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DNR Secretary Angelle Congratulates Lafayette and New Orleans on “Tastiest Town” Rankings

BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Scott Angelle today applauded Lafayette, and the loyalty of its people to their town’s cuisine, for the city’s #1 ranking in Southern Living magazine’s “South’s Tastiest Town” competition.

With 10 cities in the running, Lafayette took nearly 40 percent of the more than 500,000 votes cast, according to Southern Living. Louisville, Ky., took second place followed by New Orleans in third. Other cities in that top 10 list were Charleston, Charlottesville, Houston, Birmingham, Decatur, Baltimore and Raleigh.

“I am pleased to see that Louisiana has defended its reputation for delivering the best food in the country with two of our cities ranking in the top three of best food destinations in the South – a region where we find the nation’s best cooking. Being recognized as the best in this part of America, where competition in that category is so tough, is a credit to our restaurants, our chefs and the customers who have the passion to support them, ” Angelle said. “New Orleans is well-known and world-renowned for its food, and any list of top U.S. cities for cuisine that does not include it would lack credibility. And, I am equally proud that Lafayette, one of the smaller cities in the running, inspired strong enough support to finish ahead of the likes of Houston, Birmingham and the spirited supporters of Louisville’s cuisine.”

Angelle said that the strong showing by Louisiana in a widespread regional competition is further testament to our ongoing commitment in efforts to maintain the critical balance of the “3 E’s” that support the growth and development of all sectors of the state – energy, economy and environment.

“Louisiana has a long and distinguished history of finding and producing energy, an effort that strengthens our nation’s economy through greater energy security and strengthens our state’s economy through opportunities for business growth and jobs for our people,” Angelle said. “This recognition serves to remind the rest of the nation that, at the same time, we are still home to an environment that provides the very best in seafood and other elements of a cuisine like no other in country – a message that brings with it opportunities to continue developing our tourism and retirement industries, which in turn provide more business and job growth.”