OUT AND ABOUT
The Spot Cafe
1847 Hwy 14
Lake Charles LA
337-437-8187
Monday to Saturday 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM Cost $1 to $10
This annex to Jones Grocery has been many venues over the years. It has turned over again. Less ambitious than the last place here (they offered sometimes as many as five or more different plate lunches) these people offer only one but so far they have been tasty. They are feeling their way but recently they put out a menu for the whole week. Before it was cooks choice and you got the throw of the dice. You might find mw there on Tuesday if the keep serving ox tail on that day.
Based on the lunches the short order stuff should be good also. They do po boys, burgers, fried chicken, and fried seafood not to mention breakfast. The breakfast seems solid but not exciting enough for me to haul myself out of bed. But based on what I have eaten it should be as well prepared.
First time in was Baked Chicken. Since I find this to be dry more times than not, it was a test for this venue. However this leg quarter passed with flying quarters. It was juicy and flavorful with a nice level of spice. The side of rice dressing was excellent with a hint of liver. The mac and cheese proved righteous also but the pork and beans seemed from a can.
The second time was to be short order until I heard the plate was Smothered Pork Chops. I did not get enough of this in my youth so you will never see me turn away from smothered pork. Plastic knife tender and great tasting. The rice received the bounty of the pan drippings. The okra and tomatoes along with the mashed potato style potato salad was as good as any I have put in my mouth. I chowed down. You also get a schoolhouse roll and a piece of bundt cake with each plate lunch.
I finished off with a couple of short orders I opted for my usual Bacon Cheeseburger. While not the best if certainly was not the worst. It provided a satisfactory taste and the gestalt a burger should have. I would definitely have it again. Next came the Seafood Basket. It consisted of a large filet of what I assumed was catfish and six large shrimp fried to perfection. The coating seemed to be a combo of corn flour and flour with some spices adhered perfectly to the proteins. That made it evident that the person frying had some skills. As good as any I have ever tasted. Fries were pretty much standard.
As usual it seemed to be more of a take away place. I seem to be the only one to sit and eat there. Since it is on my normal route home, I consider it a viable option for when I don’t feel like cooking and want to avoid the fast food.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Burger Time
I was going to do a trifecta of Bar Burgers between the small bar row on Ryan street but found one had folded. Therefore you get a duet. I like burgers made at bars and if anyone knows of a bar that serves good burgers get in touch with me at adhebert@suddenlink.com. If I get enough I will do another column
Bourbonz
3436 Ryan St
Lake Charles LA
337-674-2294
Monday to Friday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Kitchen) Cost $2.50 to $9
I started off with the Fried Jalapenos. Pickled slices in what seemed to be a beer batter and fried golden brown served with ranch dressing. Dipping into the dressing gave then the just right hint of heat. I was munching away then I had a brainstorm. I stopped and waited for my burger. Here they call it the Blue’s Burger. It is really a cheeseburger. I got mine with cheddar, bacon, onions, and my brainstorm nothing else. I put the remainder of the jalapenos on the burger. On the toasted buns they put mayonnaise on top and mustard on the bottom. Then a third pound patty cooked well done but still plenty juicy. The perfectly melted cheddar held two thin crispy slices of bacon and the jalapeno slices with the white onion rings topping it off. It made for a good burger. One I would return for. The side of well prepared fries that I even liked completed the experience. They also carry on the tradition of the Wagon Wheel BBQ by offering the Trail Boss and Tornado sandwiches, another time maybe.
Cajun Wharf
3500 Ryan St
Lake Charles LA
337-478-7333
www.pelicanjoe.com
Monday to Saturday 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Kitchen) Cost $2.50 to $10
Here it is Joe’s Hamburger. It consists of a third pound patty that you can add cheese to but no bacon. I went with pepper jack. It comes with lettuce, tomato pickles and red onion rings on the side. The toasted buns are plain but ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard is on the table. I went with mayonnaise, mustard and the red onions. The patty was juicy and the pepper jack perfectly melted. In my humble opinion bacon would have made this burger but it was still good as is. I got it with the crazy chips. They are not from a bag but fried fresh to order. I like that. While I did not get it this time Joe’s Shrimp, Crab, and Parmesan dip is excellent also. Here is another good choice along Ryan to eat a great burger.
Bourbonz
3436 Ryan St
Lake Charles LA
337-674-2294
Monday to Friday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Kitchen) Cost $2.50 to $9
I started off with the Fried Jalapenos. Pickled slices in what seemed to be a beer batter and fried golden brown served with ranch dressing. Dipping into the dressing gave then the just right hint of heat. I was munching away then I had a brainstorm. I stopped and waited for my burger. Here they call it the Blue’s Burger. It is really a cheeseburger. I got mine with cheddar, bacon, onions, and my brainstorm nothing else. I put the remainder of the jalapenos on the burger. On the toasted buns they put mayonnaise on top and mustard on the bottom. Then a third pound patty cooked well done but still plenty juicy. The perfectly melted cheddar held two thin crispy slices of bacon and the jalapeno slices with the white onion rings topping it off. It made for a good burger. One I would return for. The side of well prepared fries that I even liked completed the experience. They also carry on the tradition of the Wagon Wheel BBQ by offering the Trail Boss and Tornado sandwiches, another time maybe.
Cajun Wharf
3500 Ryan St
Lake Charles LA
337-478-7333
www.pelicanjoe.com
Monday to Saturday 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Kitchen) Cost $2.50 to $10
Here it is Joe’s Hamburger. It consists of a third pound patty that you can add cheese to but no bacon. I went with pepper jack. It comes with lettuce, tomato pickles and red onion rings on the side. The toasted buns are plain but ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard is on the table. I went with mayonnaise, mustard and the red onions. The patty was juicy and the pepper jack perfectly melted. In my humble opinion bacon would have made this burger but it was still good as is. I got it with the crazy chips. They are not from a bag but fried fresh to order. I like that. While I did not get it this time Joe’s Shrimp, Crab, and Parmesan dip is excellent also. Here is another good choice along Ryan to eat a great burger.
