Southern Spice Breakfast

Had to go into work yesterday for a few hours. When I left it was late enough to be just before they cut off the breakfast trade. I figured the parking lot would not be as full. I was right. I ordered one of their specials. Pancakes and bacon. I also wanted to taste the biscuits so I got a side order of one. The cakes were tall and fluffy almost like eating air but very tasty. The bacon was ok not as crispy as I like. The biscuit was excellent also. Light and fluffy. It would make a good gravy biscuit

As is my wont I also got grits on the side. These were perfectly cooked except for the fact they had no salt in them. It took awhile to get it to taste right. In the end they were perfection. I was noticing the crowd. It had a wide cross section of ages. The older clientele assures that the flavors here are old fashion good and the younger one assures these tastes will be passed on.

If you have not been in awhile you need to go back

The Texan

Burger King's Texan Double Whopper. I guess the pickled Jalapeno make it what it and just mustard and no mayo. Other than that you get two patties, cheese, raw onions, lettuce and tomatoes. Taste average. Picture not show is BK is doing a slurpee/icee rip off for the summer. Two flavors cola and orange cream. I like orange cream so I got one and was well pleased. Can also get it in a float form

Dairy Barn and Kool Kones

Dairy Barn
3905 Ryan St
Lake Charles, LA
337-477-4009
Monday - Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM $1-$10
I would suspect that virtually everyone has been to this new iteration of the Dairy Barn in Maplewood. But I have to throw in my two cents. It is housed in the former Wagon Wheel. Coming in you have a little lobby-like space. Then a brick and wood screen divides the hall in half. Head down the left side to get in line to order. Place your order and sit where you will. Beyond the arch is the train room with a track running around the room near the ceiling and a train running on it
First time there I went with my favorite, Bacon Cheeseburger with the Shoestring Onion Rings. It tasted just like I remembered it. Standard bun with shredded berg, tomato slice, bacon, American cheese and a freshly ground chuck patty. The expected gestalt of a burger reigned supreme. The onions however were greasier than usual and scorched. Time to change the grease.
Next time was the Combo Catfish and Shrimp Dinner. It comes with French fries and Texas Toast. Hot and fresh with flour coating on the shrimp and cornmeal coating on the catfish filet as it should be. The fries were crispy on the outside and potatoey on the inside, with the Texas Toast griddled on one side. I also got a Strawberry Shake made with real strawberries in it, delicious. All of it a taste treat.
Last time was through the drive-thru. I got a half Roast Beef Po Boy, half Hamburger Po Boy and Onion Rings. The rings proved perfect this time. Golden brown and not so greasy, you need some grease. I was less pleased with the po boys. Bread is important to a po boy. While plain buns are great for their burgers the po boy needs something better. The roast beef seemed to me to be pre-sliced pre-cooked deli meat with a little gravy. The hamburger one was overcooked and dry. While I would whole heartily recommend this establishment for burgers, catfish, and shrimp, I personally would stay away from the po boys.


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Kool Kones
1222 Oak Park Blvd
Lake Charles, LA
337-433-3335
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Plate lunches $7-$12
While better known for their snow cones this trailer with take away only does a mean plate lunch. Thursday is BBQ day. As usual I went with the Combo. I received a leg quarter, sausage link and several meat packed ribs (pork) over dirty rice with green beans and potato salad. All the meats were tender, moist and fall off the bone. The link was especially good. I am developing a taste for BBQ links. While usual not the best sausage in the world the cooking process seems to suit them. All the sides were excellent which came as pleasant surprise. Usually when t he meat is good the sides suck.
Friday is Catfish day. The meal contains an enormous fried filet that covered the large compartment over shrimp rice with green beans and potato salad. An excellent corn meal crust with a kick of spice kept the fillet hot. While the beans and potato salad (mashed potato style) were as good as before the shrimp rice did not suit my taste. It seemed to be excessively shrimpy with not completely cooked rice.
It is best to call in your order or you might have to wait as I did. I was more than happy too as it was that good. You can find good food in the most unlikely places if you have people taking pride in making it.

