Cochon the Butcher

This is what is sitting on the tables. It is a minefield. Not so much the regular sauce. However the other one has proven to be my downfall. They sell it at the venue and I bought a bottle. Sweet potato habanero sauce is wonderful. I am not a chilehead but this not tongue blowing. Heat level about super jalapeno with lots of fruit notes. I put it on everything even desserts. There is a problem. It is only sold at the Butcher. I have one way of getting it but if that falls through I have put together a system of chile mules that will buy and transport it to me. Probably totally illegal but I have to have my sauce
Below is the charcuterie plate of that day. From top left going clockwise Bresola (air dried beef), green olives, Cochon mustard (available on line or in local stores), soppressata (spicy hard salami) , cotto salami, duck rillettes (duck cooked in fat until tender then pounded with some fat resembles pate). There were toasted slice of bread also. Everything was good but I loved the air dried beef

This was the cheese plate of the day. They buy from St James Company (local cheese shop). Again from the top left are pickled mirleton, Rouge River Blue (cows milk US), Selles sur cher (goats milk France), La Welsho (cows milk France). I like the blue best of all.

Still being a bit hungry I got a GLT. Guanciale (cured and smoked hog jowl) lettuce and tomato sandwich. Nice bread and the chips were good. I have liked hog jowl for ages getting my fix from Burger's Smokehouse via mail. This certainly hit the spot.

Denny's Dinner

Denny has a new concept. A smaller footprint with the exterior like a chrome dinner from the Northeast. I encountered it in Seabrook Texas next to my motel. A far ranging menu along with it being open 24 hrs should make for some profit. It being in Texas it of course had a Texas menu flyer on the table. I opted for Ribeye Migas with grits. Standard scrambled eggs and fried tortilla strips bumped up with avocado cubes and pieces of ribeye steak. The ribeye was tender and well seasoned and the eggs hit the spot. The grits were unfortunately the instant type and not worth eating. Still a nice stop for on the road or early morning dinning.

Booda's Bistro

OUT AND ABOUT

Booda’s Bistro
345 Broad St
Lake Charles LA
337-564-5403

Monday to Saturday Breakfast 6:00 AM to 10.30 PM $1 to $8
Lunch 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Sunday Brunch 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM


Not much was done except some spiffing up and a bar added in the rear from its previous incarnation. The menu is about half breakfast and half lunch. In the future dinner will be added. The place is named after one of the partner’s dog. This theme continues on the menu with breakfast plates named after various dog breeds and a small hot dog selection

Let us start with breakfast. I went for a Loco Moco, a Hawaiian breakfast staple, since I knew the chef had spent some time there. The base is two scoops of rice followed by a hamburger steak topped with fried eggs and drowned in brown gravy. Kinda of unusual but think about it. These are Southwest Louisiana staples just served for breakfast that’s all. I enjoyed mine (good rice, good gravy, good grief I ate it all). They offer breakfast sandwiches, one of which features a product called Taylor Pork Roll. From the east coast it consists of minced pork meat made into a big sausage smoking it in the process. Think jumped up spam shaped like bologna but so much better.

Next I tried the French Toast. Mon cheri, thick slices of French bread cut on the bias. They were completely soaked with custard and cooked though out, a miracle these day I guartee. Rich enough so there was no need for syrup. I got a side of bacon and grits. Nice thick crisp smoky slices and stiff fully hydrated grits which I love. I finished the breakfast forays by cherry picking some sides. I got cheese grits (a little looser but full of cheesy goodness), biscuits (respectable almost cat heat size pillows of dough) and grilled smoky Cajun sausage link (very nice). They also offer egg and meat plates, omelets, pancakes, breakfast, and biscuit sandwiches. I hear that on Sunday specials are offered

As for lunch I started out with the gumbos and a soup du jour. Both the Seafood and Chicken Sausage featured dark rouxs with thin flavorful broths. Just the way I love them. The soup du jour I ate was a beef vegetable. Lots of ground beef with potatoes, corn, beans, peas and carrots that hit the spot.

