ON THE BEATEN PATH
The Cajun Boudin Trail
By Kim Ranjbar
Don's Easily one of the most unique foods found in Acadiana— otherwise known as South Louisiana—boudin has gone from being an obscure dish loved by locals and fastidious foodies to a country-wide phenomenon. Everyone wants boudin these days and it's easy to get with major brands like Manda and Savoie's distributing country-wide to supermarket chains like Safeway, Albertsons, and even Walmart. But the best way to enjoy authentic Cajun boudin is to go to the source. In and around Scott, a small municipality within Lafayette Parish, there's a well-traveled trail. It's not a wildlife or nature trail—oh no. It's a boudin trail. While there are a couple of actual restaurants on this pilgrimage, most of the spots along the trail are gas stations, family grocery stores, convenience marts, slaughterhouses, and butcher shops or meat markets. For locals, boudin is something you pick up before heading to work—a fatty, savory treat squeezed from the casing into your mouth between sips of hot coffee while sitting on the hood of your car outside the gas station.
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Summer Restaurant Guide | Where Y'at Magazine
The Best Stop in Scott
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY LAFAYETTETRAVEL.COM (FROM LEFT: LUCIUS-FONTENOT; TERRY FENSEL)
Fondly called “Cajun fast food,” boudin is seasoned rice and pork stuffed into a sausage casing and steamed, smoked, or grilled.
