The perfect opportunity to discover all of Louisiana’s top-rated regional barbecue in one location arrives on October 11–13, when the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival sends clouds of richly scented smoke billowing through Lafayette Square Park for a 17th year. So, settle in out front of Gallier Hall and get ready to sample multiple regional styles, with a fresh emphasis on Louisiana, served by a dozen highly regarded local restaurants and craft barbecue pitmasters. Sure, it’s a barbecue festival, but this year’s Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest offers options for vegetarians, vegans, and those who prefer to keep things gluten-free, too.
Cochon King BBQ has been a top selling vendor at Blues & BBQ Fest for three years and counting. In addition to its location on Franklin Avenue, Cochon King also runs a food truck, affectionately nicknamed “the pig truck,” that travels throughout the city.
This year, Cochon King will be bringing one of the pig truck’s most popular items, the brisket Philly, to the Blues & BBQ Fest. Also on this year’s menu is their fan-favorite brisket bomb, an eggroll stuffed with brisket, mac ‘n’ cheese and jalapeño. Don’t leave without sampling Cochon King owner Chris “Shaggy” Davis’ personal favorite: brisket burnt ends.
“Barbecue is a passion of mine.” - Chris "Shaggy" Davis
Davis says he loves cooking for this event because it’s a chance to enjoy not only the cooking, but the crowds of friendly people and the spectacular music at the same time. Helen Hoffmann, Cochon King’s pitmaster—and one of the only female pitmasters in the state—will be right there alongside Davis, helping him to cook and serve.
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Chefs are serving brisket, shrimp, gumbo, and more.
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Enjoy craft barbeque from over a dozen award-winning New Orleans restaurants.
“Barbecue is a passion of mine,” Davis said. “It has been for many years.”
If barbecue isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Louisiana cuisine, remember that pig roasts have a long, and delicious, history in the state. The Cajun tradition of the cochon de lait is a celebratory, highly social event that involves roasting a whole pig over an open fire. Cochon King BBQ got its start preparing traditional cochon de lait for house parties. Today, Cochon King remains true to those roots by continuing to offer catering services and cooking whole hogs, which provides the makings of a variety of dishes on the menu at its Franklin Avenue restaurant.
“These are things that, I believe, with Creole cooking and Cajun cooking, are perfect for this area,” Davis said.
Alongside Cochon King, multiple vendors will be bringing Louisiana flair to the BBQ flavors on offer in Lafayette Park. Brocato’s Catering will serve its take on a famous Crescent City dish: BBQ shrimp and grits, while beloved Carrollton landmark Blue Oak BBQ will be brewing festival-sized batches of its famous BBQ gumbo.
Other dishes to look forward to include Voleo’s Seafood’s smothered rabbit BBQ po’boy and Magasin Vietnamese Café’s grilled pork Bánh Mì sandwich.
With more than 50 menu items, from meats to sides to desserts to try, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest guarantees there’ll be something delicious for every festival-goer—vegan options, too. So you’d better pace yourself (or get ready to come back all three days)! For a full list of food vendors and menu items, click here.
