Many people in Louisiana have French ancestors. French settlers, called Cajun and Creole, influenced the language, music and food of Louisiana.

New Orleans is the capital of Louisiana. The city is famous for its Cajun cuisine. Cajun cooking uses a lot of onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Crawfish etouffé is a very popular Cajun specialty. Crawfish look like small lobsters. Chefs boil crawfish in large pots with corn, potatoes and special seasonings. Alligator is another Cajun delicacy. It is very expensive.

Cajun music also has an old tradition in Louisiana. The accordion and fiddle are two instruments used in traditional Cajun music. Other instruments include the guitar, bass, drum, and triangle.