Red Velvet Wisdom

Once I had made it to New Orleans with Natalie and Kelly, we decided that after we got checked into the hotel, it would be time to venture onto Bourbon Street and find something for dinner.  Once we wandered toward the French Quarter, there was truly no shortage of places to eat (or drink).  We were looking for a moderately priced meal, preferably of the Cajun/Creole variety.  At the edge of the Quarter were several upscale fine dining establishments, who had entrees priced in the $30-$50 range.  Since we had left our rich sugar daddies behind for the weekend, we kept walking until we came to La Bayou directly on Bourbon.  It had meals priced more in the $15-$20 range, and it had a nice menu loaded with all sorts of Louisiana-style fare.

The restaurant was fairly busy but we were able to get a table quickly.  The place had a very and casual atmosphere, with lots of patrons enjoying their food and the cocktails that flowed from the very busy bar.   Being that we were hungry, Natalie had the fabulous idea of ordering gator bites.  I have had gator before and it can sometimes be tough and chewy, but this was buttery soft and fresh, and was served with a spicy mustard that I literally could have eaten my weight in.  (special thanks to Natalie for snapping all of these pictures for me!)

Next came the entrees.  Kelly had a Cajun pasta that looked delicious.  Natalie had shrimp and grits that came stacked up with fried green tomatoes and smothered in some sort of creamy sauce.  I picked the Big Easy po boy that came complete with shrimp, remoulade, and fried green tomatoes.  It was so huge there was no eating with your hands.  We all sampled each other dishes, and I can tell you they were all a good decision.

cajun pasta

shrimp and grits

Big Easy Po Boy

I had decided pretty much before I had even ordered my entree that I was going to order bread pudding, but ONLY if Natalie and Kelly would share.  They of course needed tons of begging to help me with this (feel the sarcasm).  The pudding came and was filled with peaches and raisins, and covered in a creamy rum sauce, and was a perfect way to end an authentic New Orleans meal.

bread pudding

There were more food adventures at Pat O’Brien’s on Saturday night, but I was too hungry to even remember the idea of getting pix (I’m sure the giant Hurricane cocktails they serve had nothing to do with it).  It was also delicious New Orleans fare, and overall I have to say my NOLA experience was filled with good food and great people, and I literally can’t wait to go back!

It’s been a few days since we had a post, because both Dena and I have been MIA.  She was at a conference in San Antonio, and I was lucky enough to have district meeting in New Orleans.  I was beyond excited to get down there and soak up some of the culture.  I very quickly learned that there is all sorts of culture to be soaked up in the state, not just in NOLA.

I was scheduled to meet up with my partners in crime, Kelly and Natalie in Pineville, but before I got all the way there, I did a little detour into Natchitoches, home to world famous meat pies (and an amazing Christmas festival).  I knew that anywhere I stopped that wasn’t a fast food place would have a meat pie of some variety, and I rolled into an Exxon that did not disappoint.  It advertised boudin balls, meat pies, and fresh cracklins.  Not the hard kind you find in your local grocery store, but the real kind, which are a staple in Louisiana.

the cracklins stand

I went in and discovered that this is apparently a fairly popular place, with a long line of people waiting for some of the fried goodies in the deli case, which had a constantly rotating flow of all things greasy and delicious.  There were corn nuggets, and whole fried corn on the cob, meat pies, and crawfish pies.  However, the big deal in that particular gas station appeared to be…………..gizzards.

various meat filled dough products

I don’t eat gizzards, and after I get done with this post I am probably going to have to get on Google and see just exactly where a gizzard is located on a chicken (at least I think it comes from a chicken).  Every person in the line besides me ordered gizzards, and one woman even yelled, “IS THAT FRESH GIZZARDS???!!!!” when a new tray came out.  I played it somewhat safe and got a crawfish pie, which was like an empanada stuffed with crawfish, rice, celery, and onions.  It was kind of like a thick gumbo encased in a crispy fried pie shell.  So I left Natchitoches with my crawfish pie and a serving of corn nuggets, and headed to Pineville, where Kelly and Natalie would lead me on to further food adventures in New Orleans.  Come back tomorrow and read about all the delicious food (and cocktails) we filled up with in the French Quarter!

Tomorrow would have been my grandfather’s birthday. Maybe. He was one of those kids taken from Indian reservations in the early 1900’s to thin them out. He and his sister were taken and to be placed with a lovely couple in Arkansas. (our great-grandparents) They were thrilled at having both a boy and girl and were told a story of poverty and birth mother dying. They arrived at the train station to find their son, locked in a small building, covered in filth and hungry. His sister was long gone on that train. The woman who took her was the worker who suggested the name Joy to my great-grandparents. They never stopped thinking of their little girl, Joy, and her name as been  handed down each generation since. My grandfather named my mother Joy, and mom named my sister Joy, and I gave my daughter the middle name of Joy.

Today would have been my grandfather’s anniversary to my grandmother. That I am certain of. They were married 53 years when she passed suddenly. Not a day went by that he didn’t think of her. Even in his scattered thoughts while suffering from dementia, he thought he was talking to her. Maybe that was worth it.

He died three years ago today. On his anniversary, as I was about to make a cake with sprinkles for the alzheimers ward to share. He was found and we were called. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of him. It  might be when we remember fishing trips, or junk auctions, or silly practical jokes. We also laugh about his fondness for food. He loved pittsburg hotlinks ( another fire setting adventure for Joy. This time a microwave was involved) He hated garlic with a passion. He swore his stove didn’t work right after my aunt cooked with it.

He also loved peanut butter cookies. He liked them better than any chocolate and I have a recipe that was one of his favorites. I’ll make this and remember him. His birth, his life with my grandmother, and his passing. Wish he was here to celebrate with us.

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1 Cup of sugar
• 1 Cup of Peanut Butter
• 1 egg

Mix well and roll into balls. Mash slightly with a fork. Bake at 350º for 12 minutes.

For months we’ve been trying to get to the Green Tomato in Texarkana. They boast that they are “home of the greatest burger that ever lived.”  We had to see about that.  In addition to being intrigued about that claim, one of my good friends happens to be the aunt of the owner.

Janelle, wearing their motto.

We ordered the special, and with that comes an appetizer.  We couldn’t decide so we got fried pickles and fried green tomatoes.  Both were a very good decision.  They were light and crispy, which is not always an easy thing to accomplish when you are frying veggies.

I ordered a salad with grilled chicken.  It was perfect.  I hesitated because I am very very very picky about the chicken that goes on chicken salads.  All too often restaurants use some sort of rubbery mess that comes frozen out of a bag, but this was fresh and delicious.

Rod pretty much always gets a chicken fried steak or a burger, but he surprised everybody by ordering a chicken breast smothered in ham, cheese, and onions; a sort of deconstructed chicken cordon bleu if you will.  And again to everybody’s surprise Rod enjoyed his meal.

Boo was the only one to order a burger at the place that claims to have the best, and she chose the Green Tomato Burger, which places a fried green tomato in place of a raw red one.

Not only was it delicious according to her, it was so big that Rod had to take up the slack and finish the other half of it.

Did I mention that our special came with dessert?   Boo got her usual ice cream (not part of the special) and we split a homemade sopapilla cheesecake.  It was delicious.

The special was an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert for $12.99.  We think that’s a steal, especially considering the great taste and portion sizes.  This restaurant is the kind of place that has a friendly diner atmosphere and eclectic clientele that give it a unique ambiance to match the food.  Visit their Facebook and then visit them in person!