Here in Louisiana, we’re spoiled with an abundance of fresh seafood – shrimp, crabs, oysters, fish, you name it! While many people buy seafood from the local grocery store, much of what’s sold there isn’t our delicious, homegrown catch. So how can you be sure you’re getting the freshest seafood around at the best prices?
The answer is simple: take a leisurely drive “down the road” to the fishing villages of St. Bernard Parish.
Several times a year, St. Bernard Parish hosts a Seafood Market and Pier Party, where commercial fishermen pull their vessels right up to the dock and sell their fresh catch straight from the boat. It’s literally seafood that was swimming in the Gulf yesterday and on your table today and at prices you won’t find in any store.
Louisiana produces some of the best seafood in the country. In fact, our state is the largest producer of shrimp and blue crabs in the United States (just ask Maryland – they’re claiming our crabs as their own!). Plus, nearly 70% of the oysters harvested in the U.S. come from the Gulf Coast, so why not buy local?
The St. Bernard Seafood Market was created to support our commercial fishermen, who face tough competition from imported seafood sold in large chain stores. By selling directly to consumers, fishermen cut out the middleman, saving money for both themselves and their customers. It also gives visitors a rare opportunity to meet the fishermen, see their boats, and learn about a way of life that’s often been passed down through generations. And let’s be honest, fresh seafood straight from the boat beats unregulated imports that may be treated with antibiotics, pesticides, or other harmful substances.
But it’s not just about the seafood. True to its name, the Pier Party features live music and vendors selling food, drinks, crafts, and art. And if you’ve never explored the eastern end of St. Bernard Parish, places like Delacroix, Hopedale, Yscloskey, and Shell Beach, you’re in for a treat. It’s a picturesque, peaceful area filled with fishing camps, charter companies, seafood operations, bayous, marshland, and abundant wildlife, all just about 30 miles from the French Quarter.
So do yourself a favor – take the drive, meet the fishermen, enjoy great food and fun, and most importantly, get your fix of the freshest seafood around.