Regatta
OUT AND ABOUT
Regatta
508 Hawkeye Avenue
Lake Arthur LA
337-774-1504
www.regattarestaurantla.com
Monday to Saturday 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Cost $2.50 to $25
Sunday 11:00 AM to 3: PM
Opening last fall this new construction is spectacular. A long ADA rated ramp leads to the main building which is set on piers over the waters of the lake. A large dining room tricked out in wood also has a fireplace and a small stage. Wide capacious eaves mean you can partake in out door dining. They make the point that you can arrive by car, boat or seaplane. I have been two times with variations of my eating group. A late Saturday lunch seems to work best for us
First time was me, my sister and our enthusiastic friend. I ordered the Smoked Fish Dip for the table. It consists of in-house smoked white fish mixed with cream cheese and herbs then blended together to form a paste. Crackers come with it. While my companions were less than enthusiastic, I loved it. I ate most of it. Something about how the smoky flavor complements the unctuous cream cheese speaks to my palate, could have used a bit more heat. Lunch was still being served. My sister went for the Crab cakes with a side of grits. She was highly pleased. The pan sautéed cake delivered on flavor and the grits while not quite Zea’s were good. Our friend got Fried Oysters. It was just the start of the season. They were tiny but well fried in a cornmeal crust. I opted for the Seafood Platter. I was off fried platters as I had recently had some terrible ones. However except for the oysters there were other options for the other elements of the platter on the menu. Therefore I ask for the items broiled, griddled or sautéed as a substitute for the fried version. To my delight they were amenable. I would not have tried this on a busy night but a lazy Saturday afternoon seemed OK.
The platter consisted of shrimp, oysters, catfish, crab cake, stuffed crab and shrimp and okra gumbo. Even though it had okra in it the gumbo was roux based. An excellent roux it was. The juice tasted of seafood with okra under tone. The shrimp were abundant and it was delicious. The shrimp and catfish were griddled with a blackening season and quite moist and tasty. The pan sautéed crab cake possessed at least 80% crab meat if not more with little filler. The same could be said of the stuffed crab except the dressing was in a real crab shell and broiled. Again the fried oysters were small but tasty and not over fried. My side of Corn Macque Choux tasted fine also. We shared a Gateaux Sirop (syrup cake) which was below par.
The return visit was with a larger contingent. Their bread boat (miniature pirogue) held roadhouse style bread. I ordered Alligator Sausage (came with grain mustard and kraut) for the table. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Several people ordered po boys. They included Fried Catfish and the Grand Lake Special (oysters and shrimp). This happened on the other end of the table. They looked delicious and I heard no complaints. A crab cake entrée was also ordered on that side. Just as good as the last time I was told. Our baking friend got the special. A catfish and shrimp combo (fried catfish and broiled shrimp). My sister ordered the BBQ Shrimp would have been excellent except for an over abundance of rosemary.
I started with oyster on the half shell, still a bit on the small size but nice and briny. I then tried the Duck and Andouille gumbo. Dark roux complimented the earthiness of the duck with the Andouille adding just the right spiciness. I then went to the Crispy Duck with Cane Syrup. Half a duck cooked until the skin was crispy then slathered with a cane syrup glaze. The combination of the sweet crispy skin and the earthy meat was perfect. I enjoyed every finger licking bite as with a dish like this your hands are your best tools. The table shared Bread Pudding and another run at the Gateaux Sirop. The much improve cake and the bread pudding was a fine end to an excellent meal.
I highly recommend this establishment south of Jennings for a leisurely Saturday afternoon drive of about 45 minutes to eat superior food on the water
Regatta
Regatta
508 Hawkeye Avenue
Lake Arthur LA
337-774-1504
www.regattarestaurantla.com
Monday to Saturday 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Cost $2.50 to $25
Sunday 11:00 AM to 3: PM
Opening last fall this new construction is spectacular. A long ADA rated ramp leads to the main building which is set on piers over the waters of the lake. A large dining room tricked out in wood also has a fireplace and a small stage. Wide capacious eaves mean you can partake in out door dining. They make the point that you can arrive by car, boat or seaplane. I have been two times with variations of my eating group. A late Saturday lunch seems to work best for us
First time was me, my sister and our enthusiastic friend. I ordered the Smoked Fish Dip for the table. It consists of in-house smoked white fish mixed with cream cheese and herbs then blended together to form a paste. Crackers come with it. While my companions were less than enthusiastic, I loved it. I ate most of it. Something about how the smoky flavor complements the unctuous cream cheese speaks to my palate, could have used a bit more heat. Lunch was still being served. My sister went for the Crab cakes with a side of grits. She was highly pleased. The pan sautéed cake delivered on flavor and the grits while not quite Zea’s were good. Our friend got Fried Oysters. It was just the start of the season. They were tiny but well fried in a cornmeal crust. I opted for the Seafood Platter. I was off fried platters as I had recently had some terrible ones. However except for the oysters there were other options for the other elements of the platter on the menu. Therefore I ask for the items broiled, griddled or sautéed as a substitute for the fried version. To my delight they were amenable. I would not have tried this on a busy night but a lazy Saturday afternoon seemed OK.
The platter consisted of shrimp, oysters, catfish, crab cake, stuffed crab and shrimp and okra gumbo. Even though it had okra in it the gumbo was roux based. An excellent roux it was. The juice tasted of seafood with okra under tone. The shrimp were abundant and it was delicious. The shrimp and catfish were griddled with a blackening season and quite moist and tasty. The pan sautéed crab cake possessed at least 80% crab meat if not more with little filler. The same could be said of the stuffed crab except the dressing was in a real crab shell and broiled. Again the fried oysters were small but tasty and not over fried. My side of Corn Macque Choux tasted fine also. We shared a Gateaux Sirop (syrup cake) which was below par.
The return visit was with a larger contingent. Their bread boat (miniature pirogue) held roadhouse style bread. I ordered Alligator Sausage (came with grain mustard and kraut) for the table. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Several people ordered po boys. They included Fried Catfish and the Grand Lake Special (oysters and shrimp). This happened on the other end of the table. They looked delicious and I heard no complaints. A crab cake entrée was also ordered on that side. Just as good as the last time I was told. Our baking friend got the special. A catfish and shrimp combo (fried catfish and broiled shrimp). My sister ordered the BBQ Shrimp would have been excellent except for an over abundance of rosemary.
I started with oyster on the half shell, still a bit on the small size but nice and briny. I then tried the Duck and Andouille gumbo. Dark roux complimented the earthiness of the duck with the Andouille adding just the right spiciness. I then went to the Crispy Duck with Cane Syrup. Half a duck cooked until the skin was crispy then slathered with a cane syrup glaze. The combination of the sweet crispy skin and the earthy meat was perfect. I enjoyed every finger licking bite as with a dish like this your hands are your best tools. The table shared Bread Pudding and another run at the Gateaux Sirop. The much improve cake and the bread pudding was a fine end to an excellent meal.
