Just west of Lafayette, Louisiana lies a hidden gem of Cajun food and culture: the small and history-rich city of Scott. While the city of Scott, Louisiana might be little known outside of the state, to anyone in Acadiana or the surrounding regions, it is one of the most famous places in the area—especially if you love Cajun food. Though the small city has a population of less than nine thousand and is only the fourth biggest municipality in Lafayette Parish, it’s got a big reputation in culinary circles. As a home to several of Cajun country’s most popular Cajun meat markets, Scott has become known among Cajun food connoisseurs as the top destination for local meats and eats.
A Town on The Tracks
When it was founded in 1907, there was no indication that it would one day be the premier destination for boudin lovers all over the world. As a small stop on the Union Pacific line, the area merely served as the junction where train fare rates changed from eastern to western when Alexander Delhomme built a train depot on the piece of Acadiana that would eventually become known as Scott. In 1902, Gabby Anderson built a saloon to accompany the train depot, and five years later, the village was recognized by the state and incorporated. Boudin was still far from anyone’s mind when the newly formed village was named after the division superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railroad, J.B. Scott, and given its first motto: “where the West begins.”
From The Tracks to The Snacks
By 1960, Scott was a fully-fledged town, and like many small towns and cities in South Louisiana, was beginning to make a name for itself among food lovers. Small families that can trace their roots back to the original Cajun settlers as well as the early years of Scott’s development were opening small groceries that sold Cajun meats, and the products that stood head and shoulder above the rest were cracklins and boudin. Cracklins (cubed and fried pieces of fatty pork belly) and boudin (pork mixed with seasoning, vegetables and rice in a pork casing) were easy to make and wildly popular. As a result, all of the family-owned restaurants and grocery stores that opened in Scott and the surrounding areas were sure to keep both in stock lest they lose business to a competitor.
Naturally, this led to healthy competition among the proprietors, the result of which was Scott quickly developing a reputation for having the best boudin around. Over the next few decades, meat markets specializing in boudin and cracklins began to pop up left and right. Before the turn of the century, more than five vendors of Cajun foods were vying for supremacy in the crowded patch of road that is now known as The Boudin Roundabout. One would think that there was no room for competition, but little did these shops know that in a small town to the northeast, Billy’s Boudin was cooking up something special.
Fried and Tested
In 1995, Scott had only been a city for five years and was still growing into the prime Boudin destination. Meanwhile, lots of small cities and towns in Louisiana were still attempting to stake their claim as the true home of boudin. One such town was Krotz Springs, Louisiana; a small town in St. Landry Parish that made for a convenient stop for travelers on Route 190. Billy’s began there as a convenience store and gas station where travelers could refuel, rest and eat—but it wasn’t long before business started to slow down.
Billy’s founders consulted a fellow convenience store owner in Eunice who told him that, if not for boudin and cracklins, he would have shut his doors a long time ago. The Billy’s Boudin recipe was developed through a lengthy and rigorous process and the results were undeniable: the first Billy’s was born and began attracting boudin-loving travelers.
After a few successful years and two locations, Billy’s Boudin decided to give it a try in Scott as it was developing a reputation as the best place for boudin. In 2011, Billy’s opened a Scott location. Despite so much established competition, Billy’s was a hit in Scott, fast becoming the preferred boudin stop of many travelers and locals alike. Two years later, the first annual Scott Boudin Festival took place, boasting cook-offs, eating competitions, and vendors with classic and experimental boudin recipes for all to try.
Finally, after the city demonstrated many years of dominance in the boudin world, the Louisiana State Legislature named Scott “The Boudin Capital of The World” and made it official once and for all. Jealousy arose from rival boudin cities, with Jennings dubbing themselves “Boudin Capital of The Universe” and the neighboring city of Broussard adopting the title of “Intergalactic Boudin Capital of Positive Infinity.” Despite these humorous monikers, virtually every local is in agreement that Scott’s official title is well earned.
Connecting To Scott From Anywhere
Today, many people make special detours on their road trips to the south to visit Scott and load up on Billy’s boudin, cracklins and other Cajun treats. However, these pilgrimages are no longer as necessary as they once were. With Billy’s opening two more locations, a production facility to produce more boudin in 2015 and an e-commerce website in 2023; it’s now possible to order boudin, cracklins, and a wealth of other unique Cajun foods online.
Thanks to fast shipping, dry ice and insulated packaging, Billy’s is able to ship anywhere in the US without compromising quality or freshness! Though there are still a plethora of reasons to visit the wonderful city of Scott, Louisiana (particularly the Boudin Festival in the spring), no one has to wait until the next time they’re in the boudin capital to get their fix! You can check out the online store right here to see for yourself!
Just west of Lafayette, Louisiana lies a hidden gem of Cajun food and culture: the small and history-rich city of Scott. While the city of Scott, Louisiana might be little known outside of the state, to anyone in Acadiana or the surrounding regions, it is one of the most famous places in the area—especially if you love Cajun food. Though the small city has a population of less than nine thousand and is only the fourth biggest municipality in Lafayette Parish, it’s got a big reputation in culinary circles. As a home to several of Cajun country’s most popular Cajun meat markets, Scott has become known among Cajun food connoisseurs as the top destination for local meats and eats.