I had a couple of starters along the way, the Boudin Egg Rolls and Fried Gator Bites. The egg rolls had an excellent filling with a liver under note. They seemed under filled but the steam really puffed the skins out. They were full enough to make them interesting. The alligator seemed marinated and then coated with seasoned flour and fried. For the most part very tender

I tried two of the dogs, Flying Hawaiian and Chicago. I was a bit let down. I expected them to be bigger and more loaded that they were. However they were tasty enough. The Hawaiian was dressed with a sweet and sour sauce with pineapple and the Chicago had a snappy relish but no way near the traditional toppings. I was blown away by my burger. I started with an Old Fashion Burger and built on it with bacon, sautéed onions, cheddar, and pickled jalapenos. They served it on a sour dough jalapeno cheddar bun. The patty obviously hand formed proved juicy and tender. Therefore I got juicy, smoky, sweet, spicy, etc with every bite. I was quite satisfied. I have heard from a reliable source the Reuben is excellent also.

Sides are good here. Perfect fried thick beer batter onion rings and fresh fried potato chip to name two. Also don’t deprive yourself of a piece of the in-house baked bundt cake. I ate lemonade with raspberry sauce and an orange one. They possessed a nice light citrus note.

While they do their best they can be overwhelmed during peak hours. I like going at off hours. I encountered a more laid back attitude which was more conducive to me relaxing a bit. I look forward the dinner options and maybe a special Sunday menu

Wendy's Salad

As many of you know I am a coupon person, I do not really care much for salads, and I seldom look at prices on food. Recently I found myself in possession of a $1 off for the new Wendy's salad. Since they all seemed to possess meat I thought what the heck. However I did get sticker shock when told at the drive thru it would be $6 even with the dollar off. Muttering to myself "this better be worth it". You know what it was. Below is an unassembled Santa Fe salad. It is probably better that it is unassembled because it would have been trash by the time I drove home. You get a nice salad base not just iceberg with a little salsa in this case. The salad dressing and chili in separate containers along with some fried tortilla strips. This salad is like a taco salad without the shell. I can also affirm it was tasty and filling. It was as good or better than any entree salad I have ever eaten at a restaurant. I think I have another coupon around somewhere. If I do and it has not expired I will post another salad.

Kyoto

This falls under killing time while the lady that cleans my house finishes up. I really do not remember what this roll was called. I got it because it was mainly raw and had soy bean paper wrapper. Ok as I recall
I then went with sashimi (raw fish). From left to right eel, urchin roe, and yellow tuna belly.
While the jury is out on the uni (I think I would like it better sushi style) the other two were fine. I am the type of guy that really likes raw oysters. No condiments or crackers and I chew them rather than let them slide down my throat . It is amazing the texture and flavor of raw fish and shellfish

Dairy Barn

I finally made to the new Dairy Barn for a sit down. I got the combo shrimp and catfish with onion rings. Just as good as any of the other sites. Although the long trek to the counter and wait on my crutches is not something I want to repeat. Probably will use the drive thru in the future unless I am with other people

Thad a Petch

Almost the entire month of August has been deadly for my blog. Between the heat, problems at work, problems at the house, happening to be out of town for three weekends, and to be quite honest having blogger block I have fallen behind. I have a few in the queue that I will dole out then maybe with cooler weather the juices will flow again

The first week out of town was a run up to Leesville to Thad a Petch. As usual everything was delicious Below are the pics (this was more of just a good lunch with good friends I did not take pictures of everything). The following three not pictured
Pla-Meuk Tod (Tempura calamari, eggplant and broccoli).
Curry Puff (fried puff with potatoes, onion, and yellow curry with cucumber in sweet sauce
Chicken Cake (deep fried ground chicken with red chili and Thai herbs)
This was a fried squid and vegetable tempura dish
Hor mhok ta lay (seafood mix with coconut milk, red curry and basil)
Pad ke mao, Pan fried flat rice noodles with chicken, bell pepper, tomato, onion and egg.

Pad thai with calamari

Green curry with chicken

Ped raad khing (boneless half duck deep fried topped with mushroom, bell pepper and ginger