Lasyone’s Restaurant: Meat Pies with a side of Meat Pie

If you follow the blog closely you may recall from last year that I was rather crestfallen that we would be unable to sample the notorious meat pies at Lasyone’s restaurant in Natchitoches. Since I had spent the better part of the last year practicing how you actually pronounce Natchitoches (it’s Nack-ih-tish by the way), I assured myself that this year the meat pies would not elude me again The place is an anchor in Natchitoches however they keep some rather elusive hours so our trip out to Baton Rouge required military precision to hit this unique Louisiana landmark.

We arrived for a mid morning breakfast and settled into a table without any crowds. I took an obligatory glance over the menu, despite the fact that I had already fawned over it online for the last two weeks. When the waitress ambled over I promptly ordered up a meat pie breakfast with a side of - you guessed it- more meat pie. In fact some of us (Kate) were even wise enough to skip the breakfast part entirely and order meat pies exclusively. Consistent with all great places simplicity prevails at Lasyone’s as there is only one choice of meat pie on the menu which the waitress informed us was a combination of spiced beef and pork.

The pies are most aptly described as a fried empanada. However, unlike empanadas which can tend to get a bit dry, the Lasyone’s meat pie is moist throughout and needs no condiment to ease it down. They have a wonderful crispy crust that flakes away to a moist spiced ground meat center with just the right ratio of crust to filling to make them satisfying but not heavy. There is nothing complex or extravagant about the meatpies at Lasyone’s, they’re just good, simple food.

www.lasyones.com

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