Celeste Gomez, director of the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission, says food from this area is all about simple ingredients, including celery, onion and green pepper.

After a short visit to St. Landry Parish, one gets the idea that folks live like they cook: keep it simple, know what you like and offer what you have to others.

Live it up in Lafayette

The Cajun culture continues south of St. Landry Parish in Lafayette. Stop at Vermilionville, a Cajun/Creole heritage and folk life park that re-creates the Acadiana area between 1765 and 1890. Music, craft and dancing demonstrations are regular happenings here, but a real treat is the cooking school. This day, chef Patrick Mould from his Louisiana School of Cooking demonstrates the proper way to deep-fry a turkey.

While in Lafayette, have dinner at Charley G’s Seafood Grill, 3809 Ambassador Caffery Parkway. His Louisiana crab cakes are famous. Owner Charles Goodson has been in the restaurant business for 19 years and knows how to treat his guests.

Pull a tap in
St. Tammany Parish

Across the 24-mile Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is a collection of several charming communities and a pace much more relaxed than nearby New Orleans. Some of these communities, like Abita Springs, were popular 19th-century retreats for New Orleanians.

Abita Springs always has been noted for its legendary spring water, but since 1986, it has become well known for the Abita Brewing Company, a terrific microbrewery.

Jim Patton introduced his brews to the North Shore and New Orleans, but now his flavorful beers–including his famous Purple Haze with the hint of fresh raspberries–enjoy wider following. Their product is distributed in 33 states. Stop by the brewpub off Holly Street on Saturday and Sunday for tastings.

Visitors may raise a glass of wine at Pontchartrain Vineyards north of Covington, where owner John Seago’s passion for winemaking is evident. Seago quit his thriving business as an attorney to become a gentleman farmer. Just more than 10 years later, he creates eight vintages annually, and guests can sample all of them in the beautiful tasting room.

“These are Louisiana wines for Louisiana foods,” Seago says. “The great thing about Louisiana’s heritage is our passion for food. Wine is food; it’s not an accoutrement, it’s essential.”

Visitors in the late summer can take part in harvesting the grapes. From May through October, the winery offers Jazz’n the Vines, a popular concert series.

Have dinner and stay overnight at Annadele’s Plantation, 71495 Chestnut St. in Covington. This new, award-winning restaurant, owned by chef Pat Gallagher, showcases the best local ingredients in memorable multi-course meals. Don’t miss the signature soft-shell craft and saffron bisque or the sautéed pompano with lemon butter and crabmeat served with asparagus and eggplant. The flourless Godiva chocolate cake with blackberries was a perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Four guestrooms are available but be prepared to see or hear a surprise guest. Gallagher swears that there are spirits, believed to be former residents, living in the house. It all adds to the wonderful heritage of the place; and Gallagher’s welcoming personality and culinary gifts have made Annadele’s a restaurant to respect and savor.

Take a food tour or sample one of many food festivals throughout Louisiana. Your senses will thank you.

Deborah Reinhardt is managing editor of AAA Southern Traveler magazine.