Heartbreak in Natchitoches

Originally, for Sunday afternoon, I was looking forward to this little dream café in historic Natchitoches, LA called Laysone’s Restaurant. Why you might ask? Two words: Meat and Pie. My logic, blindingly simple, I like meat and I like pies, so why not both? The Laysone’s meatpie awaited my ravenous appetite.

http://www.lasyones.com/index.html

http://www.lasyones.com/menu.html

In a tragedy for the ages, turns out Laysone’s is closed on Sundays so the infamous meatpies will have to wait until another visit.

Begrudgingly, we sauntered down the road to another well regarded Natchitoches haunt Mama’s Oyster House.

http://www.mamasoysterhouse.com/default.asp

http://www.mamasoysterhouse.com/assets/imagesMenus4/menusFull/menuMamas.pdf

On the menu this afternoon was some seafood gumbo, a crawfish etouffee, blackened gator tail and a bread pudding with rum sauce finish. In sum, a healthy smattering of native Louisiana fare.

Both the gumbo and etouffee were solid, hearty options, and the blackened gator tail tasted, shockingly, like chewy blackened chicken. While certainly worth trying for novelty, personally I’m inclined to think that alligators are better suited as handbags and boots. The bread pudding satisfied the sweet tooth for dessert, and we clattered spoons a few times skirmishing for the last morsel.

Natchitoches itself seemed like an historic place, and claims to be the oldest town in the Louisiana Purchase. A longer visit may be in order on the next go round.

http://www.natchitoches.net/index.php

Crawfish Etouffe and Seafood Gumbo

Blackened Alligator


Bread Pudding with rum sauce

Mama's Restaurant