I highly recommend this establishment south of Jennings for a leisurely Saturday afternoon drive of about 45 minutes to eat superior food on the water
Regatta
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
OUT AND ABOUT
The Green Shack Diner
1021 East McNeese
Lake Charles LA
337-480-1986
Monday to Saturday 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM Cost $1 to $10
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3: PM
On the corner of McNeese and Louisiana, this venue used to be Crawfish Cowboy or vice versa. It did boiled seafood, plate lunches and short orders. However since it changed names it must have changed the cooks. To me the food is now several notches above the former place.
First foray was a plate lunch of Pork Roast, rice & gravy, potato salad, greens, and texas toast. First of all with lots of establishment doing loin roast this venue does it the old fashioned way with a pork shoulder. It is slowly pot roasted until it is fall apart tender with lovely gravy served over decent rice. The potato salad was a sweet pickle mashed potato style which I love. The greens possessed a dose of vinegar which suited my taste. It was a really great meal for a self proclaimed “hole in the wall”.
Next time I got a big bowl of Seafood Gumbo. Dark roux and great seafood flavored broth. Now it did have a bit of sausage but it had been used judiciously. It added spice to the dish without overpowering it. It also contained a number of medium shrimp. The kicker was that the crab meat came in the form of a whole crab. Not one of those gumbo crabs but a monster with huge claws. It contained a fair amount of meat. I was sticky everywhere after going after the meat is this behemoth. However I was happy and sated. I also ordered a crab pistolette. The stuffing was inside the product. Unfortunately it had not been fried long enough to get the center was hot, must have been cooked from frozen.
Last time in was their eight ounce steak burger to which I added bacon, cheese, and grilled onions. I hardly ever use this phrase but “OH MY GOD”. It was perfect in every way except for a smallish bun. The patty exuded this liquor of the gods. The smokiness of the bacon beyond the pale with the slices just the way I like them. Even the american cheese seemed unearthly. The onions were the icing on the cake. I literally inhaled it. It was almost a religious experience for me. Cannot guarantee it for the rest of you but you must try it.
Do go here. They offer boiled seafood, pork chops, smothered okra dishes, fried shrimp and chicken. They even do a Patton’s (New Orleans brand) sausage po boy. The interior is not fancy but the food will transport you out of there. There can be some confusion but they are so friendly that I can
The Green Shack Diner
1021 East McNeese
Lake Charles LA
337-480-1986
Monday to Saturday 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM Cost $1 to $10
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3: PM
On the corner of McNeese and Louisiana, this venue used to be Crawfish Cowboy or vice versa. It did boiled seafood, plate lunches and short orders. However since it changed names it must have changed the cooks. To me the food is now several notches above the former place.
First foray was a plate lunch of Pork Roast, rice & gravy, potato salad, greens, and texas toast. First of all with lots of establishment doing loin roast this venue does it the old fashioned way with a pork shoulder. It is slowly pot roasted until it is fall apart tender with lovely gravy served over decent rice. The potato salad was a sweet pickle mashed potato style which I love. The greens possessed a dose of vinegar which suited my taste. It was a really great meal for a self proclaimed “hole in the wall”.
Next time I got a big bowl of Seafood Gumbo. Dark roux and great seafood flavored broth. Now it did have a bit of sausage but it had been used judiciously. It added spice to the dish without overpowering it. It also contained a number of medium shrimp. The kicker was that the crab meat came in the form of a whole crab. Not one of those gumbo crabs but a monster with huge claws. It contained a fair amount of meat. I was sticky everywhere after going after the meat is this behemoth. However I was happy and sated. I also ordered a crab pistolette. The stuffing was inside the product. Unfortunately it had not been fried long enough to get the center was hot, must have been cooked from frozen.
Last time in was their eight ounce steak burger to which I added bacon, cheese, and grilled onions. I hardly ever use this phrase but “OH MY GOD”. It was perfect in every way except for a smallish bun. The patty exuded this liquor of the gods. The smokiness of the bacon beyond the pale with the slices just the way I like them. Even the american cheese seemed unearthly. The onions were the icing on the cake. I literally inhaled it. It was almost a religious experience for me. Cannot guarantee it for the rest of you but you must try it.
Do go here. They offer boiled seafood, pork chops, smothered okra dishes, fried shrimp and chicken. They even do a Patton’s (New Orleans brand) sausage po boy. The interior is not fancy but the food will transport you out of there. There can be some confusion but they are so friendly that I can
OUT AND ABOUT
Le Peep Cafe
3800 Ryan St
Lake Charles LA
337-240-8497
www.lepeepcafelakecharles.com
6:30 AM to 9:00 PM Cost $2.50 to $17
This new construction remained just a slab with a sign for what seemed an eternity. When they started on the structure it went fast. Before you knew it they opened. I got the hours from the website. Last time I went in they were only doing breakfast and lunch. I recommend calling to ensure hours before you venture there. It they have truly opened at night I will report on it in a future column.
First time in I just happen to past by and they were open. One nice thing about this venue is that each table has a liter carafe of ice water and glasses. Their menu is so massive I went with a standard of mine, Bacon Cheese Burger. The choice of sides is rather extensive but I settled on Chicken and Sausage gumbo. It came with a drumstick although recently I saw it with just meat and sausage. It possessed a dark roux and on the whole not too bad. The burger was more than decent with a juicy patty, great bacon and melted shredded cheddar/jack cheese on a standard bun. I enjoyed it
I took my sister to breakfast. They had a name your item breakfast at that time. She went with the three item option and chose ham, scrambled eggs, and fruit. It looked good and she had no complaints. I went with what they call the Hen Pen. It consists of two eggs, choice of protein, and their Peasant Potatoes. I opted for sunny side up and corned beef hash. I love hash. This one was delicious and seemed to be made in house not from a can. The potatoes were like home fries (cubes). My only complaint is that I would have loved more hash.
Next was a plate lunch of Meatball Stew. Not informed the stew had potatoes (southwest LA meatball stews usually do not) I got mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans for sides. A bread basket of small school house rolls and a crumbly corn bread was part of the meal. Unfortunately the meatballs had been overworked and were extremely dense. They were also very salty as was the stew liquid. Mashing the potato hunk into it helped. The sides were ok.
