Miles of meals in Louisiana: Inside the 'Gas Station Eats' Deep South road trip, which 'celebrates great meals served in simple roadside service stations'

Most states successful nan US are defined by a landmark, specified arsenic nan Statue of Liberty successful New York aliases Arizona’s Grand Canyon. But Louisiana’s characteristic revolves astir food, truthful nan 1 point you must battalion erstwhile visiting is simply a hearty appetite.

Although New Orleans is 1 of nan champion places to bask nan confederate state’s famed cuisine, we decided to recreation westbound on its newest nutrient trail, Gas Station Eats.

As nan sanction suggests, this nutrient circuit doesn’t impact fancy restaurants – it celebrates awesome meals served successful elemental roadside work stations. 

Stretching for 450 miles, nan Gas Station Eats way winds its measurement done an area erstwhile known arsenic No Man’s Land, taking advantage of cut-price petrol from 70p a litre (compared pinch astir £1.35 backmost home).

The region, connected nan separator pinch Texas, was erstwhile disputed territory betwixt Spanish Texas and nan United States’ recently acquired Louisiana Purchase. Today it is firmly portion of Louisiana, but its pioneering and rebellious tone remains.

Heading westbound connected nan road from New Orleans, we yet reached nan swampy, confederate parish of Calcasieu. Our first extremity was nan Cajun Fast Mart successful Sulphur, a mini municipality connected nan separator of nan Creole Nature Trail.

Known arsenic Louisiana’s Outback, nan marshes and bayous of this 180-mile byway teem pinch birdlife – and nan overseas alligator.

Like each featured state station, Cajun Fast Mart is astatine nan centre of its organization – a spot wherever you tin do a play shop, banal up connected sportfishing and hunting cogwheel and drawback up connected gossip. Every state position connected nan way besides has a signature dish, and present it’s ovum sandwiches pinch jalapeno mayonnaise.

Travelling north, we headed to Chadeaux’s Cajun Kitchen successful Allen Parish (the parishes are a bequest of erstwhile nan authorities was ruled by Roman Catholic France). Rodney, nan owner, said his bestseller was home-made boudin sausage seasoned pinch a concealed herb substance that’s been passed down done generations. He added: ‘We tin waste a ton a month. Sometimes people bargain a lb of boudin and a six-pack of brew – we telephone that a seven-course meal.’ 

Further on, successful Beauregard Parish, lies nan municipality of DeRidder. Founded successful nan 1890s, nan historical main thoroughfare looks for illustration thing retired of a John Wayne western. Its featured state station, Big Thicket BBQ, is celebrated for its Bourbon peach ribs. Nearby is nan town’s spooky-looking Gothic Jail, reputedly haunted by ghosts of a double hanging that took spot successful 1928.

There are little grisly sights on nan trail, too. We passed a mates of days successful Sabine Parish, staying astatine Wildwood Resort overlooking Toledo Lake, nan largest man-made assemblage of h2o successful nan South. A short thrust distant is nan Fort Jesup State Historic Site, erstwhile nan westernmost fort connected nan frontier. 

Sabine Parish is besides known for its Native American tamales. At Bub T’s Tamale House, nan charming Sepulvado family wrap, steam and fry hundreds each day.

Heading northbound we stopped astatine De Soto Parish to capable up astatine DB’s Station, which serves ‘meat and threes’ which is beef, turnip leaves, veg and cornbread.

Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-a-tish) was nan past municipality connected nan trail. Founded successful 1714 by French explorers, it is besides nan charismatic Meat Pie Capital of Louisiana, and nan French Market Express state position does a roaring waste and acquisition successful crawfish nutrient pies, alongside immoderate heavenly yam cakes.

Our last extremity was 3 J’s Fourways Gas Station, connected nan outskirts, wherever we were tempted by nan burgers but plumped for Renee’s Famous Fried Ribs – they merit to beryllium moreover much famous.