What is the difference between Cajun and Creole food?!


Question: I lived in New Orleans for a few years and here's what I saw as the difference/similarities.

Creole cooking is influenced by French, Spanish, French Caribbean, African, and American.

Cajun is mainly influenced by French since Cajuns are decendants of the French Acadians. Also, Cajun food is more country cooking (rustic as some would describe it) using what can be hunted.

However, the two cultures/cuisines pretty much share the same influences being in Southern Louisiana living side-by-side, as a result the cuisines are more similar than different.

I have to disgree with the previous poster.
Creole food is typically the upscale food - Arnaud's, Antoine's, Brennan's and Commander's Palace are all "Creole" restaurants. These are fancy high ticket restaurants.


Answers: I lived in New Orleans for a few years and here's what I saw as the difference/similarities.

Creole cooking is influenced by French, Spanish, French Caribbean, African, and American.

Cajun is mainly influenced by French since Cajuns are decendants of the French Acadians. Also, Cajun food is more country cooking (rustic as some would describe it) using what can be hunted.

However, the two cultures/cuisines pretty much share the same influences being in Southern Louisiana living side-by-side, as a result the cuisines are more similar than different.

I have to disgree with the previous poster.
Creole food is typically the upscale food - Arnaud's, Antoine's, Brennan's and Commander's Palace are all "Creole" restaurants. These are fancy high ticket restaurants.

I know this is closed but the real answer is tomato...creole cooking uses more tomato....tomato in gumbo,,,tomato in shrimp creole.....where cajun wouldn't think of putting tomato in them.... Report It


Other Answers (3)




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  • ha_mer's Avatar by ha_mer
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    June 22, 2006
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  • as different as apples and mango's.

    One is more refined, and the other is more rustic. I think the Creole is more rustic (not sure though).

    The difference is pretty small. It's really just different approaches to the same dishes. Check out the link in the source section





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