The Stuffed French Toast was next. The menu said French toast stuffed with ricotta and cream cheese with orange and lemon zest. What I got was four slices of French toast with the cheese mixture sandwiched in-between after the slices were cooked. Not what I expected. It taste fine and I let it go. I also got a side of grits and bacon that was more than fine. Next came Migas. According to them scrambled eggs with crunchy tortilla chips, onion, jalapenos, topped with cheddar/jack cheese, avocado and tomatoes. I got that sans the crunchy chips with a flour tortilla on the side. Since I consider the crunchy corn tortilla essential to this dish, I was highly disappointed. How could they forget that? The egg dish was good and again I let it go. Are you perhaps sensing a trend here?
Last dish was Prime Rib Open Face sandwich. They say prime rib dipped in au jus layered open face over a toasted hoagie. The server even asked me how I wanted it. I said med rare. What I got was a slab of meat not thin slices of well done prime rib laid perpendicular on an untoasted hoagie bun with some nasty gravy on the end that was not on the bun, nothing to dip it in. Again it was edible but not what the menu said it would be.
Some might say I should have sent it back. I will in the future if I so encounter it. However when I am in the process of reviewing a restaurant I am not there to show them how to do it right. I am there to see what they are doing. My conclusion on this one is that they need to get the menu and kitchen in sync. Either rewrite the menu or get line cooks who can execute the present menu. That might have happened already as this place has switched their open times and shorten their menu items several times since I started reviewing. The food is generally good and I would consider them as a last minute choice.
Le Peep Cafe
3800 Ryan St
Lake Charles LA
337-240-8497
www.lepeepcafelakecharles.com
6:30 AM to 9:00 PM Cost $2.50 to $17
This new construction remained just a slab with a sign for what seemed an eternity. When they started on the structure it went fast. Before you knew it they opened. I got the hours from the website. Last time I went in they were only doing breakfast and lunch. I recommend calling to ensure hours before you venture there. It they have truly opened at night I will report on it in a future column.
First time in I just happen to past by and they were open. One nice thing about this venue is that each table has a liter carafe of ice water and glasses. Their menu is so massive I went with a standard of mine, Bacon Cheese Burger. The choice of sides is rather extensive but I settled on Chicken and Sausage gumbo. It came with a drumstick although recently I saw it with just meat and sausage. It possessed a dark roux and on the whole not too bad. The burger was more than decent with a juicy patty, great bacon and melted shredded cheddar/jack cheese on a standard bun. I enjoyed it
I took my sister to breakfast. They had a name your item breakfast at that time. She went with the three item option and chose ham, scrambled eggs, and fruit. It looked good and she had no complaints. I went with what they call the Hen Pen. It consists of two eggs, choice of protein, and their Peasant Potatoes. I opted for sunny side up and corned beef hash. I love hash. This one was delicious and seemed to be made in house not from a can. The potatoes were like home fries (cubes). My only complaint is that I would have loved more hash.
Next was a plate lunch of Meatball Stew. Not informed the stew had potatoes (southwest LA meatball stews usually do not) I got mashed potatoes, corn, and green beans for sides. A bread basket of small school house rolls and a crumbly corn bread was part of the meal. Unfortunately the meatballs had been overworked and were extremely dense. They were also very salty as was the stew liquid. Mashing the potato hunk into it helped. The sides were ok.
The Stuffed French Toast was next. The menu said French toast stuffed with ricotta and cream cheese with orange and lemon zest. What I got was four slices of French toast with the cheese mixture sandwiched in-between after the slices were cooked. Not what I expected. It taste fine and I let it go. I also got a side of grits and bacon that was more than fine. Next came Migas. According to them scrambled eggs with crunchy tortilla chips, onion, jalapenos, topped with cheddar/jack cheese, avocado and tomatoes. I got that sans the crunchy chips with a flour tortilla on the side. Since I consider the crunchy corn tortilla essential to this dish, I was highly disappointed. How could they forget that? The egg dish was good and again I let it go. Are you perhaps sensing a trend here?
Last dish was Prime Rib Open Face sandwich. They say prime rib dipped in au jus layered open face over a toasted hoagie. The server even asked me how I wanted it. I said med rare. What I got was a slab of meat not thin slices of well done prime rib laid perpendicular on an untoasted hoagie bun with some nasty gravy on the end that was not on the bun, nothing to dip it in. Again it was edible but not what the menu said it would be.
Some might say I should have sent it back. I will in the future if I so encounter it. However when I am in the process of reviewing a restaurant I am not there to show them how to do it right. I am there to see what they are doing. My conclusion on this one is that they need to get the menu and kitchen in sync. Either rewrite the menu or get line cooks who can execute the present menu. That might have happened already as this place has switched their open times and shorten their menu items several times since I started reviewing. The food is generally good and I would consider them as a last minute choice.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Southern Gail
OUT AND ABOUT
Southern Gail
2331 Broad St
Lake Charles LA
337-240-9880
Monday to Friday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Cost $1.50 to $11
This venue has been more BBQ places than I can name. The new tenants did a bang up job of renovating it. However since they have no public restroom everything has to be take-away. Their rather short menu includes BBQ chicken and ribs along with a sampler plate. Top of the list is smothered okra with shrimp and sausage. They also have a shrimp etouffee and the newest one is smothered ribs which I have not eaten.
As is my want I went for the BBQ combo. It contained a chicken leg and thigh, a large ribs and a link of sausage. The sides were potato salad and pork & beans along with garlic bread. Both chicken and rib showed a nice smoke ring. Both were tender and juicy. They had both been glazed in the signature BBQ sauce. It is a bit different from most around here but tasty. The sausage showed no evidence of smoking but was a tasty piece of meat. I enjoyed them all. The pork & beans seemed straight out of a can and the mashed potato style potato salad with chopped hard boiled eggs suited my taste. The garlic bread was a section of a French loaf
The smothered okra with sausage and shrimp over rice was some of the best stuff I put in my mouth in a long time. It rivaled my mothers. It was perfection on a plate. Neither too slimy or tomato. Needless to say I scarf it down with out hesitation
The etouffee here is a white one. I have never seen a white one before, plenty of red and brown and in between but never white. It was served with green beans and garlic bread. In the end I did not care for it. There was a flavor that was off putting to me. All I can say is that you will have to try it yourself, could have been an off day.
