April 27, 2008
As part of our dinner conversation last night: off the beaten path spots for the M&M road trip. Tips from around the table:
1) Middendorf’s in Pass Manchac, Louisiana. You’ll never get a better fried seafood platter and its thin-filleted fried catfish — made with the same recipe since 1934 — is famous. I just read that its under new management since 2007, but the old-line staff is still in place and it seems like the new owner respects the menu and the history of the restaurant, so you should still be able to get the good stuff there.
2) UCM Museum in Abita Springs, Louisiana. A walk-in art installation where you can see the Bassigator among many other oddities. Exceptional place to stop for souvenirs. But since the whole place is a description-defying work of art, you’ll just have to go experience it to see what we mean. (Handily, Abita Springs is the home of the Abita Brewery — and my favorite beer is served up right there at the Abita Brew Pub. And, it’s just down the street from my mom’s house, where — if you are Mark and Michelle — she might hook you up with a shrimp po-boy from her favorite place (not on any map) Frabielli’s — the real deal with buttered french bread toasted just right.
3) If you happen to be on the long long Texas route and anywhere near Bourne, TX, don’t miss the Bear Moon Bakery and Cafe. I always stop here on my LA to New Orleans trips. When Laur and I were there in February of 2006, a baker displaced by Katrina was making killer king cake (in Texas?! who figured?) and lots of delicious goods are baked on-site, real espresso and yummy food made from fresh ingredients. Great breakfast. Reasonably-priced and cute.
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April 28th, 2008 at 1:49 am
In Mindendorf, do not pass the Oyster Soup, it is the best that we ever tasted. Used to stop at this place for a few years, going to, and return from Girt Scout camp just out of Independence, After the girls “graduated” from girl scouts, still continued to drive all the way up 55 for this soup. Have a nice and tasty trip. Ilana
April 28th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Ilana: that’s a great tip — thanks!
April 28th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Mindendorf, I have never heard of it, how did that happen? I thought I had tried every good resturant in La. Don’t forget that fantastic resturant in Crowley with the crawfish dinner. I am still drooling over my visit there back in 1979, when I first moved to La. the first time.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Yeah, Freda — this is a real old-school place. Back pre-air-conditioning days, New Orleanians would take a “Sunday Drive” across the lake to get out of the hot city, catch a little breeze off the Pass Manchac and let the kids run around in the shell parking lot. In my time, families already had the habit and the food — big plates of Louisiana Gulf seafood — was soooo good. I was sad to see that the restaurant has passed out of the hands of the family that had owned it for three generations, but the new owner has professed his respect for the old ways, so maybe it will still be very special.