Fest Eats Ranked by a Fat Girl With No Self-ControL

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