Cool temperatures call for a heartwarming bowl of gumbo. It’s the epitome of Southern soul food: a thick, dark soup-like dish that blends meat or fish with a roux, all layered with seasoning. It’s celebrated at the annual music-infused Louisiana Gumbo Festival (mid-October) when an army of local cooks whip up nearly 2,000 litres of the Bayou’s best. Elsewhere, other excellent spots include the Kajun Twist & Grill — located in the small town of Lockport, it’s known for its traditional approach. Or there’s family-run Cher Amie’s in Cut Off, another small town, which excels at classic seafood recipes. When gumbo season ends, carnival begins, ushering in an abundance of king cake — a sweet or savoury brioche-style pastry with purple, green and gold icing. Tuck in to more than 50 varieties at the Louisiana King Cake Festival (end of January) in historic Downtown Thibodaux, and old-fashioned bakes at the Cajun Pecan House, a Louisiana institution in Cut Off.