tomproulx

My wife and I just got back from Eunice LA and the 24th Annual World Championship Crawfish Etoufee Cook-Off. Wonderful food and great music. The find for us was Hawk's Restaurant just off of Rt. 198 between Rayne and Eunice. We noticed the sign and turned onto a gravel road. After much discussion trying to figure out if we were lost or not we found Hawk's. Probably the best crawfish I've ever had. "Hawk" Arceneaux, the recently deceased owner of the restaurant, raises the crawfish and finishes them in purging ponds. They are large, firm and tasty and we've eaten crawfish all over the world and these are the best we've ever tasted. They serve two sizes, either 3.5 or 5 lbs. There are other things on the menu but everyone in the restaurant was eating crawfish. Thought Gulleteers would want to know.

Thanks for your replies- got to try a couple of these and gulleteers know their food.

Hi- Just passed through that area. Had a neat meal at the Louisiana Cajun Fried Chicken and Catfish at 1534 Hwy. 594 in Monroe, about 2.5 miles off the interstate. The place is run by an Acadian family, originally from Jennings, La, who have run restaurants for 20 years or so. It's very basic cafe with no alchohol and lots of take out. Their boudin and Natchitoches meat pies are very good. Everything except the fried chicken is cooked when you order it. They are very happy to tell you where they get their shrimp, boudin and catfish - they really care about their food. It's not fine dining but it's great for lunch.

In March my wife and I are going from Apalachicola, FL along I-12 to Baton Rouge then along Rt. 190 to Opelousas and ending up in Eunice for the Crawfish Etouffee Cookoff. Any and all suggestions for restaurants and interesting places to stop in prarie Cajun country would be appreciated. Planning on taking about 6 days including time in Eunice. Thanks-