The Best Stop’s Boudin

The boudin and boudin balls at the Best Stop Supermarket in the town of Scott west of Lafayette are sublime. One of the celebrated spots along the state’s unofficial boudin trail, the Best Stop is a quintessential roadside grocery store with cold drinks, sundries and enough cuts of meat to outfit a big box store. The fresh meat counter spans an entire wall, while another is consumed by standing freezers exploding with spice-dusted stuffed pork chops, crab pistolettes, andouille and more. The Best Stop’s legendary hot boudin stands out for its balanced flavor and porky goodness. Rice is nearly nonexistent in the links here; the casings are filled with slow braised ground pork, scallions and dry Cajun spices. It’s salty and spicy, but not overly so. And while greasy goodness weeps into the butcher paper that holds it, this moist, flavorful boudin isn’t over-the-top fatty. The boudin balls are petite and soft with a delicate cornmeal crust. Few things in life are so addictive. The Best Stop is one of dozens of boudin purveyors within easy reach of Baton Rouge, but a place worth singling out. T’is the season to hit the road.