Play It Again

Now here's an eating trend we can really sink our teeth into: the rising popularity of Cajun food throughout the country. With restaurant chains such as Pappadeaux, Joe's Crab Shack and Razzoo's Cajun Cafe leading the way, Cajun delicacies appear well- positioned to gain a greater following among mainstream Americans for whom traditional ethnic favorites like Chinese and Mexican cuisine no longer hold the same zest.

And if the numbers are any indication, Americans do indeed have a zest for the offerings of the bayou. In a recent survey by the National Restaurant Association, for example, 40 percent of respondents said they occasionally ate Cajun food. Not surprisingly, the unique flavor and spicy nature of Cajun dishes were cited as key ingredients to its overall appeal.

So pass the gumbo, please, and fix us another helping of jambalaya. Son of a gun, we'll have some fun sampling eats from the bayou.

This article was originally published in the February 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Play It Again.