The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival launched Thursday with a bold claim few music festivals would dare make: the food matters as much as the music.
While Pearl Jam and local hero Lil Wayne dominate the marquee at the Fair Grounds Race Course, the real headliners might be the crawfish-stuffed delicacies drawing lines throughout the festival grounds. This isn’t by accident.
“We started out to reflect New Orleans to the world but now it’s just as much a part of New Orleans as Mardi Gras,” explains Quint Davis, the festival’s longtime producer, who urges attendees to arrive with empty stomachs ready to sample local flavors.
What makes Jazz Fest’s culinary scene revolutionary isn’t just what’s there – it’s what isn’t. The festival stands apart from others by focusing exclusively on local cuisine that represents the city’s culinary heritage. (Kind of akin to attending Coachella and finding not a single influencer taking desert photoshoots.)
John Caluda, creator of the festival’s famous crawfish strudel, has won over skeptics for years with his flaky pastry that showcases the region’s signature seafood in an unexpected form.
The Two Million Crawfish Question
The undisputed monarch of Jazz Fest cuisine is Crawfish Monica – a creamy pasta dish that has achieved cult status. Its creator, Pierre Hilzim, estimates nearly two million crawfish are needed annually to feed the festival masses.
The festival’s nearly 70 vendors serve dishes that tell New Orleans’ story better than any history book. Robert Harrison III continues his mother’s legacy at Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, preparing thousands of sweet treats weeks in advance. His team’s dedication mirrors how seriously locals take their festival food tradition.
New Flavors, Old Traditions
This year’s lineup includes newcomer Sweet Soulfood Vegan Cuisine, proving even deeply traditional festivals evolve. Their sweet-heat cauliflower adds a contemporary option to the classic festival offerings.
Meanwhile, the music continues the tradition of celebrating local talent. Most performers across the festival’s 14 stages are native New Orleanians, including Trombone Shorty and Harry Connick Jr.
This year’s festival poster features Tank and the Bangas, whose Grammy-winning album highlights how Jazz Fest nurtures local talent before they reach national stages.
“When it comes time to be at home for Jazz Fest, everybody just wants to give a little extra magic,” says Tarriona “Tank” Ball, who first performed at the festival with her high school choir. “You want to make it extra special because your auntie is out in the crowd, your little cousins – cause it’s home.”
And that’s the secret ingredient no food vendor can package – the sense that whether you’re eating Crawfish Monica or dancing to Lil Wayne, you’re participating in something that transcends a typical festival. You’re experiencing New Orleans in its purest form: loud, flavorful, and utterly original.
