It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Thursday, April 25, the gates will open for the 50th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. To commemorate Jazz Fest turning the big 5-0 (and adding a whole extra day!) here’s a compilation of 50 foods you and your fest friends should consider chowing down on. From New Orleans classics, vegetarian options, dishes best shared, deep fried goodness and sweets so right they’ll make your eyes roll to the back of your head….Let’s fest and feast! Shall we?
Trust Me
Why? I clean plates for fun and hello, I’m a food writer.
Love At First Bite, Cochon de Lait Po-Boy
Panaroma Foods, Crawfish Bread
Catering Unlimited, Cajun Jambalaya
Big River Foods, Crawfish Monica
Ms. Linda’s Catering, Traditional Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce
That New New
You may have been going to Jazz Fest since the beginning and your food order has yet to be swayed. But what’s life without branching out a little? Give these new items a chance!
Congresso Cubano, Yucca Fries with Chimichurri
Mrs. Wheat’s Foods, Mini Shrimp and Andouille Pies
TJ Gourmet, Oyster Rockefeller Bisque
Baquet’s Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe, Redfish Baquet
Carmo, Bunny Chow (South African Veggie Curry)
Louisiana Legends
These foods are as iconic to New Orleans as Jazz Fest itself.
Vaucresson’s Sausage, Hot Sausage Po-Boy
Prejean’s Restaurant, Pheasant, Quail and Andouille Gumbo
United Houma Nation, Creamy Shrimp Corn Macque Choux
Creole’s Lunch House, Creole Stuffed Bread
DiMartino’s Famous Muffuletta’s, Muffuletta
No Passport Required
International flair without the cost of a plane ticket and your sanity as a child kicks the back of your seat on and off for 12 hours. Sorry, I had an experience.
Carmo, Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread)
Ba Mien Vietnamese Cuisine, Goi Cuon (Spring Roll)
Bennachin Restaurant, Poulet Fricassee (Chicken on a Stick)
Ajun Cajun, Yakiniku Po-Boy (Garlic Beef Ribeye)
Gambian Foods, Dibbi Grilled Steak Pita
But I Don’t Eat Meat
Not a problem. After all, animals are our friends.
Cajun Nights Catering, Fried Green Tomatoes
Ten Talents Catering, Spinach Artichoke Casserole
Burks and Douglas, Vegetarian Red Beans and Rice
Mona’s Cafe, Falafel Sandwich
The Praline Connection Warehouse, Crowder Peas and Okra
Sharing Is Caring
What a lovely thing to not only share food but the cost of it.
Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, Lump Crab Stuffed Beignets
Fatty’s Cracklins, Fried Sweet Potato Chips
Cottage Catering, Crawfish Strudel
Gallo and Marks, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Jumbo Peanut Company, Glazed Pecans
It’s Fried O’Clock Somewhere
If you didn’t eat something fried did you even fest?
Galley Seafood Restaurant, Fried Soft-shell Crab Po-Boy
Papa Ninety, Boudin Balls
Catering Unlimited, Fried Chicken
Vucinovich’s Restaurant, Fried Shrimp Po-Boy
Fatty Crackins, Cracklin
I’m Parched
Pace is of utmost importance, and every professional fest-goer knows they can’t drink alcohol the WHOLE time. Here are some options for the in the meantime in between time.
Sunshine Concessions, Rosemint Herbal Iced Tea
Café du Monde, Café Au Lait (hot, iced, or frozen)
Angelo Brocato’s, Strawberry Lemonade
WWOZ, Mango Freeze
AJ’s Sno-Balls, Sno-balls (sugar-free and ice cream stuffed)
Seafood Extravaganza
Delicious fresh catches from our own backyard.
Stuf Hapn Event Catering, Creole Stuffed Crab
Patton’s Caterers, Oyster Patties
Palmer’s Jamaican Cuisine, Caribbean Fish
Gallagher’s Grill, Pecan Catfish Meunière
Cajun Night’s Catering, Crabmeat Stuffed Shrimp
Sweet Yo Self
Indulge baby. It’s not like you won’t dance it off.
Francofonte On Wheels, Old Fashioned Hand Made Ice Cream Sandwiches
Fireman Mike’s Kitchen, Fresh Strawberry and Yogurt Trifle
Joyce’s Lemonade, Crispy Rice Treats
Roman Chewing Candy Company, Roman Chewing Candy
Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, Sweet Potato Cookies
For all your Jazz Fest needs click (here) for the Jazz Fest Bible! It’s a necessity darling.
