Louisiana Influencer Recreates Festival Crawfish & Spinach Bread Boat at Home

Festival International de Louisiane is an annual celebration that brings together the finest in music, art, and, perhaps most importantly, food from around the world. As the festival lights have now dimmed and the stages are clear, many are left craving the unique tastes that only seem to come once a year. But fear not, festival foodies! If you've got the envie for that fest flavor, our favorite social media cooking influencer @britscookin has whipped up a festival favorite right from her own kitchen.

Missing out on this year's festivities didn't stop Britney, the stay-at-home mom-trepreneur behind @britscookin, from channeling the festival spirit with a dish that's always a crowd-pleaser: the Crawfish and Spinach Bread Boat. Originally made famous by Bon Creole—a staple FIL vendor known for their hearty and delightful bread bowls—this dish captures the essence of festival dining with a twist of home-cooked comfort.

Britney’s version brings the festival into your kitchen. She shared a detailed video below on how to recreate this sought-after dish, ensuring that everyone can get a small taste of the festival any time of year. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, her step-by-step guide makes cooking up this dish super easy.

Here’s how you can make your own Bread Boat:

1. Start the Base

Melt butter in a Dutch oven, add garlic, and sauté until fragrant to lay down those foundational flavors.

2. Combine the Ingredients

Add more butter, milk, crawfish tails, and spinach, seasoning with Britney's own @britscookin Cajun spices that she has perfected along her cooking journey.

3. Thicken the Sauce

Introduce a lobster base for that extra seafood kick, boil to reduce the mixture slightly, then incorporate a cornstarch slurry and heavy cream for a rich, creamy texture.

4. Finish with Cheese

Mix in shredded Parmesan until it's beautifully melted and season with a dash of black pepper to taste.

Britney suggests leaving the spinach unstrained for a lighter consistency, but if you're in the mood for something richer, go ahead and strain the spinach, adjust the cornstarch, and maybe even add a bit more cheese.

This dish not only brings the taste of Louisiana's favorite festival into your home but also lets you tweak it to your liking—a perfect way to keep the festive spirit alive all year round. So, if you didn't get to stroll the streets of Downtown Lafayette with a bread bowl in hand this year, don't despair. Thanks to @britscookin, you can enjoy a little piece of the festival whenever you wish.

Try out this recipe and share your experience! We would love to hear how you bring a bit (or a boat) of Festival International’s flavors to your table.