Festival season really be having me forget gluttony is a sin. Because baby… Jazz Fest? I
absolutely lost my mind.
ShSheI pulled up first Sunday with one mission: see the Isley Brothers, scream sing with “Uncle
Ron” like we share blood, and eat like my stomach had unlimited capacity. This year, I moved
different though. Usually I’m out there acting like a culinary marathon runner, but since I got in
early and lines were nonexistent, I loaded up FAST and posted by Congo Square for the
majority of the day—sun out, friends around, and just enough laziness to start sending people
on food runs for me like I was somebody’s auntie.
First things first: Crawfish Strudel. A yearly non-negotiable. Light, flaky, stuffed like they actually
care, and always hits. No notes. Washed that down with the rosemint herbal iced tea, which is
officially a staple for me now. Could use a touch more honey, but still refreshing enough to keep
me in good spirits and bad decisions.
Then my greedy eyes spotted jambalaya. Rice? Perfect. Meat? Solid. Flavor? Cute… but not
enough to make me spin the block.
Round two is where things got serious. I sampled stuffed crab and potato salad off my friends’
plates, because sharing is caring and I care deeply about trying everything without commitment.
That potato salad? Shockingly elite. Whoever made it deserves financial freedom. Immediately
added to my must-have list.
Then came my annual crawfish bisque pilgrimage. The walk was long, dramatic, and necessary.
The gravy needed a little more seasoning, but that crawfish stuffing? Absolutely worth the
journey. Rich, flavorful, and made with the kind of love you can taste.
I also committed tasteful theft from my friends’ plates: trout baquet, gumbo, even white beans
(yes, white beans). And somehow? Not a single miss. The gumbo had a lighter roux than I’m
used to, but it was packed with flavor, so I minded my business.
By that point, I was one bite away from needing medical transport, so when round three came, I
let my friends do the labor and bring me boiled crawfish. Solid choice. Could’ve soaked longer,
but definitely did what needed to be done.
All in all? Jazz Fest did what Jazz Fest always does—fed me, humbled me, and reminded me
that my stomach will always be bigger than my physical limitations.
See y’all next fest. Come hungry.
Optional: Now I’m plotting my return for weekend two: softshell crab po’boy, maybe crawfish
enchiladas, definitely more hot girl gluttony. And this time? T-Pain, food, and even less
self-control.
Ranking 1-8
1. Crawfish Strudel
2. Stuffed Crab + Potato Salad
3. Crawfish Bisque
4. Trout Baquet (with crab)
5. Rosemint Tea
6. Gumbo
7. White Beans
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