Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast

8 Ways to Enjoy Crawfish Around Louisiana

In a typical year, from December to June is known as “Crawfish Season.” Check out all the ways to enjoy this beloved crustacean while you can!

Springtime ushers in Louisiana’s unofficial fifth and perhaps favorite season, crawfish season! It's a time of year that arouses locals and visitors alike with the spicy aroma of neighborhood boils throughout Louisiana. Here are eight different ways to celebrate crawfish during crawfish season.

1. Crawfish Education

Bayou Bounty Trail

At the Conrad Rice Mill in New Iberia, take a tour of the century-plus old mill and learn about the Acadians and the area’s aquaculture that illustrates the symbiotic relationship between rice and crawfish. Over in Kaplan, Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast - a combination B&B and crawfish farm - you’ll sleep in luxury at a historical Acadian home (built in 1903), and during the day, venture out into a crawfish farm, learn how the delicacy makes it from the pond to the plate, and enjoy a crawfish boil right on the property. Take a cooking class and purchase a copy of Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast Cookbook. For some of the best spots to chow down on these famous mudbugs, check out the Bayou Country Crawfish Trail in the Houma area - which features dozens of stops serving up a variety of crawfish dishes.

2. Crawfish Farm Tour

Seafood Sensation Trail

The Jeff Davis Parish offers a unique opportunity to learn everything about Louisiana’s favorite food with crawfish farm tours. The crawfish tour begins at the Tietje Crawfish Farm where you will get to learn about crawfish habitats and harvesting while out in the crawfish fields. You will also learn about crawfish species biology and pond ecology. The tour continues to the I-10 Crawfish Cooperative for an explanation of the marketing sector where visitors will see demonstrations of the cleaning, grading and distribution process. Field trips and group tours must be arranged through the Jeff Davis Parish Tourist Commission

3. Crawfish and Beer – A Perfect Pairing

Tammany Taste Trail

St. Tammany Parish, also known as the Northshore area, has a nice selection of breweries. Abita Brewing Company, Chafunkta Brewing Company and Spoke + Barrel Eatery know that when it comes to crawfish and beer, you can’t have one without the other. Plan a trip during crawfish season, grab some hot and spicy boiled crawfish and wash it all down with a cold beer. Or, establishments like Pat’s Seafood & Cajun Deli and the Mandeville Seafood Market & Eatery prepare fresh boiled crawfish and hot meals like crawfish pies, crawfish étouffée, crawfish pasta and crawfish corn chowder.

4. Festival Fun

Red River Riches Trail

Crawfish celebrations aren’t limited to south Louisiana. Mudbug Madness and Crawfest in Shreveport are both popular events, each featuring plenty of tasty crawfish, live music of all genres, arts & crafts and more family-friendly fun. While in the area, check out Crawdaddy’s Kitchen and order up some crawfish specialties like crawfish cornbread, fried crawfish tails, fries topped with crawfish queso, a fried crawfish po’boy, crawfish étouffée and crawfish fettucine alfredo.

Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast

Gather your own crawfish and enjoy a crawfish boil at Crawfish Haven and Mrs. Rose's Bed & Breakfast.

Boiled Crawfish

Grab crawfish and beer at a local brewery.

CrawfishMonica_JF.jpeg

Crawfish Monica at Jazz Fest.

Crawfish Farm Tours in Jeff Davis Parish Louisiana

Learn about the crawfish industry on a Crawfish Farm Tour.

5. Dinner and a Show

Capital Cravings Trail

Boudreaux & Thibodaux’s is a nightclub, bar, and eatery in downtown Baton Rouge that’s a great spot for live entertainment year-round. But during crawfish season, the experience is heightened with the addition of boiled crawfish. Three Roll Estate, a local distillery, also features live performances and boiled crawfish. Or, order up a Catfish Perdu (fried catfish atop crawfish étouffée) or a Fried Crawfish Salad for dinner at The Chimes right off of LSU’s campus, then head next door to The Varsity Theatre for a live show.

6. Big Easy Eats

Creole Crescent Trail

From crawfish étouffée and crawfish bisque, to crawfish po’boys and the classic boiled crawfish – you’ll find every iteration of crawfish in the New Orleans area. Try Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter, which has been featured on the Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food” and the Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” Or, pick up boiled crawfish from seafood markets like Bobby’s Seafood or Broadview Seafood. And don’t miss iconic dishes like Crawfish Monica or crawfish bread at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

7. Crawfish with a View

Delta Delights Trail

Trapp’s in West Monroe rests right on the Ouachita River and offers plenty of both traditional and unique crawfish dishes. Start with seafood nachos topped with fried crawfish tails, crawfish queso, or crawfish pies. Then, enjoy a crawfish po’boy, crawfish étouffée, a baked potato topped with crawfish, or fried catfish smothered in crawfish étouffée. Or, pick up boiled crawfish from Cheniere Shack or Crawfish City.

8. Practice Cajun Cooking

Prairie Home Cooking Trail

Opelousas is the home of Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning. Pick up a jug of Tony’s Creole Crawfish & Crab Boil and try your hand at perfecting a crawfish boil. For something a little less daunting, grab a box of Tony’s Creole Etouffee Base Mix and whip up a batch. Or, choose to dine at one of the area's numerous restaurants that pay homage to the prized crustacean during season, such as Crawfish House & Grill. And at Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins, try the spicy crawfish boudin, crawfish pies, fried crawfish balls and more for delicious handheld treats.

 

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