Archive for category “Down the Bayou” restaurant

Smoky gold from Bourgeois’ Meat Market

jerky 333x500 Smoky gold from Bourgeois Meat Market Bourgeois Meat Market is an institution in south Louisiana. Serving up boudin, hogshead cheese, smoked sausage and whatever else can be wrapped in white butcher paper, the place does things simply but does it right.

Take, for instance, the beef jerky.  Long, skinny strips of beef are smoked for hours on end until they have that perfect jerky texture but retain much of the moistness.

This is not a jerky that is reminiscent of Liquid Smoke or flavored with some fancy bourbon, it is straight up salty beef with a peppery kick and REEKING (in a very good way of course) of the smokehouse from which it came.

Bite into a strip and you can tell this is the real deal; the dark center is surrounded by a perfect pink smoke ring. As Lays so famously put it, I bet you can’t eat just one!


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BIG AL’S – Where It’s At for Seafood in Houma

photo1 225x300 BIG AL’S – Where It’s At for Seafood in HoumaLocated on the East side of Houma, Big Al’s Seafood is my favorite place to go for boiled seafood around town.

Many people know that I’m indecisive about lots of things in life, but when it comes to food and when I’m hungry, there is absolutely no hope for a decision to be made.  I want a little of everything.  Everything looks and smells so good.  So many choices… it’s just hopeless.

Well – at Big Al’s, we had the most fabulous waitress who saved me from anguish and let me have a little bit of everything!  You can basically customize your own boiled seafood platter! How cool is this? We ordered 2 lbs of boiled shrimp, 1 lb of boiled crawfish, 2 crabs, and the sides of course (potatoes, corn, and sausage).

We were able to order a crab at a time and a pound of crawfish at a time after that when we still just hadn’t had enough.  It was perfect!  Everything was boiled to perfection: easy to peel, juicy, and spicy enough to feel the kick in your mouth, but not too spicy.

I’ve been a loyal fan of Big Al’s for years now, and every visit leaves me 110% satisfied.  They’re never off.  The menu offers a wonderful selection of fried and boiled seafood along with savory sides to compliment the seafood, and they have just about any style pasta and poboy you can imagine.  There’s also a kid-friendly menu.

Everything about Big Al’s makes you feel right at home: the booths and picnic tables, the Cajun ’decor’, the genuine Southern hospitality from the staff, and the always ice cold Abita beer.  (They DO serve Abita Strawberry, which is also a plus!)

Big Al’s original location can be found at 1226 Grand Caillou Road in Houma.  Their second location is on the Westside of Houma at 1377 West Tunnel Blvd.  For those folks in and around New Orleans, check out Big Al’s location on Annunciation Street in Uptown New Orleans.

biglink BIG AL’S – Where It’s At for Seafood in Houma

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Frostop for burgers, po boys, and what else… ROOT BEER!

photo 150x150 Frostop for burgers, po boys, and what else... ROOT BEER!Driving home from work I was thinking of what I was going to eat for dinner (as usual).  Not having a whole lot of time to cook anything, I wanted to pick up something in a hurry. Frostop came to mind because I know I can never go wrong with a Lot-o-Burger!

I remember heading to Frostop in Thibodaux with my parents when I was a little girl, back when it was on the bayou-side next to The Rinky-Dink.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve been ordering the Lot-o-Burger Special with cheese…large beef patty dressed with Frostop’s special blend of mayo and mustard, lettuce, tomato, chopped onions, and cheese (which is optional, although I’m not so sure why).  Heaven.  Juicy, delicious, and always cooked to perfection.photo 1 225x300 Frostop for burgers, po boys, and what else... ROOT BEER!

We all know about the Lot-o-Burgers…. so onto other items of goodness.  While waiting in line to place my order, I noticed something on the counter and got curious.  Getting closer, I see Uncle T’s tea cookies! YUM!  There is “old-fashioned goodness in every bite”!  I have to admit that I couldn’t even wait to get home to try my dessert; I ate 1/2 of one of the cookies while waiting for my order. Soft, fluffy, scrumptious, and made right here in Thibodaux!  You can find Uncle T’s tea cookies in various places around town: Rouse’s grocery stores and a few other convenience stores.

Always ordering the famous burger, I decided to go with something “new” for a change.  Boy am I glad I did!  The roast beef poboy is amazing!  Who even knew there was anything other than the burgers available?  I got home, opened the wrapper, rolled up my sleeves (seriously…this step is a must, unless you want gravy seeping into your shirt sleeves!).  It probably rivals Bowzer’s experience at the Goal Post in Raceland as far as the number of napkins needed goes.

photo 2 300x225 Frostop for burgers, po boys, and what else... ROOT BEER!

