Eat fresh in Louisiana – follow our Culinary Trails

It's never difficult to find a good meal in Louisiana, but to make it really easy on yourself, consider using the Louisiana Culinary Trails as your guide. The Culinary Trails are routes that lead from one great meal to another, from one excellent seafood or produce market to another, through what is arguably the richest cultural melting pot in America.

We dine with gusto here, in part because our food connects us to our diverse heritage, which includes French, Spanish, African, German and many other influences. The Louisiana Culinary Trails lead you through our history while taking you to the front doors of some of the finest dining spots your taste buds will ever experience, from simple cafés and diners to white-tablecloth rooms where the cuisine and service are unmatched. For a food journey you will never forget, follow the Red River Riches, Delta Delights, Prairie Home Cooking, Seafood Sensation, Creole Crescent, Capital Cravings and Bayou Bounty trails.

As you enjoy your trip along the Louisiana Culinary Trails, you will come to appreciate our unparalleled access to fresh food that comes from both our rich soils and our rich fishing grounds. Louisiana is a leading supplier of seafood and fish to the entire country, so we are blessed with an enviable supply of fresh fruits de mer. Residents of the state enjoy having the best of the best at their back door, plucked from the vast waters of the Gulf of Mexco and our inland freshwater lakes and streams. Delicious fresh shrimp, blue crabs, bass, redfish, snapper, drum, trout, catfish – and much more – are commonplace on our tables.

Right up there with our seafood is our fresh Louisiana produce, and it's widely available too. Fresh-food markets are popular in locations throughout the state, and visitors can enjoy shopping them just as locals do. To enhance the experience, some markets feature on-site cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts displays, and even live music.

For information on where to buy fresh seafood in Louisiana, see this Seafood Finder provided by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. To find your way to fresh Louisiana produce, see our List of Produce Markets around the state. Be sure to shop early in order to enjoy the widest selection of fresh goods!