Smoked Meat Festival Ville Platte, La June 22-23, 2012

Meat. You can roast it, deep-fry it, grill it, sauté it, braise it, stir-fry it, broil it and on and on. But for many in South Louisiana, there is absolutely no better way to cook meat than to smoke it – for a long time over low heat.

Every June, smoked meat devotees converge on Ville Platte, about 45 minutes northwest of Lafayette, LA, for the Smoked Meat Festival, also known as Le Festivale de la Viande Boucanee. In addition to the various smoked meats offered by festival food vendors, fest-goers on Saturday will have the chance to sample entries to the World Championship Smoked Meat Cook-Off. The cook-off, which is open to both amateurs and professionals, includes any dish that incorporates smoked meat. And entries usually run the gamut of meats. You’ll find sausage, tasso, pork, venison, chicken, duck, rabbit, fish and more. The best part is, samples are sold at each competitor’s booth. If you’re up for it, sample them all and judge for yourself.

Every competitor will have his or her own secret rub recipe. Our not-so-secret ingredient is TABASCO® Sauce, of course!

Even with all the great food, it wouldn’t be a Louisiana festival without music. And the Smoked Meat Festival always has a line-up of popular Cajun and Zydeco performers, along with favorites from other genres. Past entertainers have included The Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, T.G. Sheppard, Janie Fricke, Percy Sledge, T. Graham Brown, Mel McDaniel, Joe Stampley, B.J. Thomas and Wayne Toups. Other events include a variety of pageants, a fighter jet fly-by, games, contests and much more.

Directions: The Smoked Meat Festival takes place at 652 LaSalle Street in Ville Platte. Head north on I-49 from Lafayette (or south on I-49 from Alexandria). Take exit 23 for US-167 N/LA-744 N toward Ville Platte. Head west on US-167/LA-10 for just over 16 miles. Upon entering Ville Platte, the road will become LaSalle Street. The festival will be on your right.

For more information, visit www.smokedmeatfestival.com.