Trail Blog
October 11, 2010
Hot Item » Jamie and Jac Hit the Trails
Jamie Wax and Jacquelyn Cole are Louisiana natives who love exploring their home state. The couple is teaming up with Louisiana Culinary Trails to create a travel blog that’s sure to become your go-to guide for planning a weekend getaway around the state. Jamie took a timeout from his travels to share with us a bit more about the blog, tentatively titled Jamie and Jac Hit the Trails.
Blog basics: Over the next few months, Jamie and Jacquelyn will travel each Louisiana Culinary Trail and fill you in on all the details. The blog will have a “he said, she said” kind of feel. “You’ve got a guy who’s a playwright and screenwriter and a woman who is a journalist and photographer. It’s really kind of an interesting combination,” he says. “We love so many of the same things, but we don’t agree on everything and that makes a fun dynamic.” The blog will have three components: a written journal with his and her perspectives, photography taken along the trails, and video segments. “We want it to be very much like hearing from a couple you are friends with about what they experienced on a weekend trip.”
“That’s what we love about Louisiana—the diversity of excellent food. Places don’t last very long here if they’re not good.”
—Jamie Wax
Where they’ve been so far: The duo recently spent a weekend along our Creole Fusion Trail, where they explored New Orleans. They’re no strangers to the Crescent City, but they crafted an itinerary that combines well-known treasures with gems only the locals know. Be sure to check out the blog for their full recommendations, which include listening to Jeremy Davenport at The Ritz-Carlton and dining at Café Degas.
For their next stop along the trails, Jamie and Jacquelyn headed north for a few Delta Delights. This trail encompasses Monroe-West Monroe and Ruston, where Jamie had “flat out, no qualifications, the best barbecue sandwich I have ever eaten in my life. Period.” We won’t make you wait for the blog post to find out where: Dowling’s Smokehouse (1313 Cooktown Rd., 318.513.9966).
As they plan the rest of their journeys—including a second trip to the Creole Fusion Trail to explore Louisiana’s Northshore—they’d love your help. If you’ve got a great restaurant or attraction suggestion along our trails, let them know by visiting our Facebook and Twitter pages and leaving a comment.
“In Louisiana, we try to find the flavor and the fun in life more quickly and, I think, in a better way than anybody else from any other place. That’s part of what sets our character apart.”
—Jamie Wax
What souvenirs have they purchased along the trails: Jamie and Jacquelyn discovered edible souvenirs are the perfect takeaway from our trails. The pair was surprised to find the diversity of grapes and high-quality wines produced by Landry Vineyards in West Monroe. They picked up a few bottles of vino to take home (you can order some too by going here: www.landryvineyards.com). In New Orleans, Jacquelyn also picked a bottle of wine from W.I.N.O. (www.winoschool.com) for her mom, while Jamie bought his dad hog-head cheese from Cochon Butcher (www.cochonbutcher.com). Alas, “In Ruston, we were trying like the dickens to figure out how to bring home those barbecue sandwiches,” says Jamie. Next time they’ll have to bring a cooler.
“It’s true the same couple who would enjoy going to the wine country or going to France or Italy for food travel will also deeply enjoy food travel in the state of Louisiana.”
—Jamie Wax
Jamie and Jac’s travel tips: The best way to figure out the best eats along the trails? Ask a local, says Jamie. Ask at the front desk of a hotel, check with the local convention and visitors bureau, or if you’re at a restaurant you like, ask your waiter or the restaurant owner for their can’t-miss suggestions. He also says to establish this guiding dining rule upfront: No chain restaurants. “We will eat at a place that has multiple locations if it’s family owned and a Louisiana original,” he says. “Our state is too full of independently owned restaurants that have so much flavor and that’s what we believe in supporting.”
Another tip: Create a 70/30 itinerary. That’s 70 percent planned activities and 30 percent wiggle room. Or, if you’re like Jamie and prefer doing more things on the fly, try 30/70. Find the balance that works for you, allowing time to be spontaneous if you happen to find a great little spot along the way. “Be open for an adventure,” says Jamie. “Look beyond the sameness and find what is unique and what the character is in every place you go.
“We also have a great rule, which is let’s get outside. We will find a bike trail or a nature trail or get out and walk a historic district. It’s a great thing to plan outdoor activities. Also, if your travel is centering around eating, it also helps work off some of that food!” He also advises pacing yourself as you dine across the trails and says to consider sharing meals with your traveling companion.
If you live in Louisiana, don’t rule out exploring the trail in your own neck of the woods. “The wonderful thing about looking at your own region as a weekend destination is it’s going to be inexpensive to stay there so you can spend all your money on food and attractions,” says Jamie. “Set some ground rules that set you up to look at things with a fresh eye: No chain restaurants. We are going to rule out the restaurant we eat at most. We’re going to mix high-end meals with really delicious, authentic dives. Get away from your typical routine. Do something that reflects the culture; do things you can’t do anywhere else. We went to see a movie [in New Orleans], yes, but we didn’t go see the No. 1 movie at the box office at a multiplex. We took the streetcar to a very special single-screen theater and saw a movie from the ’50s. You can’t do that everywhere.”
