The Cajun Foodie

Get you some of that cher!

Archive for category Acadiana restaurant

Sweet Baby Breesus at the French Press in Lafayette

Jan 11

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 9 Comments

French Press 1 300x295 Sweet Baby Breesus at the French Press in LafayetteNot long ago I alluded to the fact that the French Press in Lafayette does a dish with boudin and Steen’s cane syrup.  Rumor was the dish was named Breesus something or other…

Low and behold, the Wife and I went to the French Press the other day for Sunday brunch and there it was on the menu- the Sweet Baby Breesus.  The dish sounded even more delectable than I had thought it would be; three buttermilk biscuit sliders with Bacon, Fried Boudin Balls and Steen’s Cane Syrup.  The recommendations for pairing boudin and cane syrup was made the other day by one of our commenters, and the French Press ups the ante by using boudin balls, adding bacon and snuggling it in little buttermilk biscuits.

The result itself certainly did not disappoint: warm biscuits with the perfect amount of crumble, good boudin to bacon ratio, and a side of crispy-edged Breakfast Potatoes to boot.  What could have made this dish better? Nothing.  And for me that is a rare feat…

Aside on the French Press itself: Quickly becoming one of our go to brunch spots, the French Press presents three very different menus depending on the time of day.  With traditional breakfast/brunch and nice spins on great sandwiches all at reasonable prices during the daytime, at night the restaurant changes the menu often if not nightly sourcing only local and fresh ingredients.  With a chef that has Stella on his resume, the French Press is a fast riser in the LAF food scene and a great addition to downtown.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Taco Sisters in Lafayette

Jan 4

Posted by The Wife in Acadiana restaurant | 7 Comments

It’s tough to watch your waistline when you are married to the Cajun Foodie, but I do try to keep it light during the week.  Almost daily at noon, I find myself in a bit of a pickle – where can I grab a quick and healthy bite (and squeeze in the 10 other errands I want to run before my lunch hour is over)?

My prayers were answered when I stumbled upon this funky little orange shotgun shack in “Freetown,” near downtown Lafayette. Just looking at this place made me happy; it’s drive-thru only with tables outside, perfect for my typical grab-and-go lunch.

You can smell the smoky flavor when you roll down your window to yell out your order (yes, I said yell…hey, it’s part of the charm). My first trip there, I ordered their specialty – the Smoked Fish Taco. Five bucks later, I had in my hand a generous-sized soft taco filled with smoked Louisiana Gulf fish marinated in a soy-ginger glaze and nestled in a bed of greens, celery, onions and (this is the kicker)…apples. Something about that sweet, smoky, salty flavor combined with the soft, crunchy, gooey texture got me hooked. Since then, I’ve returned dozens of times and tried almost everything on the menu. My favorite is still the Smoked Fish Taco (I’m now an old pro and add avocado) but I also highly recommend the Smoked Shrimp Taco and the Cajun Foodie swears he could eat the Pork Burrito every day.

Oh – I should also mention that these sisters- these taco sisters, are perhaps the friendliest people on the planet (Karen from Am Mart in Baton Rouge wins this award hands down). I dare you to go there and not drive off with a smile on your face.

Tags: , ,

2Paul’s Radically Urban Barbeque

Jan 7

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 8 Comments

brisket salad 199x300 2Pauls Radically Urban BarbequeInspired by a recent article in Country Roads magazine, I decided to finally pull on over at 2Paul’s in Lafayette, Louisiana.  I’m a huge fan of BBQ (got my KCBS Certified Judge certificate on the wall), and my failing to eat barbecue every day is hindered only by belt selection and the fact that the Wife is still learning to appreciate all that is enrobed in the smoke ring.

Now the Wife was not with me, but my waistline was so I decided to be somewhat healthy and go for the brisket salad.  Country Roads opined that is was worth driving for, so that helped make the decision a little easier as well.

Lo and behold, first thing I see is the mound of brisket.  Awesome.

As you can see, they also made the thing almost… beautiful. Grilled asparagus criss-crossed over the top, slivers of orange and red grilled bell peppers, red apples and shaved parmesan made it quite the sight.

As always though, I’m after the flavor and 2Paul’s certainly did not disappoint.  I have often been accused of being a condiment freak, and so my flavor profile might have been a little muddied and different than most because I cheated and added some hot barbecue sauce to the homemade horseradish based dressing.

