The communities of Lafourche Parish have historically sustained themselves and their culture by taking advantage of the bayou’s generous pantry—with access to some of the freshest seafood in the world, as well as fertile river-fed soils that support the agriculture landside. Even with the modern-day convenience offered by the Walmarts and Costcos of the world, these close-knit communities continue to support a host of specialty family-run markets, which in turn directly support local fishermen and farmers. Fostering a local economy fueled by resources right outside the doors, and traditional dishes that have stood the test of time, these markets are cultural landmarks and delicious experiences not-to-be-missed.
Seafood Markets
Where the bayous and marshlands meet the Gulf, the fish fly—straight onto waiting plates. Lafourche Parish shops like Punch’s and Holly Marie’s Seafood Markets, as well as Seafood Outlet, offer crabs, shrimp, tuna, crawfish, alligator, and other local delicacies sourced straight from the boat. Blake Baudoin of Baudoin’s Seafood in Cut-Off catches most of the product he sells himself, overseeing the entire process from deck, to pot, to plate. 3 Piers Seafood Market, opened in 2023 by a trio of friends who grew up on Bayou Des Allemands, says out-loud what so many of these sorts of places have committed to for decades—a promise to source everything locally, keeping the distance between fishermen and their customers as short as possible.
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Live blue crab at Baudoin's Seafood
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Bayou Boucherie
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Bayou Boucherie's boudin
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Sausage links at Bourgeois Meat Market
Meat Markets
The kings and queens of Cajun cooking, Louisiana’s butchers are some of the local culinary culture’s most important figures. Bourgeois Meat Market has been at the center of the Thibodaux community since 1891, offering wild game processing, whole animal butchery, and traditional delicacies like boudin, hogshead cheese, and smoked sausage. The tradition has branched off and continued through Bourgeois descendant John Bourgeois’s Smokehouse down the street, which began as a venture in beef jerky but has now expanded into a fully-fledged Cajun meat market. Down in Raceland, Bayou Boucherie Meat Market is another mainstay, calling the faithful with daily specialties including brisket, crawfish boudin, babyback ribs, and smoked chicken via its popular Facebook Page.
And then there’s RendR Cuisine, from the folks at the popular Off the Bone meat market, which burned to the ground last November. The new food truck is an inspiring example of survival, delivering some of the market’s most popular items—cracklins, boudin, deer burritos, and specialty sausages—to the folks of Golden Meadow.
Raceland's Cajun Fresh Market sells produce grown on the owners' farm.
This rare grocery jewel in Raceland was opened by Michael and Melissa Capadona in 2017 after the couple spent years operating a strawberry farm and selling their products from the back of a pickup truck. Today, their venture is a veritable “Cajun Wal-Mart” where shoppers can find locally-made jams and pickled okra, off-the-boat seafood, Cajun meats, and vegetables hand-picked from the Capadonas’ farm.
Learn about more of Lafourche’s local markets at lacajunbayou.com/places-to-dine/fresh-markets.
