Market brings southern Louisiana flavor to Bossier
Shopping at Bergeron’s Boudin & Cajun Meats in Bossier City is a complete sensory experience.
The smell of smoldering pecan wood lingers through the air; wall to wall displays lead the eyes through a selection of their famous meats; the sound fresh cracklins frying in hot oil from the kitchen; the feel of a piping hot meat pie or pistollet fresh from the hot box; and, finally, the taste of home with their blend of Creole and Cajun spices.
Bergeron’s Boudin & Cajun Meats, better known as ‘your neighborhood Cajun market,’ opened just over a month ago in north Bossier and has already made a name for itself as the place to find tastes of the bayous. The business is owned by Drew and Alicia Andre, a local husband and wife team who met in college and share a passion for food and cooking.
“We enjoy being part of the Bossier City community,” Alicia said. “We’re in this together. We never imagined opening our own business, but it’s worth all the hard work knowing that it’s ours at the end of the day.”
Bergeron’s was built from the ground up in a space that was once an auto body repair shop on Benton Road. Alicia said the decor was envisioned by her aunt, who took the empty building and stripped its interior down to nothing.
A few coats of paint and some decorative touches later, Bergeron’s is a thriving business that’s attracting new customers by the day. All of their food offerings, whether fresh from the hot box or packaged in the freezer, are made fresh, by hand, daily.
“You can eat it fresh from the store or you can take it home and cook it yourself,” Alicia said.
Menu items include Cajun classics like boudin, cracklins, gumbo, andouille and Étouffée. Other items include meat market staples – smoked sausage, brisket, pork tenderloin, pork chops and chicken.
Despite how normal that may seem, there’s nothing ordinary about Bergeron’s menu. Meats are rubbed in their famous red rub, a blend of seasoning and spices created by the originals owner.
“It’s good ole southern food with a little Cajun touch,” Alicia said.
Something exclusive to Bergeron’s is their famous “smoked chicken patties,” a savory concoction made from the tender dark meat of chicken that’s seasoned and formed into a patty and smoked. From there, it can be eaten on a bun, chopped in a salad or by itself.
“It’s a good flavor. It’s definitely not bland,” she added.
Bergeron’s also has a vast selection of game meats, including rabbit, quail and duck. There are also frog legs and alligator meat in stock for those looking for a real taste of the bayou.
Alicia said their top selling items are the pork tenderloin, which are stuffed with jalapenos and cream cheese; and the ribeyes, which are tenderized, stuffed and wrapped in bacon. Top selling sides, she added, are the twice baked potatoes and those Cajun classics – gumbo and Étouffée.
Alicia said they make every effort to give great customer service, whether it’s with a first timer or repeat customer.
“We want their experience to be one that reminds them of home,” she said. “We’re young, new and happy to be here.”
Bergeron’s Boudin & Cajun Meats is located just north of I-220 at 3933 Benton Road, Suite D. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BergeronsBossierCity