However I enjoyed everything else and I am sure you will too. I may go back for the smothered ribs. Sounds like something I would like. I think it is well worth a try and you will be supporting a small and local business.
Southern Gail
2331 Broad St
Lake Charles LA
337-240-9880
Monday to Friday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Cost $1.50 to $11
This venue has been more BBQ places than I can name. The new tenants did a bang up job of renovating it. However since they have no public restroom everything has to be take-away. Their rather short menu includes BBQ chicken and ribs along with a sampler plate. Top of the list is smothered okra with shrimp and sausage. They also have a shrimp etouffee and the newest one is smothered ribs which I have not eaten.
As is my want I went for the BBQ combo. It contained a chicken leg and thigh, a large ribs and a link of sausage. The sides were potato salad and pork & beans along with garlic bread. Both chicken and rib showed a nice smoke ring. Both were tender and juicy. They had both been glazed in the signature BBQ sauce. It is a bit different from most around here but tasty. The sausage showed no evidence of smoking but was a tasty piece of meat. I enjoyed them all. The pork & beans seemed straight out of a can and the mashed potato style potato salad with chopped hard boiled eggs suited my taste. The garlic bread was a section of a French loaf
The smothered okra with sausage and shrimp over rice was some of the best stuff I put in my mouth in a long time. It rivaled my mothers. It was perfection on a plate. Neither too slimy or tomato. Needless to say I scarf it down with out hesitation
The etouffee here is a white one. I have never seen a white one before, plenty of red and brown and in between but never white. It was served with green beans and garlic bread. In the end I did not care for it. There was a flavor that was off putting to me. All I can say is that you will have to try it yourself, could have been an off day.
However I enjoyed everything else and I am sure you will too. I may go back for the smothered ribs. Sounds like something I would like. I think it is well worth a try and you will be supporting a small and local business.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Pink Pig
OUT AND ABOUT
Pink Pig
1221 North Martin Luther King Hwy
Lake Charles LA
337-564-6753
Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Cost $1 to $20
After a long hiatus this off shoot of Carlyss BBQ reopened under new management. It now has a dinning area but I went through the drive-thru as it is more convenient for me.
First time I noticed a smoked hamburger on offer. I could not resist. I ordered it along with some tamales. I really like the Carlyss ones. The burger can be ordered fully dressed but I prefer my smoked patty pretty plain although I did get a slice of cheese. The burger was thick enough it had a smoke ring but was not dried out at all. It possessed great smoky and meaty flavor. The tamales have a nice masa to meat ratio. The masa good and corny and the ground meat just right, makes for good tamale for me. They were a bit dry and I remembered I usually get chili with them. That would made them just like the ones I get in Carlyss.
Second round was a four meat combo. It contained brisket, chicken, ribs and sausage with rice dressing, beans and potato salad. Along side was a honey butter pistollete and sauce. While the brisket was cooked to perfection it had little smoke to it. When I mentioned it to the lady at the window she replied the pits here were a little different than at Carlyss and she would make sure it never happened again. The ribs and dark chicken quarter were smoky and had a nice glaze to them, tasty. The sausage again showed little smoke but was OK. The excellent beans seemed to have been cooked with onions which I liked. The mashed potato style potato salad had some sweet pickle relish in it. Again something I like. The fried pistollete had been injected with honey butter and proved excellent.
Last time I sorta grazed on the menu. I ordered a BBQ pistollete, garfish ball, boudin ball and a link of smoked boudin. All were great. The non greasy fried pistollete had been split half way and a nice bit of chopped beef put in it. I grew up eating garfish and these balls are very similar to the ones my mother made. They are more of a boulette style with ground gar and potatoes. A nice crisp crust and great rice to meat ratio made the boudin balls excellent. Lastly a nice smoky boudin link, I like regular but smoking it gives it another flavor dimension.
They have started off well and I hope it remains so.
Pink Pig
1221 North Martin Luther King Hwy
Lake Charles LA
337-564-6753
Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Cost $1 to $20
After a long hiatus this off shoot of Carlyss BBQ reopened under new management. It now has a dinning area but I went through the drive-thru as it is more convenient for me.
First time I noticed a smoked hamburger on offer. I could not resist. I ordered it along with some tamales. I really like the Carlyss ones. The burger can be ordered fully dressed but I prefer my smoked patty pretty plain although I did get a slice of cheese. The burger was thick enough it had a smoke ring but was not dried out at all. It possessed great smoky and meaty flavor. The tamales have a nice masa to meat ratio. The masa good and corny and the ground meat just right, makes for good tamale for me. They were a bit dry and I remembered I usually get chili with them. That would made them just like the ones I get in Carlyss.
Second round was a four meat combo. It contained brisket, chicken, ribs and sausage with rice dressing, beans and potato salad. Along side was a honey butter pistollete and sauce. While the brisket was cooked to perfection it had little smoke to it. When I mentioned it to the lady at the window she replied the pits here were a little different than at Carlyss and she would make sure it never happened again. The ribs and dark chicken quarter were smoky and had a nice glaze to them, tasty. The sausage again showed little smoke but was OK. The excellent beans seemed to have been cooked with onions which I liked. The mashed potato style potato salad had some sweet pickle relish in it. Again something I like. The fried pistollete had been injected with honey butter and proved excellent.
Last time I sorta grazed on the menu. I ordered a BBQ pistollete, garfish ball, boudin ball and a link of smoked boudin. All were great. The non greasy fried pistollete had been split half way and a nice bit of chopped beef put in it. I grew up eating garfish and these balls are very similar to the ones my mother made. They are more of a boulette style with ground gar and potatoes. A nice crisp crust and great rice to meat ratio made the boudin balls excellent. Lastly a nice smoky boudin link, I like regular but smoking it gives it another flavor dimension.
They have started off well and I hope it remains so.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Pantano
I was given this bottle of cooking wine too try out. Unfortunately I do not cook as much as I use to. However I found a use for it. Cooking mussels in it.
Frozen mussels are just as good as fresh and do not go off
In the pot with the Pantano
Steamed open. They were delicious especially with the onion enhanced wine. I have had mussels many ways but I think this is my favorite. Follow the link for the story and recipes that the inventor has gathered.
