Louisiana’s Sweet Spot – Ascension Parish

Nestled between New Orleans and Baton Rouge just off I10 is Ascension Parish, Louisiana, known as Louisiana’s Sweet Spot, an immense collection of diverse histories. A place at the heart of what makes Southern Louisiana such a special destination. Where soul food merges with Creole cuisine, and where art, agriculture, and industry meld to echo yesterday and today. Ascension Parish occupies communities on both sides of the Mississippi River and is so deeply rooted in their own unique culinary traditions you may be able to smell the rich scent of roux and onions as you pass through.

Ascension Parish has many Sweet Spots to dine with family-owned restaurants like Don’s Seafood, Mike Anderson’s Seafood and Sno’s Seafood & Steakhouse, which have been here for more than forty years, providing the area with new twists on authentic cuisine for generation after generation.

Every great culinary destination has an exceptional must-see and taste in the South.

In Ascension Parish, it’s “The Crown Jewel of the River Road” and one of the South’s oldest and most beautiful estates, Houmas House and Gardens. Enjoy one of three restaurants on the property where both casual and fine dining are available. Latil’s Landing, The Carriage House, and Dixie Café, each provide guests with a culinary experience of a lifetime all on its own. These one-of-a-kind restaurants have varying menus reflecting traditional Louisiana cuisine. Each menu is updated seasonally to reflect the availability of locally grown produce, providing a true farm-to-table experience. Their Chef, Jeremy Langlois, masterfully creates wonderful dishes using the freshest local ingredients that Louisiana has to offer giving his guests an unforgettable experience in one of Louisiana’s most beautiful settings.

Dixie Café has a full breakfast and lunch buffet of all Louisiana staple dishes, perfect for large groups or families. The Carriage House restaurant is casual dining in the elegant surroundings of the 1830’s and Latil’s Landing restaurant allows guests to dine in the original 1770’s French House while enjoying a custom 5-course tasting menu with wine pairings for a fabulous fine dining experience.

After your meal, you can take a stroll through the beautiful 38 acres of gardens of Louisiana native landscape and tour the historic mansion and the Great River Road Museum while sipping on a mint julep from the Turtle Bar.

Ascension Parish has so much to offer, including sweet places to shop like the Cajun Village in Sorrento, LA where you can purchase Louisiana-made products. These Acadian homes are now shops housing unique gifts, décor and more. Painted cypress knees, Louisiana artisan pottery and Christmas ornaments made of fish scales are just a few findings from the Cajun Village shops. Be sure to try the café au lait & beignets from the Coffee House while there anytime throughout the day.

You can also “shop-til-you drop” over 65 brands at Tanger Outlets in Gonzales, LA-also known as Jambalaya Capital of the World which hosts the Jambalaya Festival every Memorial Day weekend. This cooking competition of about 100 cooks only allows for one champion to reign for the year.

Ascension Parish has two distilleries, NOËL Family Distillery in Donaldsonville and Sugarfield Cider, Wine and Spirits in Gonzales where you can take a tour and enjoy a cocktail in the tasting room. For those history buffs, visit Historic Donaldsonville’s walking tour to learn about the town that was once Louisiana’s Capital. Once you have enjoyed one of the many festivals and great food you can choose from one of the many accommodations for a restful night!

Go to visitlasweetspot.com for more places to eat, shop, and stay a while! Plan your trip today! •

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