A Shreveport Classic Appears in New Hit TV Show on Amazon
For whatever reason, Shreveport has a tendency to make cameos in major television shows. From SNL to the Simpsons to Better Call Saul, Shreveport has made an appearance in one form or another numerous times. Personally, for me, it's always kinda cool to see my home get a big time shout out - even if it's just for a split second. On top of being cool, it's usually surprising because Shreveport has a way of working its way into the oddest places.
Case in point: The latest Shreveport Cameo in the new Amazon Prime TV hit - "Cross".
How Did Shreveport Appear in 'Cross' TV Show?
If you don't know, 'Cross' is a TV show based on the long running James Patterson book series. In the book, Alex Cross is a Washington D.C. homicide detective who ends up getting caught up in a series of bizarre crimes. Not exactly the place you would expect to see Shreveport, Louisiana make an appearance, but it does.
In episode 3 of 'Cross', Shreveport and one of its signature dishes play a pivotal role in character development in the series. Let me explain in the most spoiler-free way possible.
One of the characters, who is sort of a bad guy, sees that a D.C. eatery is serving Shreveport-style Stuffed Shrimp. He, apparently, is from the 'Bottoms' and takes his Shreveport Stuffed Shrimp VERY seriously.
You can watch the clip below, as posted by Orlandeaux's Cafe (we'll talk about them more in a second):
History of Shreveport-Style Stuffed Shrimp
Allegedly, the history of Shreveport-Style Stuffed Shrimp goes all the way back to the 40s. Shreveport-style stuffed shrimp got their start here in the 1940s at a restaurant called the Freeman and Harris Cafe. Of course, the original Freeman and Harris Cafe is still up and running...you just may know it by a different name - Orlandeaux's Cafe.
In fact, according to Orlandeaux's website, they are nationally recognized as the Oldest Continuously Operating African-American Family Owned restaurant in the United States. Which is pretty darn cool.
If you've never had Shreveport-style stuffed shrimp, you're missing out! If you want to try some out, you got the 'Original' at Orlandeaux's or several other options. You can find some of the places we've found online below.
How to Watch 'Cross'
Cross is a show streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can stream all episodes of the series now.
The Best Restaurants for Shreveport-Style Stuffed Shrimp
Gallery Credit: Google Maps