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Asian Mexican Taco

I cooked some Chinese Red Chicken Thighs in my pressure cooker. In Red cooking a mixture of soy sauce with wine and aromatics are used to braise the meat. Properly done the meat takes on a red tinge. Most often chicken and pork are done this way. For this meal I cut the boneless thighs in cubes and tossed with a little Hoisin sauce. Heating white corn tortillas in a cast iron skillet to make them flexible I layered in the meat and topped with guacamole. Proved to be good eating. I saved the braising liquid as it can be used several times.

International House Press Release from Simon Rathle

Easy as 1, 2, 3
Super Summer Breaks at International House
Summer breaks aren’t just for the kids anymore. You work hard all year, and you deserve your own summer break. For July and August 2009, New Orleans’ most distinctive boutique hotel, International House, located just two blocks from the celebrated French Quarter, is making summertime an enjoyable break in the Crescent City -- easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Check in to a sleek and sophisticated room at 221 Camp Street for three nights at one low price of $221 – that’s less than $75 per night!

2. Enjoy the convenience of being in the heart of New Orleans' Central Business District, just two blocks from the French Quarter.

3. Savor three popular cocktails at International House’s bar, loa, as the hotel’s gift to you.

With its compelling style, a romance-laced ensemble of French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and other cultures, New Orleans is by far America’s most sensual, distinctly-European travel destination. International House, the city’s premier establishment, delivers the New Orleans' fabled aura through exceptional quality, real service, unique design and style. Located on a bustling street in the city’s downtown business district, the hotel’s Beaux Arts façade greets guests with white columns and perfectly proportioned pediments. Upon entering the towering lobby, sounds of the street and the elegant-classicism of the exterior quickly give way when the monumental bronze doors adorned with custom-cast “plumb-bob” handles close behind you.

In the recent renovation and re-design project directed by owner Sean Cummings and Los Angeles-based designer LM Pagano (designer of choice to Johnny Depp and Nicolas Cage,) the fanciful lobby simmers in tones of carnelian and tiger’s eye, with elements of iron, fire, velvet, and wood, adding textures to an already rich mix of patterns and hues. The stylish bar, loa, whose very name means “divine spirit,” embraces New Orleans’ own special Voodoo culture with a candlelit ambience.

Subject to availability. Based on double occupancy. Not valid June 19, 20 & 21 & July 3,4 & 5. Taxes, gratuity, and additional alcohol beyond the promotion are not included.

International House is located in the heart of the Central Business District at 221 Camp Street, New Orleans. For reservations please call 800.633.5770 or visit www.ihhotel.com.

Lucky Wok

This combo sit down, buffet and drive thru Chinese in my neighborhood is a god send sometimes. I have had the envie for oriental lately. Last Thursday I wanted Chinese but I did not want to go in so I whipped through the drive thru.

Below is the egg drop soup that I transferred to a bowl so it could cool down. It was just what I was wanting. Light and tasty.

I got sweet and sour shrimp forgetting that this is one of those places that fry the shrimp and then have that sickly sweet sauce on the side. Come to think of it I do not beleive there is a place in Lake Charles that does it the way that China Garden did in the day. The shrimp were in a light batter and tasty. I just kinda gave a small dip in the sauce. In the background is an order of shrimp toast. The close up was too blurry to post. This is an item I always get here. They roll the bread so the the shrimp is on the inside and deep fry the bread. I love that. The shrimp is more chunky than pasty and wonderfully tasty

Kyoto Lunch

I was looking to eat someplace the other day and Kyoto had the least cars in the parking lot. Why not. As usual I went straight to the sushi bar. I tried something different rather than rolls. Below is an squid salad. Slices of squid, mushrooms, and peppers in a tangy dressing. A little chewy but nice.
I got a mixture of sashimi and sushi. From the top clockwise in unagi (eel) sushi that I eat as a desert because the eel sauce is so sweet, yellow tail belly, octopus and sea bass. All was good. The taste should never be fishy just sweet and fresh.

This is one of my favorites. Sweet shrimp. The raw shrimp is so sweet and fresh and they fry the heads so you get a crisp crunchy thing with all the goodness from the head.