Bite and Booze by Jay D. Ducote

Friday, May 4, 2012

Wonder Where the Crawfish Bread at Jazzfest Comes From?

Crawfish Bread from Panaroma Foods
For many years now, the Crawfish Bread that is found at Jazzfest in New Orleans has been one of the culinary staples of the outdoor music event.  The gooey, cheesy stuffing loaded with Louisiana crawfish tails strings out from its crusty breaded prison to gush flavor unto each connoisseur.  Even famous New Orleans food critic Tom Fitzmorris clamined that the crawfish bread is "an essential Jazzfest dish that should not be missed."  However, this delicious treat does not come from some fancy Creole restaurant or age-old New Orleans haunt.  It comes from Marksville, Louisiana in Avoyelles Parish at a little bakery called Panaroma Foods.  It is there that each loaf of crawfish bread is carefully crafted to ensure that essential combination of crawfish, cheese, and bread.  The bread is actually rolled by hand using rolling pins.  It is a true labor of love for each loaf, and it never disappoints.  

When in Marksville, you can usually buy fresh crawfish, shrimp, and sausage breads right from the bakery's counter.  You can also get the loaves pre-cooked and frozen, meaning all you have to do is thaw them out and toast them in the oven for 10-15 minutes and you'll have some amazing Panaroma breads right at home.  Fortunately I snagged a loaf of crawfish bread as well as the sausage and jalapeno bread on recent trip up LA1.  The jalapeno sausage bread, dare I say, may have even been more impressive than the crawfish bread.  The cheese oozed out and the mild pop from the jalapenos worked so well with the other incredible flavors.  We devoured both loaves just as quickly as they came out the oven and then wished we had several more.
Sausage Bread with Jalapenos from Panaroma Foods, Inc. in Marksville, LA
So while at Jazzfest, you should certainly eat the #1 rated Jazzfest food.  But don't feel like you can't enjoy that amazing crawfish bread at other times of the year!  Just head to Marksville and grab a couple loaves to take home.  I guarantee that the next time you have a dinner party and break one of these things out, your guests will be amazed!

Panaroma Foods on Urbanspoon

10 comments:

  1. Like crawfish monica, this is one Jazzfest tradition I simply don't like. It's greasy, goopy: the very definition of a hot mess. I don't understand why so many people go crazy for it.

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    1. Hot mess that's got amazing flavor! First time I had one at jazz fest when I finally get up to the booth and got mine I took a bite and just went back to the end of the line to get another!

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  2. Off course I love this post Jay, and now I'm terribly missing NOLA, Jazz Fest and Crawfish Bread! YUM!

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  3. Crawfish bread is the most overrated jazzfest dish. Three words: cochon de lait

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  4. Celeste, If you dont like Crawfish Monica or crawfish bread, then you obviously don't like crawfish and dont know good food. If you can't appreciate the amazing food that Jazz Fest has to offer, maybe you simply should not attend.

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    1. You said it! Because the International Food Fest... wait, no, the International JAZZ Fest is all about the... food? Can't someone have an opinion and not get told to "Stay Home" because of it? There are many great aspects to Jazz fest, the food being only one of them. I prefer not to eat crawfish bread at Jazz Fest, as well. It is, however, great to heat up for an after-party at the house!

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  5. crawfish bread and monica are definitely over-rated. everyone knows that.

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  6. It's gonna be back again this year and I'm looking forward to it again. The stuffed bread is so popular that they run out almost daily. It may not be for everybody but it's sure right for a majority.

    Can't wait!!!

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  7. I just realized that I haven't been to Jazz Fest in four years. After a thirteen year run too! How any body can say crawfish bread and Monica are overated is beyond me. They probably eat at Burger King when in New Orleans.

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  8. my dad work there and there head it to jazz fest the bread is goooooooooooooooooooooood

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