"Not to get existential, but is gumbo a soup? It’s really more of a stew, or perhaps it deserves a category unto itself. But we’re going to call it a soup, because nothing screams Southern comfort more than roux the color of chocolate. A lot of places in Central Texas use the more tomato-y Creole recipe, but we prefer Louisiana's tomato-free version. This lively Cajun restaurant in South Austin makes a hearty chicken and sausage gumbo that rivals the bayou's best bowls. We usually order the Hank Williams Platter, which gets you jambalaya, crawfish pie, and gumbo." - matthew jacobs, nicolai mccrary