Just a few days after the dazzling return of the four-day French Quarter Festival, festers already have the world-famous New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to gear up for, this Friday, April 28 through May 1 and Thursday, May 5 through May 8 at the New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course.
Jazz Fest is arguably the original Louisiana music festival to become equally known for its food as its music, introducing Creole and Cajun specialties like shrimp and andouille pies, crawfish strudel, and oyster patties to the national palate. While there are a handful of longtime kitchens that aren’t making it this year — Crescent Catering, Praline Connection, and Creole’s Stuffed Bread, for example — for the most part, the festival’s food lineup remains remarkably familiar.
Still, it’s been two whole years since festers have chowed their way through festival-friendly dishes featuring crawfish, oysters, andouille, pralines, and more, so Eater is here to provide a refresher — nearly 40 picks for what to eat this year, both sweet and savory, and where on the grounds to find them. Vendors are listed alphabetically.
For a full list of this year’s Jazz Fest food vendors, see here.
Savory
Ajun Cajun: Yakiniku po’ boy
(Food Area 2)
Ba Mien Vietnamese Cuisine: Banh mi xiu mai; bun
(Heritage Square)
Baquet’s Li’l Dizzy’s Café: Trout Dizzy’s
(Heritage Square)
Bennachin Restaurant: Jama Jama; fried plantains
(Congo Square)
Big River Foods: Crawfish Monica
(Food Area 2)
Canseco’s Markets: Cuban sandwich
(Food Area 2)
Carmo: Gulf fish taco; pao de queijo
(Food Area 2)
Catering Unlimited: Fried chicken
(Food Area 1)
Cottage Catering: Crawfish strudel
(Food Area 2)
DiMartino’s Famous Muffulettas: Muffuletta
(Food Area 1)
Down Home Creole Cookin’: Meaty white beans
(Heritage Square)
Gambian Foods: Grilled steak or veggie pita
(Congo Square)
Gallagher’s Grill: Fried crawfish cake with smoked tomato and jalapeno tartar
(Food Area 1)
Galley Seafood Restaurant: Soft shell crab po’boy
(Food Area 2)
Jamila’s Café: Crawfish, spinach, and zucchini bisque
(Food Area 2)
Love at First Bite: Cochon de lait po’ boy
(Food Area 1)
Mrs. Wheat’s Pies: Shrimp and andouille pie
(Food Area 2)
Ms. Linda’s Catering: Yak-a-mein
(Food Area 1)
Panaroma Foods: Crawfish bread; sausage and jalapeno bread
(Food Area 1)
Papa Ninety Catering: Crawfish remoulade
(Food Area 1)
Patton’s Caterers: Crawfish sack, oyster pattie, and crawfish beignet plate
(Food Area 1)
Prejean’s Restaurant: Pheasant, quail and andouille gumbo
(Food Area 2)
Smitty’s Seafood Restaurant: Crawfish etouffee
(Food Area 1)
Stuf Hapn Event Catering: Creole stuffed crab
(Food Area 1)
Vaucresson Sausage Co.: Creole hot sausage po’ boy
(Food Area 1)
Vucinovich’s Restaurant: Fried oyster spinach salad
(Food Area 1)
Sweet
Café du Monde: Frozen cafe au lait
(Heritage Square)
Cottage Catering: White chocolate bread pudding
(Food Area 2)
Down Home Creole Cookin’: Peach cobbler
(Heritage Square)
Joyce’s Lemonade: Crispy rice treat
(Food Area 1)
Jumbo Peanut Company: Glazed pecans
(Around the grounds)
Loretta’s Authentic Pralines: Praline beignet
(Food Area 2)
Mr. Williams’ Pastries: Cherry pie; sweet potato pie
(Around the grounds)
Ms. Linda’s Catering: Huckabuck frozen cups
(Food Area 1)
Roman Chewing Candy Company: Roman candy
(Around the grounds)
Strawberry Lemonade
(Around the grounds)
Ten Talents Catering: Sweet potato pone
(Food Area 1)
WWOZ Community Radio: Mango freeze
(Food Area 1)