Authentic Cajun cuisine can be found throughout the state and even some parts of southeast Texas. Recipes vary across that area, but THE Cajun Market has earned praise from Louisianians.
“People will come in the store and some will say, ‘It’s just like my grandmother’s,’” Tullis said. “Some will say, ‘It’s a little different, but it’s delicious.’”
THE Cajun Market serves a variety of Cajun dishes out of its kitchen, including favorites such as crawfish etouffee and boudin balls, which come with several kinds of stuffing. It also sells meat, seafood, seasonings and other items hard to find outside of Louisiana.
Because of his connections with crawfishers and other suppliers back home, Tullis gets weekly shipments of these items.
“I didn’t want to deal ... with the big boy food suppliers, not when I had the contacts directly,” he said. “That’s what I had. I grew up with them.”
Tullis and his wife, Deborah, opened THE Cajun Market in June 2020. Deborah now runs the market, although Tullis said that she says he is still the face of the business. She has added new menu items, including chicken sandwiches and brunch options.
Tullis is focusing on a new venture: Cajun Gulf Seafood, a wholesale supplier of the authentic Louisiana seafood that THE Cajun Market sells.
“[Cajuns] are one of the most outgoing, friendly, work-hard-play-hard, meet-no-strangers, give-you-the-shirt-off-our-backs cultures there is,” he said. “But if we have a negative, we are the most persnickety people in the world when it comes to food. So I knew deep down that if I couldn’t find it ... other Louisiana people couldn’t find it here.”
THE Cajun Market - 5409 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville. 817-527-2175. www.thecajunmarket.com Hours: Closed Mon., Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
