427 Sixth St.; 337-468-4000. Traditional Cajun favorites, such as gumbo and etouffee.
D.I.'s Cajun Food & Music:
6561 Evangeline Highway in Basile; 337-432-5141. Here you'll taste some of the best in traditional Cajun cooking, including fried catfish supreme -- catfish topped with a creamed shrimp-and-crab sauce. Cajun bands play nightly.
LODGING
Most of the motels and hotels near Mamou -- and in the entire area -- book up the weekend of Mardi Gras.
L'Acadie Inn:
259 Tasso Loop, Eunice; 337-457-5211; hotboudin.com. Owned by Lance and Kelly Pitre, who have been operating their "country inn" for eight years. They offer an extensive Mardi Gras package, including a trailer to participate in a courir and traditional meals during the weekend. The inn books up a year in advance, but call and ask if it has any cancellations. It has 21 rooms and 17 RV sites. Mardi Gras rates run $105 a night for the room and package, and $42 for RV sites.
Days Inn:
1251 E. Laurel Ave., Eunice; 337-457-3040. Rooms run $117 to $128 a night, including taxes, and there were a handful of rooms available as of early this month. The Best Western in town is booked.
Chicot State Park:
The park in Ville Platte has a few cabins and hundreds of camping sites. Otherwise, campgrounds abound in this area. For reservations, call 877-226-7652 or go to crt.state.la.us/parks.
DO'S & DON'TS
Do
look for locally made Cajun seasonings as souvenirs. T-Boy's Cajun Seasoning and Slap Ya Mama hot sauce are two favorites.
Don't
expect riders to throw Mardi Gras beads at the traditional Mardi Gras events. That's a New Orleans tradition, not one of the courirs.
Do
meet a local resident. One of the best things about going to a courir is getting to know the people. Find someone to tell you about the traditions of that town or ask him to show you how to dance a two-step.
[ANGELA ROZAS]
