My Confusing Horoscope

In southwest Louisiana, look for barbecue at places where they say they serve Creole, which means something very different there than in New Orleans. There are some places in Lafayette, for instance. Laura's, where you might get Cajun rice dressing along with your barbecue chicken. Dwight's in Lafayette is very popular for barbecue but only on Sundays. There must be some barbecue in Baton Rouge, too, but I am not familiar with it. Louisiana may not be Texas nor Memphis when it comes to barbecue, but it's probably more unique for its sides, in my opinion.

Thanks for this tip! We were there in Truro last Sunday. I think what makes the fish and chips different here is the sweetness of the batter on the haddock. It almost tastes like waffles. It was just different from the other fish and chip dinners we had. And the lady behind the counter is quite a character, calling everyone honey, sweety, and my love. The hostess of our bed and breakfast said at first she thought it was an act, but she has since concluded she's just like that all the time. In Halifax we enjoyed the Five Fishermen. Happy hour from 4-6 with oysters for 1.50 a piece. I had Beausoleils and Raspberry Pts. Nice deal! The atmosphere in the place was different too, with New Orleans music playing in the background.

I wasn't able to find poutine rapée in any restaurant on my recent trip to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, but a friend we visited in Halifax fixed us some delicious fresh mackerel and mussels. The mackerel was boiled and served with potatoes and onions. The mussels were steamed in white wine and garlic. We got a fine sample of NS home cooking from a generous host!

My wife and I will be in the Moncton area June 20 (maybe staying in Dieppe or Shediac). Is poutine râpée the kind of thing we could typically get in a restaurant in that area or is it mostly a home dish? We would love to try it! Thanks! (Being a Cajun from Southwest Louisiana, I know first-hand that the best Cajun dishes are usually found in people's homes! Those who've only had Cajun food in restaurants don't know what they are missing, really)

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal there! It's changed hands over the years. Some years it's been great, other times not so much. For what it's worth, Times of Acadiana has a People's Choice poll that ranked the chef, Brian Blanchard, 2nd, after Holly Goetting at Charley G's, but the rankings for Italian restaurants in Lafayette were notably unreliable: http://www.timesofacadiana.com/apps/pbcs.d...WS0104/80617006

Made a quick trip through Lafayette last week. I can confirm that the Chris's Poboys on Moss Street is still as good as ever! Some people swear by Old Tyme Grocery on St. Mary Street but I have always been partial to Chris's. I breathed the whole roast pork poboy. I wish Philadelphia people who are proud of their roast pork sub could compare it with what Chris's serves! So much flavor in the thinly cut, moist roast! Dressed with just some shredded cabbage and a combination of mayo and mustard sauce. We also went to Pizza Village on Moss Street -- first time in years and as good as I remembered! My wife thought the combination on the Landry Special was odd, but it worked for me! Pepperoni, hamburger, shrimp, onion, and jalapeno. Their pizza doesn't seem to have a lot of tomato sauce on it, but it's got a crispy crust that is just delicious. I had seafood gumbo at Don's Seafood Hut on Johnston street, at Shucks' in Abbeville, and at Gooloo's (Hebert's Steakhouse and Seafood) on Highway 14 between Abbeville and Kaplan. Don's was the winner! I think they must use garlic in it. It's just a bit different. Like so many of the places down there, they serve you a little dish of rice on the side so that you add just as much as you want to your bowl of gumbo. Don's also has our favorite bread pudding. The bread they use is the soft French bread, and the warm cream sauce has a bit of rum in it. Great! Had a surprisingly good lunch one day at the Palace Cafe in Opelousas on the main drag across the street from the courthouse. Roast pork with rice and gravy and a "casserole" of eggplant and ground beef with just a bit of a tomato sauce. I never had it with the tomato sauce before. I believe I will try that next time I make it at home. Poor Boy's Riverside Inn on the Broussard side of Lafayette continues to be a pleasure. One of the simplest things on the menu is also one of the most popular --a crab meat sautee that is something like Crab Norfolk in Maryland. You know the place is good if it is so out of the way but still packed on a Tuesday night. Stocked up with a bunch of meats from Hebert's Specialty Meats in Maurice and we call it a successful trip!

Preview from a documentary called "Raised on Rice and Gravy." http://www.theind.com/index.php?option=com...=2291&Itemid=96

If you can include products, your daughter might like to research Tabasco sauce, Steen's Syrup, and Louisiana coffees like Community and Mello Joy.

The Independent Weekly has a story this week on places in and around Lafayette: http://www.theind.com/cover2.asp?CID=-2034404030 They left out Chris' Poboys on Ambassador Caffery in Lafayette, which is in a combination gas station-wine and cigar shop. Strange combination but they have my favorite poboys in the area: roast pork especially.

Right at Metro Center is Ristorante Tosca for pasta. Good for eating at the bar. Nearby is Brasserie Beck, a Belgian place that opened last summer. Have a good stay!

The link to those boudin ratings is in the story, but I thought I would also put it here. Don't aks me why.

The Boudin Link story in The Ind On my last trip, I am sorry I didn't make it to the Eunice Superette, but I got some at Johnson's Grocery (now called Raymond Grocery) and it's still my favorite! The review at Boudin Link is outdated. So much boudin, so little time....

She was a kind soul in Houston for the Katrina refugees, as I recall, and I will appreciate her for that.

Just back from a four day trip to Lafayette. Food wasn't so much the focus of my trip this time, but I am happy to report on some old favorites that are still good! Boudin: Johnson's Grocery in Eunice is still the best! Same place but it's now called Raymond Grocery and it's open everyday! I like their spices and their ratio of meat to rice. It's tight in the casing and and crisp enough to eat, which I prefer to the rubbery casing at Hebert's Specialty Meats in Maurice Boudin and cracklins: Best Stop in Scott. Seafood gumbo: Don's in Lafayette. The original one downtown on Lee. I wish I could make it their way. Dark but thin and very spicy. Poboys: Chris's Poboys, the one in the Shell gas station on Ambassador Caffery. I was so disappointed a couple of years ago when the one downtown on Jefferson Street closed. My last one there, the pork roast, was dry. I think the place was going downhill. It sure seemed odd that it would reopen in a gas station, so I hadn't tried it until now. Well, I am going back for sure! It's the oddest gas station I have ever seen. You pump gas alright but when you go in to pay it looks like a wine store with a restaurant in the back! No convenience store items, just wine and cigars and a little restaurant. Try the pork roast if you have never had one. It's back to form now. Soft French bread, thinly sliced pork roast seasoned well, their sauce which seems to be a mixture of drippings, mayo and mustard, shredded cabbage --- simple as can be but very delicious and drippy! Wish I had pictures!

Thanks! I will check it out! Is it really about Louisiana cuisine or is it about New Orleans cuisine as suggested in the abstract? Did you research Acadiana too?