Pantano
D Jon 5255 Florida Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70806-4128 (225) 935-0014
Groupon stop. Did not work out so well. Below is their Seafood Gumbo Our gumbo is well seasoned and hold all the flavors of Louisiana. Served with a little rice and rounded out with crackers on the side. Unfortunately their interpretation includes copious amounts of sausage along with seafood, I have had this before and it is not bad if used judiciously. Not here and plus the sausage tasted as if it was ready to go off. Not my favorite
Shrimp Jennifer They take shrimp and saute them in butter with garlic, green onions, and parsley served on a bed of lemon butter sauce. Served with garlic french bread and parsley potatoes. Looks delicious and it would have been if the butter sauce would not have had a ton of salt. The shrimp were fine seasoning wise and perfectly cooked. But the pleasure of of sopping up the unctuous sauce was not. Finally I mashed the potatoes in it. It cut the salt enough that I could enjoyed it
Fresh Fruit Cobbler Made daily. Ask you server for today's selection. The cobbler was peach and it was peach of one. Fantastic flavor. Made the meal. Peaches sweet and loaded with sweet spices. The crust was more of a brown sugar crumble with sweet spices. I really liked it. I doubt I will return here but again there is that cobbler.
D Jon
Shrimp Jennifer They take shrimp and saute them in butter with garlic, green onions, and parsley served on a bed of lemon butter sauce. Served with garlic french bread and parsley potatoes. Looks delicious and it would have been if the butter sauce would not have had a ton of salt. The shrimp were fine seasoning wise and perfectly cooked. But the pleasure of of sopping up the unctuous sauce was not. Finally I mashed the potatoes in it. It cut the salt enough that I could enjoyed it
Novrozskys 2706 Ruth St Sulphur, LA 70665 (337) 527-0041
NOVO CHIPS Thin-sliced potatoes fried just right. They were right about that. Fresh chips hot from the fryer. They were great
AKAUSHI BEEF BURGER All-natural, highest rated beef in America. Lower in cholesterol than chicken, fish or buffalo. Outstanding flavor. Again a home run. Everything a patty should be. Moist and beefy flavored. If this is healthy let me have it. Even plain it was excellent
PEANUT BUTTER BACON BURGER With cheddar cheese. New Orleans favorite! Strike out. In my opinion this was just plain nasty. As for being a new orleans favorite I had never heard of this until after I ate it here. Soon after I read two articles that referenced it. Maybe they are better than this one. I will have to try if I ever get back to NO. As for here there are a lot more delicious variations at this venue. Try them not this one.
Novrozskys
Aucoin 7591 Highway 14 E Hayes, LA 70646 (337) 622-3582
Sorry about the out of focus. A cup of seafood gumbo. I like that they bring the rice out separate. It was dark the way I like it. However it did have a slight burnt taste as if they had gone too far. It was not enough to complain about though
I got the seafood platter and they brought it out on a platter. It included stuffed crab, stuffed pistolette, hush puppies, an angel on horseback (fried bacon wrapped shrimp), a devil on horseback (fried bacon wrapped oyster), fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried catfish and fried frog leg. I got onion rings instead of fries. For the most part everything was was excellent. Well fried with proper coatings. I did have a problem with the pistolette and the stuffed crab. This new fad of frying the pistolette then stuffing it I do not care for and fried stuffed crabs have to have a stuffing of more breading than crab to fry. I prefer the old fashioned broiled crab. Again what I wish and what I get are two different things. Those two item compared to the whole platter were minor.
Aucoin
A-Mazen 339 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles, LA 70601-8452 (337) 478-1222
Bread plate
I got a half dozen. They were reasonably priced and quite good. Nice and briny
Stuffed flounder, with cream sauce, green beans and mashers. I do particularly like this new fashion way of stuffing. Putting the stuffing either in between fillets or under the fish. The old fashion way imparts some of the stuffing usually crab into the fish. That said this was excellent. Flounder cooked moist and flake. The skin edible. The stuffing had a good crab to filler ratio. The beans a little al dente for me and the mashers nice. This is a wonderful place for seafood that I do not go to enough. Service can be difficult.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Katz 616 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77006 (713) 521-3838
This is no hole in the wall. It is a new construction made to look old. It is a 24 hrs Jewish style deli. I went at breakfast time so I got breakfast mostly. Below is scrambled eggs with lox and onions with a potato cake and challa toast. Not in the picture was tubs of sour cream and applesauce for the potato cake. Since I adore smoked fish I ate this with relish. The onion added a nice counterpoint for the salty smoked salmon. The potato cake was lovely also
Below is Matzo Brei. Matzo bread cooked like french toast. The unleavened bead did not make such a great french toast. Again I like to try new things or things that I have heard about. Not always a success.
Sorry for the out of focus but this was cold beet soup with a dollop of sour cream and potatoes. Actually quite delicious. Have to like beets however. The range of the menu was such I would return to try other stuff
Katz
Gatlin 1221 W. 19th St. Houston, TX. 281-804-4555
Another hole in the wall place. Here there are maybe three tables inside but it does have a porch that has fans and heaters. Most seem to take it away. It had warmed up enough to sit at the picnic benches on the covered porch. I got a three meat plate with two sides. The choice was slim and got slimmer as it went. They kept running out of meats. They have had several write ups so I think they got overwhelmed. I ordered fatty brisket, ribs, and house link. Unfortunately the brisket had been cooked so long all the fat was cooked out. It was mostly tender but not meltingly so. One rib was wonderfully tender and just a little chew. The other was tough and too chewy. The links were a typical BBQ style product. Meat ground up with a big bang of spice. While I had problems with the textures the flavor and smoke was there. Can anyone tell me why Texas BBQ come with dill pickles and raw onions?
My two sides were baked beans using their sweet tangy BBQ sauce and cole slaw. Both were good. The beans with a nice kick and the slaw fresh with minimum mayonnaise. I would have to think hard about coming back here. It is way out of the way and my experience was not the greatest. However in the future it may be worth a try when the popularity dies down
Gatlin
Kim Chau 6806 Long Point Rd # I Houston (713) 683-8277
This hole in the wall venue proved nice and cozy. Basic family style cooking. It was rather a blustery day so I got hot. The brewing vessel was so unique I just had to take a picture.
