"The Cajun Menu" - During Their Soft Opening, Jasper, Georgia
Hey, dawlin! This New Orleans Girl is here to tell you that this is the real deal. The owners, family, and staff are awesome! The family is from Cocadrille, Louisiana! Ya know where dat is? Right in de heart of Cajun Country. Like me, John, who owns the restaurant with his wife, has been cookin since the age of 2 with a chair pulled up to de counter with his mama. That's how we do it down there. His son, Ethan, impressively runs a well-organized kitchen at the young age of 17; cooking since he was a little boy as well. Taylor gave us great service today on her birthday, as did the rest of the staff who came by. We had a great visit with them!
Now for de food! This is de real deal! Not like other restaurants that say they are Cajun and serve food the way they think Cajun food is. ***This is Cajun food and it is done right, just as they do in Cajun Country!***
The three of us ordered: 2 shrimp po' boys, a roast beef po' boy, and a cup of seafood gumbo. They even brought out a nice portion of their seafood boil to us as lagniappe (which means "a little something extra" for y'all you aren't from there). Thank you for that!
The po' boys come dressed (lettuce and tomato) or without, your preference. We chose dressed. The shrimp are battered nicely, well sized, and are perfectly fried. Their Cajun Mayo adds a splendid spicy kiss to this goodness.
The roast beef po' boy with debris gravy goodness is on point. The roast beef itself is slow roasted for 10 hours to falling apart goodness. Scrumptious!
The seafood gumbo is different than what you are used to but the flavor is on point and the meat is very tender. Generous portion of rice. The shrimp amazingly are not overcooked. Remember, gumbo can be made a lot of different ways. Their gumbos take 2 days to make in order to get the desired flavor. (Takes me 2 days also.) It was a generous portion (about 16 ounces) for a cup of gumbo and we all enjoyed it immensely.
Next. Let's talk about the boil. They do it differently from what I'm used to (no corn, potatoes, onyum, or garlic) but wow! No complaints about this bowl of heaven! Today it had shrimp, andouille, and mushrooms. Oh, mannnn, we have never had mushrooms so good. The flavor and beautiful spice made me see Jesus. I'm pretty sure I wasn't not the only one at that table. I wish I'd gotten some boil to bring home.
There's some seriously good spiciness up in here!!! You can taste the love!
***Note that the bread you see in the pictures is not the bread you will get. They had a bread situation today and while it was fresh, it's not the bread they normally carry. Don't worry, you'll get French Bread when you get there and your po' boy will also be longer.***
Ambience: The dining room itself has lighting for daytime and really cool lighting for nighttime, see photos! His mother did the paintings on one wall and his wife took photographs on the other wall.
Remember that they are easing into their business and this is a soft opening as they work out the kinks. More things will be added and adjusted. Beer and wine will be offered. You may have to BYOB for the moment - feel free to call and check with them about that.
We can't wait to go back!
My rating: 5 out of 5 beans!
Now, get in your car and go treat yourself! Bring your family and friends! read more