All I can say is, it’s radical man.

biglink 2Pauls Radically Urban Barbeque

Marcellos Wine Market Cafe in Lafayette

Aug 29

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 4 Comments

Marcellos Wine Market Cafe in Lafayette
Marcello’s Wine Market Cafe is up there for some of the best food (not to mention one of the best concepts) in Lafayette.  Small(ish) eateries tucked into wine stores generally are of the panini and salad variety, and while I love me some paninis there is nothing really new to the idea.

Marcello’s takes it to another level, putting a semi-exposed kitchen with a full menu in amongst the wine racks, allowing people to peruse not only a full range of entrees but to pick their favorite wine at cost, and then subject it to a small corking fee rather than the tripled price found at your average restaurant.  I could extoll the virtues of the latter for some time, but as always, I’m in it for the food and at Marcello’s, that food is excellent.

First off, I highly suggest to anyone that goes to Marcello’s to look out for the words “marinara fresca” which translated means “eat me.” It’s one of two red sauces they feature there, and it is absolutely delectable.

The first thing on the menu featuring the marinara fresca is the thinly sliced fried eggplant, wheels of eggplant fried until almost chip-like, then doused with the aforementioned red gold.

Marcellos Wine Market Cafe in Lafayette

Next up, any of the parmigianas.  Highlighted by thinly sliced chicken or veal, smothered in high quality mozzarella and then covered in…marinara fresca.

Last but certainly not least, what I think to be the crown jewel in Marcello’s crown and not a dish that is really “typical” for me (it does not contain any form of pork), the “Molli.”  Coming in either the chicken or the veal, its a pan sauteed scallopini with basil oil roasted artichokes, garlic and capers and then finished with a lemon butter reduction, this is Marcello’s version of a picatta and it is unbelievable.

N Marcellos Wine Market Cafe in Lafayetteow, I normally go veal over chicken, and while choosing either version of the Molli is hardly a mistake, I advocate ordering the chicken.  Totally unbelievable…

If you noticed, the dishes in the pictures were all half-eaten by the time the shutter snapped. It is a testament to the fact that once these dishes hit the table, eating commences and there is little time to worry about capturing something for posterity. And isn’t that just how it should be?

biglink Marcellos Wine Market Cafe in Lafayette

Tags: , , ,

The Filling Station in Lafayette

Aug 11

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 4 Comments

The Filling Station in Lafayette The Wife and I recently went to The Filling Station in Lafayette, Louisiana with a group of friends to enjoy the beautiful (and slightly balmy) weather on their patio and grab some dinner.

With a nice mix of Tex-Mex inspired dishes punctuated with the occasional dish named after a loyal customer who first asked for something just a little bit different (ex. the Colleen McDaniel “Potaco” is a loaded baked potato with a taco crumbled on top), the Filling Station’s menu covers a nice range of items that in my experience have all been done well.

While I am usually a fan of their salads topped with pulled pork or grilled tenderloin, on this occasion I decided to go with the quesadilla, picking out the “Ben Roth” version: ground beef, shrimp and chicken all combined on one quesadilla.

I know you’re thinking “why even write about a quesadilla, you can’t mess that up,” and to an extent I agree with you.  You have to be pretty inept in the kitchen to crank out a bad quesadilla as it is generally meat and cheese pressed between a tortilla.  However, a great quesadilla can rise above the ranks of average by taking a few key steps:

  1. Season and properly cook the meat, relying on a fleck of salsa to season cubes of chicken breast is just a mistake.
  2. Use good cheese, and lots of it.  The cheese is the glue that holds the quesadilla together and tossing half a handful of grated “government cheese” does not count.
  3. Include a side of aforementioned salsa, guacamole, and/or sour cream.  In my book, condiments make all things better.

So how did The Filling Station’s version rank? It was one of the best.   I must have a kindred spirit in that kitchen because it is clear that the “rules for quesadillas” are followed to a tee.  While slightly thicker than most quesadillas, the proper cheese/meat/tortilla ratio was maintained and resulted in something spectacular.

So here’s to you Ben Roth for the inspiration for this combination and here’s to The Filling Station for pulling off rather nicely!

By the way, sorry for the slightly blurry pic, my iPhone got glazed over just like my eyes when seeing this beauty of a quesadilla!

biglink The Filling Station in Lafayette

Tags: ,

Cafe Breen in Opelousas

Aug 2

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 1 Comment

Cafe Breen in OpelousasCafe Breen is tucked away in the back of a massive antique store in a strip mall, and its location belies it’s stature as one of the best places to grab a bite to eat in Opelousas.

Outside the world of fried food, heavy sauces, and fatty sausages for which Opelousas is famous (and Lord knows I love it all), there is the occasional time when I decide I should maybe be putting something a little different down the ol’ gullet.

