My dad has been ordering Stansel rice for over 30, maybe even 40 years, and having it shipped to Georgia. I've always thought it was good, but I never really understood why it was worth having shipped halfway across the country. Most of the time, I had it loaded with gravy at Thanksgiving, mixed into beef stroganoff, or buried under stir-fried chicken with lots of sauce--so I never truly appreciated its flavor. A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by my parents' house and Mom had made a vegetable stir-fry with chicken teriyaki, served separately. There were only a few bites of chicken left--and no sauce. For the first time in all these years, I tasted the rice without anything masking it. Oh my goodness. I had no idea what I'd been missing. Someone recently commented that the quality isn't what it used to be, and they may be right--they're certainly entitled to their opinion. But as someone who's been eating this rice for more than two-thirds of their life, I still think it's something special. The reason I'm even on this site today is simple: after all these years, I'm not waiting to just have it at Mom's house anymore. I'm ordering my own. - read more

It doesn't get better than this rice...PERIOD. Both the white popcorn rice and the brown rice are as good as it gets. I get 5 pounds at a time and it goes fast. read more

Everything went well. I used to know Ellis Stansel in the 1980's before he died. A nice man with a delicious product.

Ellis Stansel Gourmet Rice at one time was fantastic. Without a doubt the best tasting blanco rice ever.. But slowly that incredible popcorn smell and taste waned ... I was heartbroken. I called the main office to find out what happened to the quality, taste, smell that was so prevalent .. The lady I spoke with was kind and listened to my concern. She informed me that some harvest are affected by drought and flooding, just like any food source, which I completely understand. However, After ordering 6 bags to give at Christmas every single family I gifted (some geauxing back years) unfortunately confirmed what I and my gang had been noticing, the quality just ain't what it used to be. Even several folks who had never had the pleasure to experienced it the past, told me they could not tell the difference. It is so sad, but this is not the only product that has fallen on off the must have list, because of quality control. That once was incredible, but now is barely credible. I always try to purchase local, Louisiana, East TeXas, Miss-ah-sip, and of course those little short-Nin flavored, AllyBamhE made biscuits, that come in a little aluminum pan. Which some folks keep/collect, then stack up n-piles under the kitchen counter, to be used at another time, sometimes N a toaster oven as ahhh, uhhh.. mini cookie sheet, or dawg dish in ah pinch. Now, what were talking about..? read more

My Dad and step-Mom LOVE this rice...since they were down in mid-October and the Dad was running short on rice I thought I'd take a day off work and we'd run over to Gueydan, LA and pick up a 10 lb bag of "Popcorn Rice" in person instead of him ordering it through the mail like he usually does... Well it was quite the trip and I wasn't sure how far Gueydan, LA was from Geismar, LA (couple of hours if you're wondering) and me and the Dad had a good time on our outing...always great getting to spend time with my Dad!! Anyways, he had originally bought his first bag of rice from a general store there in Gueydan but couldn't remember the name of the store but my GPS was taking us on the outskirts of the town and for a minute my Dad was getting worried we were lost and cussing my technology and my GPS as we were driving down a pig trail of a road with bushes taller than my truck on both sides of said pig trail when suddenly an opening appeared and it was a yard and a house with big metal building behind it with a Stansel's Gourmet Rice sign above the door... Walked in and asked "Is this the place to buy Popcorn Rice?" The lovely lady behind the counter said "It sure is!" So I told the Dad to whip out the plastic and BAM!! we were walking out with a 10 lb bag of rice quick as you please... In addition to the white rice they also sell brown rice and they ship through the mail so unless you just want to road trip over you can give them a call and place your order and they'll be happy to ship it to you... Hey if my folks love this rice I think that's endorsement enough for you to give it a try... read more

Stansels Gourmet Rice - a bag of rice - Specialty Food Near Me - Gueydan, Louisiana

I met Mr. Stancel many years ago at The New Orleans School of Cooking and have been a fan of his Popcorn Rice ever since. Joe Cahn proudly used his awesome rice in many of the dishes he made. read more

Have ordered rice from this company for many years (ordered rice via phone and sent check when rice received-many years ago). Last ordered 11/19/2020 and received half of the order within a couple of weeks. Emailed twice and called four times to enquire about the other half of my order. Finally received a UPS tracking number 3/8/2021. Today is 3/29/2021. Honestly do not expect rice or refund (refund offered earlier; rather have rice). COVID is not an excuse at this time. Same situation as David E.'s posting of 2/19/2021 read more

Best rice ever! If so, why only 3 stars? The Stansel's sell a WONDERFUL product. Received our first bag as a gift way back in the mid-1980's and loved it. I made sure to buy a bag or two every time I was in New Orleans. It became harder to find, so the last two years I have ordered STANSEL'S GOURMET RICE online from their website. Both times order 20# (try to keep one 10# bag in the freezer). FIVE STARS for the rice itself. I would only rate them at one star for customer service. I have ordered direct from them twice, and both times, they charge my bank card immediately, but take FOREVER to ship. I understand that this is a crop, and there can be issues with supply, but there is absolutely no communication about order status - they do not answer their phone or respond to emails. Last year we finally received the rice two months after ordering. This year it has already been more than two months, and still nothing.... LOVE the rice (five stars+), but their communication with customers barely rates one star. read more

I love this rice. I read about it in the NY Times about twenty years ago and ordered some then. You talk to a real person... I could imagine a little work shed in a field in Gueydon LA. It is fabulous rice. In those days, they shipped and you sent a check! Now you can go on line and order with a credit card... but it is soooo delicious. Try some! read more

the best rice you have ever tasted!!!! I used to order from ellis years ago when my grandmother sent me a 10lb bag of rice...when I cooked it my kids thought I was making popcorn so from then on my children always call it popcorn rice...so good you can eat it plain with a little butter salt and pepper yum!!!!and the nicest people!!!!!!! read more