Shredded beef, lettuce, mayo, tomato, flooded with gravy on a piece of French bread. While most would agree that poboys are best made on Leidenheimer bread, this was still fabulous!  My mouth is watering just thinking about it again!

Lets not forget that ordering a frosty mug of Frostop’s root beer is a must.  It would be some sort of blasphemy to dine in or take out and not have the root beer as a companion.  It’s so good, that many times one glass won’t be enough.

So – next time you’re in a hurry looking for something to chow down on, head to Frostop’s new location on Canal Boulevard in Thibodaux – you won’t be let down!  You can also enjoy at other Louisiana locations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, LaPlace, Raceland, and Houma to name a few.  Trust me, the big mug is hard to miss.

biglink Frostop for burgers, po boys, and what else... ROOT BEER!

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The Classy Cajun in Houma

What Houma’s newest eatery lacks in size, it makes up for in big Cajun flavor…

Just south of the Houma Airbase on banks of Bayou Terrebonne, Olden and Nancy Rodrigue have turned a remodeled C-store into a mecca for delicious seafood.

The Classy Cajun is serving up all of the traditional South Louisiana favorites, including golden fried seafood and seasonal boiled offerings.

Lunch or dinner in the cozy dining room at the Classy Cajun has the feel of a laid back family gathering. They say there are three keys to a successful restaurant: Location, Location, Location. The Classy Cajun is conveniently on the way to Cocodrie, and those generous portions of fried and boiled seafood will satisfy many a sportsman and woman on their way for a weekend at the camp. Their incredible Po-boys and thinly sliced, crispy onion rings should make for an enticing treat for the hungry fishermen on their way home from a morning of catching speckled trout and redfish.

I’m of the opinion that every really good restaurant has to have a niche to stand out; something they do better or differently than anybody else. Drago’s has those charbroiled oysters, at Pascal’s, it’s the BBQ Shrimp. At the Classy Cajun, there are at least two that will soon be it’s calling cards.

First, the roast beef po-boy is out of this world. Mrs. Nancy’s tried and true homemade recipe of fresh cooked pot roast smothered in a rich gravy goes perfectly on a lightly toasted, po-boy bun.

Their second “specialty” has got to be a really unique dessert that combines the best of two Cajun favorites… Pecan Pie Bread Pudding. Imagine (or better yet, go taste for yourself) a classic Cajun bread pudding with all it’s cream, vanilla, and cinnamon, topped with the very best part of a pecan pie… that caramelized, crunchy topping. No rum sauce needed here. It’s fantastic just the way it is.

Though crawfish season is just about over, I was lucky enough to sample a few recently, and they were excellent! Ever notice how most boiled crawfish you get in a restaurant taste a little different from ones boiled at home? Well the Classy Cajun managed to bring a little bit of home to the restaurant. Mr. Olden tells me the secret is that he doesn’t use a commercial premix that a lot of restaurants use, but stuck to the homemade style that he has been perfecting for a lifetime. I can’t wait for next spring to enjoy an order or two! In the meantime, I’ll have to “settle” for the delectable crabs and shrimp they’ll be serving up this summer and fall.

Whether you’re in the mood for a po-boy on the go, a weekday plate lunch like momma used to make, or ready to enjoy a superb seafood dinner with friends or family in a casual atmosphere, make the short drive over to the Classy Cajun. You won’t be disappointed!

Classy Cajun
10627 E Main St
Houma, LA 70363
(985) 872-4004


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1921 Seafood in Houma

1921 150x150 1921 Seafood in HoumaOn a recent excursion to the grandest of all islands (Grand Isle to those of you not familiar with this nickname for the seven miles of fun and sun), the Wife and I were feeling a bit hungry.  My initial plans were to make it down to Harry’s or D&D in Larose but the Wife was having none of it and we were eating sooner rather than later in our trip, so it was clear that a pitstop was going to be made in Houma.

I put 1921 Seafood on the trusty iPhone GPS and minutes later we were outside of what they would proudly call a shack on Barrow Street.  This place is the real deal, with the bathrooms being labeled simply as “Inboards” and “Outboards” and a hand-washing station with commercial soap tacked up on a wall.

