The French Quarter Festival may have unveiled its full music lineup on Monday, but for many locals and visitors, the real draw is the food. Over four days, more than 50 restaurants from across Louisiana will showcase their signature dishes, offering festival-goers a true taste of New Orleans.
The annual festival is a celebration of the city’s culture through music, but food remains at the heart of the experience.
“French Quarter Festival is a very high-volume event. We’ll have a line 50 people deep the entire time. The first year, we just did chicken sandwiches,” said Gene Colley of Southerns.
This year, Colley is expanding his menu beyond his famous chicken sandwich to include a catfish po’boy, cracklin’, and boudin balls—all made fresh in-house.
“I love this festival and look forward to it. We’re very popular, and it’s very humbling that on Thursday, people line up for our food,” he added.
For vendors, the festival is a crucial opportunity to bring customers into their storefronts. That’s how Logan Corpora discovered Southerns—and now stopping by has become a weekly ritual.
“Coming from the culinary world, it’s what we look for—it’s the freshest, crispest, juiciest chicken,” Corpora said.
The festival isn’t just about chicken sandwiches. It’s a food-lover’s paradise, showcasing the best of New Orleans’ culinary scene.
“This is great for tourism. It exposes people to local spots. He started as a food truck and is now a full restaurant. Festivals like this are unbeatable,” Corpora said.
This year, the festival is expanding to Riverfront Park and adding a 5K run. The festival runs from April 16 to 19.
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Dining and Cooking