Cajun Pig: Boucheries, Cochon de Laits and Boudin

“When it comes to swining and dining in Louisiana, Dixie Poché has it covered. From snout to tail . . . it’s all here.” —Chef John D. Folse, Louisiana’s “Culinary Ambassador to the World” Southwest Louisiana is famous for time-honored gatherings that celebrate its French Acadian heritage. And the culinary star of these gatherings? That’s generally the pig. Whether it’s a boucherie, the Cochon de Lait in Mansura or Chef John Folse’s Fete des Bouchers, where an army of chefs steps back three hundred years to demonstrate how to make blood boudin and smoked sausage, ever-resourceful Cajuns use virtually every part of the pig in various savory delights. Author Dixie Poché traverses Cajun country to dive into the recipes and stories behind regional specialties such as boudin, cracklings, gumbo and hogs head cheese. From the Smoked Meats Festival in Ville Platte to Thibodaux’s Bourgeois Meat Market, where miles of boudin have been produced since 1891, this is a mouthwatering dive into Cajun devotion to the pig. “Dixie Poche, author of two other looks at the state’s rich culinary traditions, Louisiana Sweets and Classic Eateries of Cajun Country, takes a deep dive into the connection of Louisiana’s unique people and food with the noble hog.” —Houma Today “The book takes a nostalgic look at visiting old-time ‘mom and pop’ Cajun meat markets and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the many dishes that made them famous. It also serves as a travel guide to many local eateries and festivals in which the culinary star is the pig.” —The Advocate