Louisiana Product Honored With Better Homes & Gardens Food Award

(KMDL-FM) The good folks at Better Homes & Gardens have announced the winners of their 2026 Food Awards. The article on the popular magazine's website suggests that the editors and staff spent weeks perusing countless items available at grocery stores throughout the nation. And one of the winning items selected by the panel is a product steeped in Louisiana tradition and one that is certainly tied to Louisiana's culture.

READ MORE: Southern Living Names Louisiana's Most Beloved Diner

The product chosen by Better Homes & Gardens was honored as "Best So-Co Short Cut". If you're wondering what "So-Co" means in the vernacular of Better Homes & Gardens, it means Southern Comfort, as in food, not the alcoholic beverage. 

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Gumbo Base Honored as Top Choice by Better Homes & Gardens

I know this will make some Louisiana traditionalists bristle just a bit, but the product honored by BH&G is from Louisiana Fish Fry, and it is their Dark Roux Gumbo base. I know in a perfect world we'd all have time to stand over our black iron pots and make our own roux and gumbo base, sometimes life gets in the way, right?

Regardless, I have used the Louisiana Fish Fry Dark Roux Gumbo, and I agree with the folks at Better Homes & Gardens, the flavor that is packed into this product is immense. It all comes together in about half an hour, and yes, even a moron from Mississippi, that's me by the way, can create gumbo that my Louisiana friends will not spit out.

How Many Products Were Honored with a Better Homes & Gardens Food Award?

The product was one of 50 different products that were highlighted as Food Award Winners for 2026. The test kitchens at Better Homes & Gardens vetted more than 300 food products that were submitted for testing. Their 2026 Awards honor the 50 "best" based on those test kitchen trials.

READ MORE: Every Louisiana Restaurant That's Been on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives

Besides the category that the Louisiana Fish Fry earned its accolades in, the magazine also spotlighted products in Palate Power-Ups, Sandwich Upgrades, Spice Heroes, Pasta Night, Weekday Wins, Baking Shortcuts, and Seafood Stars. You may see the entire Better Homes & Gardens choices here. 

And if you're looking for even more convenience when it comes to creating a tasty meal for your family on a busy workday, give these a try. We did.