View from a balcony in New Orleans's French Quarter

Cajun Food vs Creole Food: What’s the Difference?

In a previous blog post, we debunked three popular myths about Cajun food, including the belief that Cajun food and Creole food are the same thing. Today, we want to explore the history of these two cuisines in more detail. Read on to learn more, and if by the end you’re ready to try the best Cajun food in Lake Charles, then come and visit us at Pat’s of Henderson! For decades, our steak and seafood restaurant has proudly served up world-class cuisine inspired by our Cajun heritage, and there’s something on our menu to suit every taste. Contact us today to make your reservation and treat your tastebuds to authentic Cajun flavors!

Louisiana’s Most Flavorful Cuisines

No one can deny that Louisiana is the birthplace of some of the world’s richest and most flavorful dishes. Both Cajun and Creole food have their roots in the Pelican state, but they come from two distinct ethnic groups that developed independently about 70 miles apart.

What Is Cajun Food?

Most modern historians agree that Cajun people are ethnically descended from a group of French colonists called les Acadiens. The Acadians originally settled in the Acadia region of Canada, but when the British invaded in the early eighteenth century, the Acadians were displaced in an exodus event known as Le Grand Derangement — the Great Upheaval.

Many Acadians ended up settling in the swampy regions of southern Louisiana. Ever resourceful, they quickly turned to the area’s natural resources in the flatlands, bayous, and wild game to create a unique local cuisine. Without modern refrigeration, they learned to use every part of an animal, and they began creating distinctly flavorful seasonings with paprika, thyme, sassafras, and cayenne pepper.

The holy trinity of Cajun cuisine combines onion, celery, and bell pepper to provide a base flavor for many dishes. These dishes tend to be simple and use few ingredients, and are commonly referred to as “country food.”

What Is Creole Food?

The term “Creole” describes the population descended from the original French colonial settlers in Louisiana, specifically New Orleans. At first, Creoles were only born to the French and Spanish upper classes, but over time, their population grew to include native-born slaves of African descent and free people of color.

Creole food is a blend of popular flavors from various cultures in New Orleans, including Italian, African, Spanish, Caribbean, German, Native American, and Portuguese people. It is sometimes seen as more aristocratic than Cajun food — a “city food” crafted from more abundant resources than those available to the Cajuns. Generally speaking, Creole food uses a wider variety of flavors and ingredients, which is why you’ll find tomatoes in Creole jambalaya but not Cajun jambalaya.

Satisfy Your Cajun Cravings at Pat’s of Henderson

Here at Pat’s of Henderson, we are proud of our Cajun heritage, and the family recipes we use for our dishes have been passed down through the generations. If you have a craving for authentic Cajun food in Lake Charles, you can’t go wrong with Pat’s of Henderson!

Find your new favorite dish on our online menu, and contact us to make a reservation today.