Lafayette, Louisiana Named Best Culinary Town in the South

Lafayette takes the top spot as Best Culinary Town in the South. Louisiana is known for its amazing cuisine, and Acadiana, in particular, plays host to some of the best food on the planet, and after a competition, one town is taking the bragging rights at "Best Culinary Town in the South". We can all brag about our amazing food in South Louisiana.

When Did Voting Begin for "Best Culinary Town in the South"?

The Local Palate, a southern food publication, began its search to figure out which town should take the title. Voting was intense, and everyone from our area voted.

Back in June, we shared information that Lafayette had been nominated for this distinction, and that we had made it into the top ten. The top ten towns we competed against were the following:

• Alpharetta, Georgia
• Auburn, Alabama
• Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Charlottesville, Virginia
• Columbia, South Carolina
• Lexington, Kentucky
• Oxford, Mississippi
• St. Augustine, Florida
• Wilmington, North Carolina

Later in the month of June, the list was narrowed down to only three towns, and being from South Louisiana, we all knew we would have to make the top three. We did make it as one of the top three finalists. It was Lafayette against these two other towns:

• Alpharetta, Georgia
• Charlottesville, Virginia

It's only down to Lafayette and these two other towns and that set off another round of voting. You got back to the business of voting, and you are the reason why Lafayette, Louisiana is now featured on the cover of the Local Palate publication as "Best Culinary Town in the South".

The issue features a piece on Vestal Restaurant Chef Sullivan Zant and proclaims Lafayette as the best in the south.

Lafayette Travel issued the following statement:

Lafayette, LA – Lafayette Travel is thrilled to announce that Lafayette, Louisiana, has won The Local Palate's competition for the Best Culinary Town in the South. This prestigious title is a testament to Lafayette’s vibrant culinary scene, rich heritage, and the incredible support from our community.

“We were thrilled with our first Readers’ Poll turnout, which included thousands of responses over the course of the poll. Clearly, the food scene in Lafayette, which is infused with Cajun spirit, is a place our readers love,” said Erin Byers Murray, Editor in Chief of The Local Palate. “We’re thrilled to present this issue to our readers, and look forward to starting our research for next year’s issue.”

Lafayette will be featured on the cover of The Local Palate's "Best Culinary Towns" issue, which is available for sale beginning October 29. This recognition highlights Lafayette’s unique culinary offerings and solidifies its status as a top destination for food lovers across the region and beyond.

“We are immensely proud to be recognized as the Best Culinary Town in the South by The Local Palate and its readers. This accolade highlights the passion and dedication of our restaurateurs,  chefs, food artisans, and community, who continue to make Lafayette Parish a must-visit destination for food lovers. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors to experience all that our area’s culinary scene has to offer.” said Ben Berthelot, President and CEO of Lafayette Travel.

The Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission thanks everyone who voted and supported Lafayette throughout this competition. Your enthusiasm and dedication have played a crucial role in securing this honor for our city. Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating Lafayette’s culinary excellence.

About the competition:

The competition involved several stages. Initially, The Local Palate's editors reviewed over 40 small towns across the South and from this pool, the top ten towns were selected and announced. After two rounds of public voting - taking place from June 5th to June 21st – Lafayette was named the winner.