Kim Chau
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Natachee 3622 Main Street Houston, TX 77002-9502 (713) 524-7203
This place is an eclectic designed restaurant (virtually decorated with found stuff and music posters on the wall) with a down home menu that they bumped up. The full name is Supper n' Punch. Below is a split pea soup with ham and croutons. They had pureed it so it was creamy with loads of flavor. Best I have had in awhile
Below is the meatloaf plate. Two huge slices of fall apart meatloaf. They topped it with a red gravy, huge onion ring and a sunny side egg. The gravy was nasty to me. After I scraped it off the meatloaf and toppings were good. The loaf mainly meat with good seasonings (no filler). The huge pile of potatoes also proved excellent if a lot
I did not know the main plate was going to be so huge so I had ordered some sides. The one on the right is mac & cheese. Pretty pedestrian but tasty. The one on the left is a stir fry of vegetables that proved surprising. It consisted of tomatoes, spinach, and shaved fennel. I like fennel and I loved this.
Finally some Texas peach cobbler. Just what I would expect. Canned peaches in a spiced syrup under a pie crust top. Quite good. I liked the vibe. If you are into music you would love this place
Natachee
Monday, November 21, 2011
El Tapatio Dos 808 Sampson Street Westlake, LA 70669-5309 (337) 721-7685
Sorry I overwrote the review but you can at least see the pics
Sakura and Mongolian Grill
Since my amputation buffets have been difficult to assess since I need another person to be my legs. Recently I developed a stratagem that allows me to do it by myself. There have been two venues I would not go to before this. Here they are. Buffet like places are still hard to review because they have so much. Instead of presenting a long list of food I will instead try to give an overview and why I like or dislike them
OUT AND ABOUT
Sakura
3035 Gerstner Memorial Drive
Lake Charles LA
337-564-5249
Seven days a week 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Lunch till 4 PM about $12 Dinner about $20
I had my doubts about this place. However once I tried it they disappeared. They have a giant square for serving purposes. On the side facing the entrance is the nigari and super rolls. Nigari is the style with the piece of protein on top of a small mound of rice. I think most people know what a sushi roll is. The nigari consists of some pretty ordinary seafood with a few unusual items. The large or super rolls are big and contain several items in them sometimes with items draped over them. They had a fried roll. At night part of this area has sashimi (raw seafood) featured. The corner has bowls of gari (pickled ginger), wasabi, eel sauce and spicy mayo. Turn the corner and there are smaller rolls. Most are inside out and have spicy tuna in them. The middle holds salads. Both regular ones and stuff like seaweed salad. A few I would not even hazard a guess. Signage is not good in this area. At night this also holds raw clams and mussels. The rest of the side is individual desserts.
The back side is desserts also with a lot of fruit and jello. At the very back of the restaurant is a hibachi station. You pick your protein and vegetables and they cook it for you. I did not try that. The other long side contains some Chinese dishes, American dishes and Japanese dishes such as stir fries and tempura. The corner has two soups.
In general I found the sushi and sashimi good and a bargain, nothing real fancy but tasty. The desserts were OK. The cooked side was not very good unless you caught them bringing out a fresh batch. In general they cook too much and leave it out too long. I will return for the cheap but good sushi, a great deal for me.
Great Kahn Mongolian Grill
1740 West Prien lake Road
Lake Charles LA
337-477-1377
www.greatkahngrill.com
Seven days a week 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM Lunch till 3 PM about $9 Dinner about $11
Another I had doubts about but have grown to love. When you sit down you are given two things. A laminated card with starch options (several types of rice and noodles) and a stainless steel bowl. Mark your starch preference with the dry erase pens found on the table. Then you take that with the bowl to the “buffet” line. This consists of raw protein, vegetables, seasoning, and sauces. Proteins offered include chicken, beef, sausage, fish, and shell fish. They upgrade a bit at dinner. They have a variety of salts, peppers, and other things to season your protein. Then the vegetables come next. This part I like because I do not care for broccoli or celery so I load up with cabbage and onions. I cherry pick a few more to add interest. Fill your bowl with as much as it will hold. The sauces come next. They have small cups to put those in along with tasting spoons to sample them. There are well over a dozen ranging from mild to screaming hot. I like a mixture of Thai sweet chile and garlic in soy sauce. The choice is yours.
Now you put the card, bowl and cup on the counter and return to your seat. They bring out the cooked food in a red bowl to your table. In general if you restrain yourself and try not to get a taste of everything it will turn out to be a good meal. Go hog wild and you run the chance of ruining good food. I would return to this place for a quick meal of my own choosing.
OUT AND ABOUT
Sakura
3035 Gerstner Memorial Drive
Lake Charles LA
337-564-5249
Seven days a week 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Lunch till 4 PM about $12 Dinner about $20
I had my doubts about this place. However once I tried it they disappeared. They have a giant square for serving purposes. On the side facing the entrance is the nigari and super rolls. Nigari is the style with the piece of protein on top of a small mound of rice. I think most people know what a sushi roll is. The nigari consists of some pretty ordinary seafood with a few unusual items. The large or super rolls are big and contain several items in them sometimes with items draped over them. They had a fried roll. At night part of this area has sashimi (raw seafood) featured. The corner has bowls of gari (pickled ginger), wasabi, eel sauce and spicy mayo. Turn the corner and there are smaller rolls. Most are inside out and have spicy tuna in them. The middle holds salads. Both regular ones and stuff like seaweed salad. A few I would not even hazard a guess. Signage is not good in this area. At night this also holds raw clams and mussels. The rest of the side is individual desserts.
The back side is desserts also with a lot of fruit and jello. At the very back of the restaurant is a hibachi station. You pick your protein and vegetables and they cook it for you. I did not try that. The other long side contains some Chinese dishes, American dishes and Japanese dishes such as stir fries and tempura. The corner has two soups.
In general I found the sushi and sashimi good and a bargain, nothing real fancy but tasty. The desserts were OK. The cooked side was not very good unless you caught them bringing out a fresh batch. In general they cook too much and leave it out too long. I will return for the cheap but good sushi, a great deal for me.
Great Kahn Mongolian Grill
1740 West Prien lake Road
Lake Charles LA
337-477-1377
www.greatkahngrill.com
Seven days a week 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM Lunch till 3 PM about $9 Dinner about $11
Another I had doubts about but have grown to love. When you sit down you are given two things. A laminated card with starch options (several types of rice and noodles) and a stainless steel bowl. Mark your starch preference with the dry erase pens found on the table. Then you take that with the bowl to the “buffet” line. This consists of raw protein, vegetables, seasoning, and sauces. Proteins offered include chicken, beef, sausage, fish, and shell fish. They upgrade a bit at dinner. They have a variety of salts, peppers, and other things to season your protein. Then the vegetables come next. This part I like because I do not care for broccoli or celery so I load up with cabbage and onions. I cherry pick a few more to add interest. Fill your bowl with as much as it will hold. The sauces come next. They have small cups to put those in along with tasting spoons to sample them. There are well over a dozen ranging from mild to screaming hot. I like a mixture of Thai sweet chile and garlic in soy sauce. The choice is yours.
