There’s an urban myth that needs dispelling. There are no cats, dogs, armadillos, nutria, roadkill, coydog, no loupgarou, no feu follet in boudin. I don’t think. But frankly, no contestant in the 2nd annual Boudin Cookoff will give away his or her secret recipe anyway. Saturday, Parc Sans Souci is the location for the throwdown — 20 teams competing for best boudin in Acadiana, which means the best boudin on earth.
Boudinlinkster Dr. Bob Carriker organized this speciality festival last year, and it was a hit from the get-go. It’s all about eating, from the sides, like cochon de lait, to the monster boudin gobbling contest. If you think folks aren’t serious about their boudin, check this out: Carriker emailed Grand Coteau native Ben Trant, who won the boudin eating contest (five links in under 60 seconds), to see if he was going to make it to this years festival. Trant’s reply: “You better believe it. I am in Helena, Montana tonight, 450 miles into my 2,500 mile biking trip from Canada to Mexico down the continental divide. The timing of the trip was based on making it back to defend my title. However, I do not expect the competition to be anymore impressive than last year.”
Maybe the eating competition wasn’t impressive to Trant, but (and right here I have to disclose that I am one of the boudin cook-off judges, the rest of the tasting krewe are Chef Pat Mould, Lorin Gaudin, a culinary personality from New Orleans, Cajun Karl, Barry Ancelet and Megan Schiering, from KATC), the boudin itself is stellar. Where else can you compare the best boudin in Acadiana, side by side, find your favorite, and finally face down your running buddy, who JUST DOESN’T GET IT. Boudin is serious. Don’t miss this fest.
Here’s the list of competitors:
Babineaux’s Slaghterhouse, Breaux Bridge
Bayou Boudin and Cracklin, Breaux Bridge
Best Stop Supermarket, Scott
Big Mamou Cajun Beef Jerky, Mamou
Billeaud’s Meat and Grocery, Broussard
Chadeaux’s Sausage Kitchen, Kinder
Chops Specialty Meats, Broussard
Don’s Specialty Meats, Scott
Early’s Cajun Supermarket, Scott
Janise’s Supermarket, Sunset
Johnson’s Boucaniere, Lafayette
Kelly’s Meat Block, Opelousas
Krewe of Lou, New Iberia
Mike’s Country Corner, Duson
Napoleon Ave. Meat Market, Sunset
NuNu’s Fresh Market, Youngsville
The Sausage Link, Sulphur
Shawn’s Specialty Meats, Delcambre
T-Boy’s Boudin and Cracklin, Mamou
Tiny Prudhomme’s House of Meat, Broussard
Boudin Cook-Off. Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Downtown Lafayette, Parc Sans Souci. Sample boudin, games and boudin toss, people’s choice award, live music with the Specklers and Thomas “Big Hat” Fields. More info online here.