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Cristiano’s Ristorante in Houma- Mama Mia and EllClare

entrance 150x150 Cristianos Ristorante in Houma  Mama Mia and EllClareDeep in the heart of South Louisiana, where Cajun food is king, we found an “authentic” Italian restaurant that will delight the palate of even the most “pig-fat-loving” appetites. Located in downtown Houma, Louisiana, Cristiano’s Ristorante is a “reservation only” establishment for lunch and dinner, satisfying their many patron’s cravings for Mediterranean cuisine…and Mediterranean it is! Most of the menu is in Italian, but with the help of our courteous server/translator, we soon discovered that choosing which delicious entrée we wanted would be tough. Even though we didn’t know the meaning of some of the words, we had no doubt that they all meant something scrumptious! That was clear even before we looked at the menu. The minute we walked into the restaurant, we smelled the tomato, garlic, olives, cheese…Italy. Our Italian heritage was awakened, and our senses went wild! Read the rest of this entry »

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Perhaps the greatest BBQ Beef Po boy the world has ever known.

roast beef1 150x150 Perhaps the greatest BBQ Beef Po boy the world has ever known.I wanted to make sure I picked a title that didn’t over hype how I feel about this sandwich… I think I nailed it. Tucked along Bayou Lafourche in Raceland, about a half mile or so away from Hwy 90 on LA 1, sits my favorite little hole in the wall, The Goal Post. Since I was a little boy, I have enjoyed the simple pleasures of (in my opinion) the finest BBQ Roast Beef Po-Boy you will find anywhere. Better than any Roast Beef Po-boy I’ve eaten in New Orleans or anywhere else for that matter. I know I’m biased. Basically, the formula and BBQ sauce have remained the same for as long as I can remember: a flat piece of French bread loaded with shaved beef smothered in a terrific BBQ sauce and I always get it dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayo. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Real Deal: Bayou Delight Restaurant in Houma

O.K Foodies, if you’re looking for authentic Cajun cuisine, you won’t find better than at Bayou Delight Restaurant in Houma, LA ( really “off the beaten path” in Houma). It’s located on what locals call Bayou Black Hwy., which is actually La. Hwy. 90.  The first time I ventured out to find it I got lost, but boy am I glad that I persisted in my quest for “real” cajun delights.  Many restaurants boast authentic Cajun specialties, but you’ll know the first time you feast at Bayou Delight, that you’ve found the bona fide stuff.

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Introducing Belle’s Bakery (A Little Taste of Heaven)

photo1 Introducing Belles Bakery (A Little Taste of Heaven)

A Little Taste of Heaven

Several years ago Thibodaux lost a legend in the world of baking. I can remember as a child walking into the door, smelling the wonderful aroma of almond extract, putting my hands on the glass display cases, and choosing the perfect dessert to take home from CITY BAKERY. Although many have tried to imitate and recreate the wonderful petit fours and cakes this bakery served for so many years, few have delivered — until now.

May I now introduce – BELLE’S BAKERY. The idea began when young women from the Houma-Thibodaux area found their love for baking last summer. It all started with cakes – they would decorate 2-tiered cakes and share them with friends and family for birthday parties and family events. Next the girls moved on to mouth watering cheesecakes, the most popular being the peanut butter and jelly flavored. Yes you heard me right — Peanut butter and jelly cheesecake !!!! Trust me on this one, it is a must try. Cakes for all occasions as well as many other tasty treats are also available from Belle’s Bakery. But the girls’ most desired and demanded treat is what I like to call “a little taste of heaven,” also known as a petit four.

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Sushi (in Thibodaux?)

OK — So let me make a disclaimer before I begin this one.  I am in no way comparing this sushi to that of Tsunami in Baton Rouge or Lafayette, Sake Cafe in New Orleans, or even Osaka in Houma for that matter.  I don’t even really consider myself a sushi expert, but it’s lent and let’s face it — it doesn’t take long for one to get over eating tuna fish salad for lunch every Friday.

I went to the Rouse’s Epicurean in Thibodaux yesterday after work in search of something to eat for dinner last night.  While I knew they had sushi there, in the past it was not really edible and the fish was often “fishy” tasting and just not really good.  Well yesterday as I drove into the parking lot I noticed “Sushi” signs all over – and I was curious.  As I approached the sushi counter, I noticed new chefs that were actually there making fresh sushi.  As you glanced through the decent selection of rolls and items, they would assist you and even allow you to order a roll with whatever you wanted in it.  They even had summer rolls wrapped in lettuce and rolls made with brown rice for those that want to be healthy.  I chose the crunchy roll with cucumber and the spicy tuna roll both wrapped in brown rice.

sushi1 Sushi (in Thibodaux?)

Although not the best sushi I’ve ever had, it was fresh and tasted good.  So while I patiently wait for someone to open a sushi restaurant in Thibodaux to compete with Houma’s 4 and counting, I will definitely be hitting up Rouse’s again in order to save a drive to Houma.

Note: Apparently Rouse’s has contracted with a new company, so for those of you who were like me and found the sushi there pretty gross in the past, I suggest you give the new chefs another shot.

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