Now you put the card, bowl and cup on the counter and return to your seat. They bring out the cooked food in a red bowl to your table. In general if you restrain yourself and try not to get a taste of everything it will turn out to be a good meal. Go hog wild and you run the chance of ruining good food. I would return to this place for a quick meal of my own choosing.
Five Guys
OUT AND ABOUT
Five Guys
2950 Ryan St
Lake Charles LA
337-721-1903
Seven days a week 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM $2 to $7
They converted half of a movie rental place to put this venue in. It has the same philosophy of Raisin Cane. Do one or two things and do them right. The menu here is burgers, dogs, grilled cheese, veggie burger and fries. As usual just after opening they were swamped. Because of that and my physical limitations at counter service I held back. However recently I have a new stratagem for such occasions and I used it here.
My first time in my thought was that they should put up a warning sign for people with peanut allergies. Between of boxes of peanuts in the shell and using peanut oil in an open kitchen (if you can smell the fries there is vaporized oil in the air), people with peanut allergy could experience some serious effects. After the process was explained to me I went with a Little Bacon Cheese Burger with mayo, grilled onions, tomato, mustard and hot sauce. I also got fries and a drink. Like some people I experienced sticker shock. It was the size of a McDonald’s plain burger. When it arrived I broke it open. I found a lovely hand formed patty cooked to perfection with melted cheese on the top bun. Four half strips of crisp bacon and grilled onions on the bottom bun. I could not wait to take a bite. Then came the let down. I took that bite and then another. The bread squished down and did not spring back. It had no integrity and wound up tasting like wads of dough in my mouth. Both texture and the taste were a no go for me. The bread is an integral part of the burger experience for me and this was just plain terrible for me. Also their practice of overloading the fries into the bag did not sit well with me. I am a single and do not need a double portion of fries. It pained me to leave most of them as I hate to waste food. Don’t get me wrong they were good just too much. Also dumping them loose into the bag makes it virtually inpossible to get to your burger without burning yourself.
I returned to get a Grilled Cheeese and a Kosher Dog. I ordered the grilled cheese plain. I admired the way they utilized the hamburger bun for it. They flip it so the cap and bottom become the inside with the cheese while griddling the interior sides. Good move but still the bun still showed the flaws of the first time. I was hopeing my first experience was an anomaly. The dog was more sausage like than we are use to here. I got mayo, mustard, relish, and grilled onions. I think I would have liked it better without the bread. It still had that texture of balls of dough when compressed by eating the dog.
I admire this concepy but I hate the bread. I am unlikely to return there. However you need to try it yourself. I know from passing by at lunch with its parking lot full that a lot of people like it. If you do love don’t listen to me. I am as peculiar about bread as I am about rice.
Five Guys
2950 Ryan St
Lake Charles LA
337-721-1903
Seven days a week 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM $2 to $7
They converted half of a movie rental place to put this venue in. It has the same philosophy of Raisin Cane. Do one or two things and do them right. The menu here is burgers, dogs, grilled cheese, veggie burger and fries. As usual just after opening they were swamped. Because of that and my physical limitations at counter service I held back. However recently I have a new stratagem for such occasions and I used it here.
My first time in my thought was that they should put up a warning sign for people with peanut allergies. Between of boxes of peanuts in the shell and using peanut oil in an open kitchen (if you can smell the fries there is vaporized oil in the air), people with peanut allergy could experience some serious effects. After the process was explained to me I went with a Little Bacon Cheese Burger with mayo, grilled onions, tomato, mustard and hot sauce. I also got fries and a drink. Like some people I experienced sticker shock. It was the size of a McDonald’s plain burger. When it arrived I broke it open. I found a lovely hand formed patty cooked to perfection with melted cheese on the top bun. Four half strips of crisp bacon and grilled onions on the bottom bun. I could not wait to take a bite. Then came the let down. I took that bite and then another. The bread squished down and did not spring back. It had no integrity and wound up tasting like wads of dough in my mouth. Both texture and the taste were a no go for me. The bread is an integral part of the burger experience for me and this was just plain terrible for me. Also their practice of overloading the fries into the bag did not sit well with me. I am a single and do not need a double portion of fries. It pained me to leave most of them as I hate to waste food. Don’t get me wrong they were good just too much. Also dumping them loose into the bag makes it virtually inpossible to get to your burger without burning yourself.
I returned to get a Grilled Cheeese and a Kosher Dog. I ordered the grilled cheese plain. I admired the way they utilized the hamburger bun for it. They flip it so the cap and bottom become the inside with the cheese while griddling the interior sides. Good move but still the bun still showed the flaws of the first time. I was hopeing my first experience was an anomaly. The dog was more sausage like than we are use to here. I got mayo, mustard, relish, and grilled onions. I think I would have liked it better without the bread. It still had that texture of balls of dough when compressed by eating the dog.
I admire this concepy but I hate the bread. I am unlikely to return there. However you need to try it yourself. I know from passing by at lunch with its parking lot full that a lot of people like it. If you do love don’t listen to me. I am as peculiar about bread as I am about rice.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Bartrella 214 East 4th St Dequincy, LA 70633 (337) 786-8600
This is a bargain bee deal. I do not mind going out of town if fact I enjoy it but I like to have a menu to look at before hand. This had one and an interesting item. Bartrella Triple Delight. It was three different chicken salads on a plate with spring mix and crackers. Starting at the bottom and going counter clockwise. Nanny's Chicken Salad made with roasted chicken, celery, onion, eggs and pickles. Next Candied Jalapeno Chicken Salad with roasted chicken salad with a sweet and spicy surprise. Finally Fruit Stand Chicken salad with grapes, strawberries, and apples in the chicken salad. It made for a nice progression. The standard followed by the spicy followed by the sweet and cooling
They also had a interesting dessert. A Creme Brulee Muffin. Using cinnamon roll dough they created a wall in a muffin tin. The well was filled with a custard then cooked. To finish they bruleed the custard. It was just the right size and satisfying without being too much
I took a leisurely afternoon trip up Hwy 27. It was quite nice. Some of the trees showing some color. I wound up in a lovely place and ate good food. You cannot ask for anything more.
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