There is simply no place in the nation that has a greater variety of cultural foods than the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Much of the food culture here is closely connected to that of New Orleans not far away. Seafood is of course a staple here and fresh seafood is something that you can only get where it’s caught.
Seafood
Starting with seafood, you should know that our country is being bombarded with fish originating from other nations. I understand that there is seasonality for some fish but there is no reason why anyone should eat catfish caught anywhere but Mississippi or Louisiana. Our fish is earned hereunder strict government regulation. Yet, catfish caught in Southeast Asia is still served in some restaurants. When you eat catfish along the coast ask if it’s locally produced.
Shrimp is abundant in the area. There are two main seasons for shrimp here and they are tasty. Many restaurants receive fresh shrimp daily. In fact, you can buy fresh shrimp from the same fishermen at the ports along the coast. Once again, you can go to the big box store and buy frozen shrimp that is imported from Asia. Why? There is no better shrimp than gulf shrimp.
Blue Crab is a local favorite. You can find it prepared in many ways but fried crab it the most common way it is served. Often you receive several on your plate and then open and eat. The blue crab is caught all around the bayous and inland waterways.
Redfish, black drum, flounder, bass, speckled trout, and many other species of fish are available in restaurants. Redfish are still considered somewhat endangered and it is hard to find outside of the South in a restaurant. Fish comes in daily to restaurants so enjoy.
Crawfish
I put crawfish into its category. While it’s fish, people here enjoy them in a season which is generally the early winter through spring. Crawfish are served boiled on everything from stuffing for flounder to a topping for eggs. The most popular way to eat crawfish is to buy them from a shack that opens just to sell them cooked in a bag or live in a bag. Everyone who sells them cooked in a bag or even live mixes them with their mix of seasoning. Crawfish are farmed along the coast but again, it irritates me to see Asian crawfish competing with our local farmers.
The shacks only sell locally sourced crawfish however cooked crawfish may come from elsewhere. Ask before you order. Why come all this way to eat crawfish from another country?
The Boil
Now we are talking. The typical boil is a “crawfish boil”. You start with a large pot and I mean a very large pot. They make pots just for boils. Fill partly full with water, throw in yo, ur spices and bring to a boil. Throw in corn-on-the-cob, sausage, and redskin potatoes. Then fill the pot with fresh live crawfish. Bring back to a boil. When ready, empty the water and toss the entire contents on a trestle table. If your boil is not for a party, you use boil trays which are large with a one-inch lip to hold any juice and fill it with crawfish and the other ingredients.
By the way, five pounds of fresh crawfish is about right per person.
Popular dishes
Red beans and rice with sausage is a local favorite. Jambaliah is a rice dish with various ingredients e.g. chicken or fish. Etouffee can be crawfish, , crab or shrimp., this saucy dip is eaten with rice which is added at the time of eating. Fried chicken is without a doubt one of the most popular southern favorites. Anything fried, from candy bars to an alligator. Greens are on most menus along with okra and other traditional southern veggies. Don’t forget fried green tomatoes and fried pickles.
Even local deserts
Coconut cake is popular in the spring around Easter. King cake is popular during mardi gras. There are several pies and cakes that are local to this area and New Orleans. You can buy them in grocery stores.
I could go on and on about the food here, I left off many dishes that you would probably not find elsewhere. You should know that while these delicious Cajun and Southern dishes are popular you can find almost any other fare here. With the connection to the rest of the world through the military bases, many cultures have restaurants here. Enjoy.
