Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast

8 Unique Ways to Experience Crawfish In Louisiana

From crawfish farm tours to crawfish trails, check out these one-of-a-kind ways to discover — and devour! — Louisiana’s favorite crustacean.

Springtime ushers in Louisiana’s unofficial fifth and perhaps favorite season: crawfish season! It's a time of year that entices with the spicy aroma of neighborhood boils throughout the state. Roll up your sleeves and bring your appetite to explore these eight great ways to celebrate crawfish season.

1. Catch Your Own at Crawfish Haven

In Kaplan, Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast is a combination crawfish farm and B&B housed in a luxurious Acadian home dating to 1903. By day, take to the water — either on a boat excursion or using old-fashioned hand nets — to haul in your own crawfish with the help of an expert guide. You’ll learn how the delicacy makes it from the pond to the plate, and enjoy a crawfish boil right on the property. 

2. Crawfish Farm Tour

Jeff Davis Parish offers a unique opportunity to learn everything about Louisiana’s favorite food with crawfish farm tours. The tour begins at the Tietje Crawfish Farm, where you’ll get a close-up look at crawfish habitats, biology and pond ecology. The tour continues to the I-10 Crawfish Cooperative for an explanation of the marketing sector, where visitors will see demonstrations of the cleaning, grading and distribution process. Field trips and group tours must be arranged through the Jeff Davis Parish Tourist Commission

3. Crawfish and Beer: A Perfect Pairing

St. Tammany Parish, also known as the Northshore area, has a nice selection of breweries. Abita Brewing Company, Chafunkta Brewing Company and Spoke + Barrel Eatery know that when it comes to crawfish and beer, you can’t have one without the other. Plan a trip during crawfish season, grab some hot and spicy boiled crawfish and wash it all down with a cold beer. Or, establishments like Pat’s Seafood & Cajun Deli and the Mandeville Seafood Market & Eatery prepare fresh boiled crawfish and hot meals like crawfish pies, crawfish étouffée, crawfish pasta and crawfish corn chowder.

4. Crawfish Festivals

Crawfish season calls for celebrations all around Louisiana, and everyone's invited to the party! Mudbug Madness in Shreveport is one of the most popular events in the state, featuring plenty of tasty crawfish, live music of all genres, arts and crafts, and more family-friendly fun. While in the area, check out Crawdaddy’s Kitchen and order up specialties like crawfish cornbread, french fries topped with crawfish queso and crawfish fettuccine alfredo.

 

Other popular festivals include the Louisiana Crawfish Festival in Chalmette and the granddaddy of them all, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge. Check out more crawfish festivals in Louisiana.

 

Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose’s Bed and Breakfast

Gather your own crawfish and enjoy a crawfish boil at Crawfish Haven/Mrs. Rose's Bed and Breakfast.

Boiled Crawfish

Pair crawfish and beer at a local brewery.

CrawfishMonica_JF.jpeg

Try Crawfish Monica at Jazz Fest.

Crawfish Farm Tours in Jeff Davis Parish Louisiana

Learn about the crawfish industry on a crawfish farm tour.

5. Feast on Crawfish in New Orleans

From crawfish étouffée and crawfish bisque to crawfish po’boys and classic boiled crawfish, you’ll find every iteration in the New Orleans area. Try Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter, which has been featured on Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food” and Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” Or, pick up boiled crawfish from seafood markets like Bobby’s Seafood or Broadview Seafood. And don’t miss iconic dishes like Crawfish Monica or crawfish bread at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

6. Chow Down on the Crawfish Trail

Head over to Houma to enjoy mudbugs for miles on the Bayou Country Crawfish Trail. With more than 40 restaurants to choose from, you can sample crawfish of all varieties at seafood shacks, take-out seafood markets and sit-down restaurants. Collect receipts from five locations and you’ll go home with a Crawfish Trail t-shirt to commemorate your travels!

7. Crawfish with a View

Trapp’s in West Monroe rests right on the Ouachita River and offers plenty of both traditional and unique crawfish dishes. Start with crawfish queso, crawfish pies or seafood nachos topped with fried crawfish tails. Then, enjoy a crawfish po’boy, a baked potato topped with crawfish or fried catfish smothered in crawfish étouffée. Cheniere Shack is a great nearby pick for boiled crawfish.

8. Practice Cajun Cooking

Opelousas is the home of Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning. Pick up a jug of Tony’s Creole Crawfish & Crab Boil and try your hand at perfecting a crawfish boil. If that sounds too daunting, grab a box of Tony’s Creole Etouffee Base Mix and whip up a batch. Or, dine at one of the area's numerous restaurants that pay homage to the prized crustacean during season, such as the Crawfish House & Grill. And at Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins, try the crawfish boudin, crawfish pies, crawfish pistolettes (soft bread stuffed with crawfish) and more delicious handheld treats.