Step into Zydeco's in downtown Mooresville and it's like you've stepped into another part of the country - Cajun country. New Orleans native Chef/Owner Carter Hutchinson and wife, Deb are serving up authentic South Louisiana cuisine in a festive Mardi Gras atmosphere. A claim to fame is they were featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives show with Guy Fieri! http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/videos/dv1200/homemade-homebrewed.vid-0173098.html

This was not my first trip to Zydeco's, and I always feel like I'm traveling on vacation in the deep south when I eat there. It just has this party vibe and you can tell people are having fun and enjoying great food. Weekends are always busy, and the night we were there was also crawfish boil night so it was really hopping. The crawfish boils are held from late spring through early summer and you need to follow them on Facebook or Twitter to find out the dates and times they're happening. They don't accept reservations, but they have a separate bar area where you can hang out and have a drink while you wait on your table and enjoy some live music featuring local artists on Fridays and Saturdays. I can't go to Zydeco's and not have one of their signature hurricane drinks...you know, when in Rome.

Zydeco's only uses beef and chicken that are humanely raised, or as Deb likes to say they only had one bad day. Everything is made from scratch, and my favorite dish is the Half and Half, which is half gumbo and half jambalaya. Their jambalaya and gumbo are made with slow-cooked chicken and homemade andouille sausage served over white rice. It's a generous portion meal and very filling, not overly spicy, and typically includes taking home leftovers for me. I also love the catfish which is nicely seasoned and served piping hot with a side of either fries or potato salad. If you need something sweet to top off the meal, I recommend the Bourbon Pecan Pie or the Bread Pudding. In addition to live music on Friday and Saturday nights, every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month you can enjoy the No Cover Songwriters Showcase where they feature original songwriters. They also throw an annual Mardi Gras Block Party on the 3rd Thursday in June, where they close the street and have live music, craft and food vendors, a beer tent, a crawfish eating contest and other festivities. No worries if you've never traveled to New Orleans, Zydeco's offers you an opportunity to experience and enjoy real Cajun cuisine right here in central Indiana!

Blog Written by Becky Harris