Eats

Eats All Day

by Christiaan Mader

I used to live behind Johnson’s Boucaniere in my wilder days. Many a Saturday began with a late morning stumble across an open field to the restorative itis of country ribs and jambalaya. I was a late riser, but no doubt would have rallied for Johnson’s breakfast were it available to me then.

Photo by Robin May

BREAKFAST
First Bite

A very barbecue breakfast

I used to live behind Johnson’s Boucaniere in my wilder days. Many a Saturday began with a late morning stumble across an open field to the restorative itis of country ribs and jambalaya. I was a late riser, but no doubt would have rallied for Johnson’s breakfast were it available to me then.

Thank God it’s here now. Though it no longer serves as a hangover cure, the smoky nourishment of pulled pork is available on a doughy soft biscuit for the early rising crowd. Build your own with eggs, cheese, brisket or Johnson’s perfectly spiced house BBQ sauce. During Eat Lafayette, be sure to get your spoon into the Sauce Piquante Breakfast Bowl, with your choice of smoked meat on a mound of grits, egg and diner brown-style potatoes.

PRO TIP: It’s never too early to have a Hello Dolly. Rich and buttery chocolate, nuts and coconut glued together by a sweet dose of condensed milk. Milk makes it breakfast, right?

Photo by Robin May

LUNCH
Power Lunch

Toppings as far as the eye can see

The world would be a tastier place if every Sonic Drive-In turned into a Broaddus Burgers. Though it’s housed in the discarded shell of the Moss Street Sonic, owner Shawn Broaddus’ insurgent drive-in, with its flame-broiled burgers cooked to order, has more in common with ongoing slow-food trends.

Looking over the menu can be overwhelming. It’s simple enough to pick your protein, the basic Broaddus Burger being the obvious choice for first timers, but from there it’s easy to get indecisive. I’d attempt to list all bun and topping options, but I charge by the word and don’t want to bankrupt my publishers. Top your burger with choices like a fried eggplant wheel, grilled pineapple, the ubiquitous bacon and/or peanut butter. Toss in a side of impeccably seasoned fries (look out Checkers) and you have a locally made combo meal that rivals the fast food big boys on price, but beats them square into the ground on taste.

Pro Tip: Bring your dogs. They love car rides and smelling new things, especially burger fumes. Plus, Broaddus provides a free dog biscuit to keep your pooch away from your lunch.

DINNER
Chow Down

Tacos on a Tuesday. Tacos any time.

Acme Taco is like a Taco Bell for designated drivers. Everyone else in the car is whiskey craving a double decker taco, and the DD knows the responsibly delicious decision is the Oil Centers’ home for atypical Mexican.

Try the three Acme tacos and a side combo to explore the restaurant’s artful variety. It’s a solid dinner choice for couples on a budget who don’t want to sacrifice quality for quantity, and also need help learning to compromise. For your frijole fix, try the borracho beans stewed in Caribbean lager, a great complement to the Sacramento-style ancho and potato burrito. I got mine with grilled squash in a vain attempt at healthy eating. Jury’s out on how healthy it was, but it was too good for me to care. Deconstructed tamales are a must, with the perfectly seared polenta masa worth the price of admission alone.

Pro Tip: When you come out uneven between the sopapillas and their generous trio of dipping sauces, dip your finger in the leftover cinnamon sugar dust like a human Fun Dip.