Shreveport has been a foodie mecca for diverse regional dishes since its founding in 1836. Shreveportites are infamous for putting their own unique spin on recipes that have been handed down or brought from other countries. This is but a small sampling of delectable morsels you can offer your palate when you visit Shreveport-Bossier City.
For the Mexican Foodie
Chef Gabriel Balderas from El Cabo Verde in south Shreveport recreates authentic Mexican dishes inspired by family traditions and recipes from locally sourced organic and non-GMO ingredients. Chef Balderas and his sous chefs prepare street tacos from flour or non-GMO corn tortillas handmade, in front of you, with each order. I was surprised and thrilled to find a restaurant in the US that uses non-GMO corn. I would suggest the quesadillas and homemade guacamole.
Located on Texas Street next to Artspace in downtown Shreveport you will find Parish Taceaux, a perfect blend of Mexican flavors with a Louisiana spin. Decked out with a full bar, the mixologists of Parish Taceaux blend handcrafted cocktails with an extensive selection of mezcal and tequila. The Brunch Enchilada was savory and delicious. The poached egg on top tied the flavors together and gave it a unique twist.
Southern Seafood
Kim’s Seafood, owned and operated by Duong Duc who is also affectionately known as the Asian Cajun, is not a high-end establishment but it does deliver genuinely jumbo crawfish. In his words, “I do not want to take over the world. I just want to make my corner better.” He servers monster-sized “mudbugs” piled so high on large trays that I thought for sure some would slide off. They were lightly seasoned, but because I am a wimp when it comes to spice my lips were tingling. I am not a huge crawfish fan. I think they are a lot of work for the tiny morsel of meat you get in return, but I still enjoyed eating these mini lobster impersonators. Kim’s also offers a variety of po-boys and a crawfish egg roll which was pretty dang good.
Sam’s Southern Eatery, dedicated to providing comfortable, down-home Southern cuisine just like Nana made it without breaking the bank. No white linens here, the atmosphere is warm and relaxed which fits their down-home persona. Rumor has it that Willie Nelson’s tour bus, Honeysuckle Rose IV, has been spotted in the parking lot. The portions are nice sized – I had two meals from my three grilled fish and shrimp. I would highly recommend the fish; it was some of the best I have had. The savory seasoning of garlic, salt, and other mixed herbs was a perfect level to bring out the flavor of the fish without being too salty or on the flip side – too bland. It would not be a southern kitchen without the standard fried pickles, okra, and hushpuppies. The okra did not have much flavor, but at least it did not have typical “slimy” okra texture.
Casual Elegance
Port Au Prince started as a country grocery store and evolved into a casual upscale restaurant that has been in the Prince’s family for over 70 years. If you are looking for a place with table linens to have a glass of wine with a thick juicy ribeye or grilled shrimp while you watch a stunning sunset over a lake – this is your place. Their claim to fame is the all-you-can-eat catfish. No sharing and no to-go boxes, but they will bring out plate after plate until you say stop.
Must Try Foodie Sweets
LaJuana Salone, the owner of Chocolate Pineapple, believes in the notion that art can taste as good as it looks. Starting Chocolate Pineapple as a home-based catering sweet shop, Salone will dip just about anything in chocolate – fruit, Twinkies, marshmallows, bacon and more. Nothing is off-limits to Salone’s dipping skills and her over-the-top handmade custom displays for special events.
If you are looking for something cold and blended to cool you down, then you want Alky Therapy. They quite possibly serve the best and most distinctive daiquiris this side of Vegas. Reminiscent of the Bloody Mary with lunch stacked on top, these boozy daiquiris will wow you with toppings of cookies, candies, slices of cake, and an extra shot that slowly mixes as you drink. They even create spectacular non-alcoholic versions. If it is not an Alky Therapy Daiquiri, it’s not worth drinking.
Do you have a favorite foodie hangout in Shreveport-Bossier City? Leave it in the comments. I would love to check it out.
