Avery Island | Louisiana Sam and I decided to go to Avery Island where Tabasco sauce is made. It is crazy to think a pepper from Central America or Mexico changes a recipe with the sauce created from it. We checked in at the gift shop and the lady gave us a map of the island this is no small island. Avery Island does not just include a Tabasco tour it also has a restaurant called 1868 and you can tour the jungle gardens. The Jungle gardens is 170 acres of Louisiana’s wildlife, marshes, and an old Buddha statue that is so peaceful. If you go for the Tabasco tour the jungles are a must!

Our first stop is the 1868 restaurant since we left hungry and arrived around noon. Although coming hungry was not a bad thing because the portions they give you for the meal is a LARGE amount. The restaurant is a cafeteria style when you enter there is a chalkboard with the menu and prices. I would suggest if you go trying out their sampler red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, and chicken and sausage gumbo all for $13.50 not bad for homemade styled cajun food. They do not have a bar but they do serve beer, wine, and have a bloody mary station. You can add any flavor of their Tabasco sauce in your bloody mary how neat plus, they have all the garnishings (bring on the bacon)! However, my favorite part of the restaurant was on each table in the middle they have their different Tabasco products you can add to your meal. I love this since you can test out different ones. I also love I get to add it because it can get to spicy can I get an amen on that!

Next stop the Tabasco tour in which you set your own pace. There is no tour guide but different buildings you walk to with different exhibits set up. The tour was very leisurely and we did not feel rushed. We toured the Tabasco museum first thing it was interesting to see the history of Tabasco sauce. This company has been around for nearly 150 years and to see the fruits of their labor or better yet the peppers of their labor grow, is amazing. I also found it interesting that Tabasco was sent to US troops in the Vietnam war to spice up the rations. Next up was a small greenhouse where you can get a small glimpse of the peppers they grow on Avery Island. Next to the greenhouse is where they age the peppers in oak barrels for three years. Fair warning the barrels do not smell good at all! Then we toured multiple exhibits showing the process of how the sauce is made. Key points during the exhibits are in the videos they are so interesting and definitely worth watching. The have recipes with different sauces and that was a highlight because I loved to cook and try new dishes. I wrote down their mac and cheese dish I could not resist! After serving 20-25 years at Tabasco the workers are able to live on Avery Island I thought that was so sweet to give back to the community who aides in the development! Finally, they had a small testing station at the end where we tried out the chipotle sauce and we got a small sample bottle.

Finally, this tour is not complete unless you visit the jungle gardens. Since the gardens are so huge we drove in the car to each location and got out to view different spots. It was an amazing experience to see the wildlife and semitropical plants in the area. It was so tranquil when you reached the Buddha statue and I was in awe of how beautiful the location was. The Buddha sat on a hill with a large pond in the front surrounded by beautiful trees. This Buddha was donated in 1936 from a man from Manhattan. This Buddha has now become a local place of worship for Buddhists. Plus, I spotted a bride taking her bridal pictures on one location in the gardens. Just a great day to escape and wonder about.

Outfit Deets: I got this top at Shein for $12 right now they have the cutest bell sleeve tops for fall and super inexpensive. This top sold out whenever you order from Shein though it takes 2-3 weeks and things typically sell out (whyyyy?! makes me sad). Linked similar ones below! I got my blue jeans from Urban Outfitters and they are high waisted and the comfiest thing on earth! The necklace is LIFE I love buying pieces that go with multiple outfits and can be dressed in different ways. This necklace is so versatile it can be knotted or act as a choker. Everything else is linked below! Lip color is Lumiere 2 from Kathleen Lights collection from Colourpop!

XOXO Tay