cajun, Creole, African American, and Native American people. Cajuns are the descendants of French settlers who initially resided in Canada before making their way down South. The definition of Creole culture is a little harder to pin down. Most historians define Creole people as those who have mixed European, Native American, Latin American, and African ancestry. Creole culture was mostly concentrated in the city of New Orleans, but a few prominent Creole families made a lasting impact on Lafayette.
Photo by lafayettetravel.com
Cajun culture reigns supreme in Lafayette. Copious amounts of accordion-driven zydeco music, French-inspired stuffed sausage known as boudin, and spicy Cajun Bloody Marys prove that Lafayette’s Cajun roots are alive and well. A sizable portion of Lafayette’s residents even speak a slangy dialect of Cajun French. Don’t be surprised if you regularly hear French words when you’re out and about.
If you’re looking to sample Cajun food, a visit to Prejean’s should top your list of places to visit. Prejean’s features Cajun staples such as seafood gumbo, smoked tasso (tasso is a mouthwatering variety of smoked spicy ham), and deep fried gator. Prejean’s features an extensive menu which includes small plates and jumbo-sized entrees. You can order 3 pounds of boiled crawfish, a deluxe shrimp po-boy sandwich, and half a dozen fried oysters if the spirit moves you.
Photo by LafayetteTravel.com
Prejean’s also features live zydeco music for those who would like to dance off the week’s worth of calories that they just consumed in a single sitting. Les Freres Michot perform a spirited zydeco set every Sunday brunch. Even if you thought you weren’t capable of dancing until after 5 pm, Les Freres Michot will have you on your feet in no time. Especially if your Sunday brunch includes a few…
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