On one of those fleeting moments, I walked into Cafe Breen, and the grilled chicken salad that was presented to me was quite tasty. This post is not about salads however, as I know you’re thinking  “dude that picture is a wrap stuffed with meat up there.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , ,

The Maesone Noodle House in Lafayette

Jun 25

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 3 Comments

IMG 0250 225x300 The Maesone Noodle House in LafayetteThe Wife and I have a distinct love for south Asian cuisine.   In fact, when we first met, I was in an “Asian phase,” adding soy sauce, ginger and hot peppers to everything I cooked.  I even grew some lemongrass out in the yard that did quite well until a roommate ran a push mower over my little grove.

Nonetheless, we are always on the lookout for the next place to get our fix.  When living in Baton Rouge, Rama was our standby.  Great pad thai, killer soups (coconut curry and lemongrass being the top two), and the best dessert in the state (tempura fried banana with coconut ice cream covered in a buttery rum sauce).

Wait…where were we?

So we’re always looking for a new place to some some Thai or Vietnamese food, and tt wasn’t long after my sister-in-law suggested the Noodle House that we were at the door, bottle in hand.  You read correctly, it’s another BYOB, which puts it near the top of my list for that fact alone.

Settling down and perusing the menu, it’s rather easy to get overwhelmed so let me help you out:IMG 0253 150x150 The Maesone Noodle House in Lafayette

  • The fried wontons: stuffed with various meats and veggies, these were the best wontons I’ve come across in LA
  • The spring rolls: light, fresh, totally delicious, a true winner
  • The pho: get the one with a little bit of everything in it and a massive bowl of goodness arrives at your table; easily can feed two or more people and while I am not a “soup for dinner” kind of guy, this could be my dinner any day
  • The pad thai: excellent and just as it should be with clear rice noodles, a good bit of chicken, and peanuts galore

Besides the individual dishes, one of the aspects I love most about the Noodle House is the number of condiments they bring for each course.  I would hate to be the dishwasher here because every selection comes with two or more sides of something to dip, top, or alter the dish.  With the pho for instance, you get a lime, some crisp cold lettuce, and a sprig of fresh cilantro that is not only straight off the vine, it is ON THE VINE.  You also get one of those little rotating condiment assortments with a hot pepper spread, a roasted garlic oil, and some other hard to describe but delectable concoction that can make each bite taste like something completely different.

Everything is fresh, delicious, and often beautiful at the Noodle House.  Combine that with great service, good prices and the ability to bring your finest bottle of white from the Albertson’s down the road and you have a true winner here.

If you have trouble finding it, look behind the Baskin Robbins!
biglink The Maesone Noodle House in Lafayette

Tags: , , , ,

Eat Lafayette 2009

Jun 24

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | No Comments

Eat Lafayette kicked off yesterday and continues until August 15.  Basically, the event is a celebration of the great restaurants in the Lafayette area, with participating restaurants offering specials to further entice customers new and old to come and eat.

Check out the list of restaurants participating and the specials they are running and get out there to Eat Lafayette!

And you thought your po boy was overstuffed…

Jun 16

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 1 Comment

CC 002 300x225 And you thought your po boy was overstuffed... A friend of mine from law school suggested that I get myself to Crawfish Corner in Opelousas for one of their Cuban sandwiches (I know, you’re thinking there is no WAY that thing to the left is a Cuban) so I finally mustered up the courage and the room in my belly for their “Decadent Cuban.”

Let me tell you, I was forewarned, but it still did not fully prepare me for this beast. Roasted stuffed pork, smoked ham, bacon, Swiss cheese, mustard, and FRIED dill pickles.

When I finally stopped laughing at the ridiculousness of the po boy and got down to eating it, I only made it halfway through before calling it quits. What a glorious half it was though!

By the way, my diet started today…again.

Tags: , ,

La Fonda’s fried rabbit with queso

Jun 10

Posted by Tommy in Acadiana restaurant | 11 Comments

la fonda 2 La Fondas fried rabbit with quesoThe bar at La Fonda in Lafayette is known for being the place to be in the hours following the end of any given work day.  Their margaritas are quite tasty and potent enough to make the preceding hours seem as if they went by a little smoother than they probably had.

However, I’d like to spotlight what I believe to be one of the best appetizers in South Louisiana: fried rabbit with queso.  The dish is comprised of a pile of tender marinated rabbit, deboned and fried up chicken tender style and served alongside a bowl of the restaurant’s excellent queso dip.

Original…creative… deep fried, what else do you need?

biglink La Fondas fried rabbit with queso

Tags: , ,