Boudreau and Thibodeau’s Cajun Seafood

We had finished a day of touring plantations in southern Louisiana and we were spending the night in Houma in Terrebonne Parish.  This Parish, (county to those who aren’t from Louisiana), is right on the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway runs right through Houma.

It was time for dinner and a local Cajun restaurant seemed to fit the time and place…

As you can see from the sign, this is Boudreau and Thibodeau’s Cajun Cookin’ Restaurant. 

What I didn’t know is that Boudreau and Thibodeau are the Cajun version of Minnesota’s Ole and Lena…a source of local humor.  The restaurant is festooned with jokes about Boudreau and Thibodeau.  Here’s an example:

“PARAMEDICS NEEDED - Thibodeau and Boudreau were hunting when Boudreau grabs his chest and falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, and his eyes are rolled back in his head.  Thibodeau whips out his cell phone, calls 911 and tells the operator, "I think Boudreau is dead! What should I do?"   

The operator, in a calm soothing voice says, "Just take it easy and follow my instructions. First, let's make sure he's dead."   There is a silence -- then a shot is heard. Thibodeau's voice comes back on the line, "Okay, now what?"

This is a popular local restaurant in Houma and it was busy!  We had to wait a few minutes for a table.  In some ways, the décor reminded us of a north woods dinner ‘club’. 

 

Instead of a boring square lighted and vibrating pager, Boudreau and Thibodeaux provide one in the form of a crawfish.  Give them an “A” for imagination!

Can you say “kitsch”?  This restaurant ‘owns’ south Louisiana/Cajun kitsch!  This stuffed alligator with the crab pot and the New Orleans Saints jersey pretty much exemplifies the theme appropriate décor at Boudreau and Thibodeau’s Restaurant.

Just for grins, here’s another Boudreau and Thibodeau joke…

“Marie walked into de kitchen and saw Boudreaux with a fly killer. (Fly Swatter) She axe him, “Any Luck?”  He said, “Yah, tree males and two females.”  Marie axed, “Mais chere, how can ya tell em apart?”  Boudreaux said, “Mais dats easy … tree were on dat beer can and two were on the telephone."

This was our appetizer, the Fried Dill Pickles. ($4.99) They were very good! There is a lot of variety to choose from among the appetizers.  

Unlike the locals and a number of our friends back up in East Tennessee, we’ve never learned to like crawfish.  One of the more popular appetizers at Boudreau and Thibodeau’s is the Crawfish Kickers. ($6.99) For this treat, crawfish tails and spices are ground together to form six spicy breaded and fried balls. 

Laurie’s entrée was the Red Snapper Robichaux. ($14.99) This was a red snapper filet seasoned and grilled, then drizzled with home-made lemon cream sauce an’ topped with’ toasted almonds.  It came with a green salad and the side pictured below.  She enjoyed her dinner...

Laurie’s other side were Boudreau and Thibodeau’s homemade potato chips.  While we’ve had better, these were pretty good.

Time for one more joke…

“Boudreaux Sure Can Paint - Boudreaux, a good old boy from South Louisiana, while not a brilliant scholar, was a gifted portrait artist. His fame grew......and soon people from all over the country were coming to South Louisiana to have portraits done.  Dah boy could Paint! ......and it looked good too!

One day, a stretch limo pulled up to his house. Inside the car was a beautiful woman, and she asked Boudreaux if he would paint her in the nude.  This was the first time anyone had made this request of Boudreaux.  The woman said money was no object; she was willing to pay $50,000.  Not wanting to get into trouble with his wife, Boudreaux asked the woman to wait while he went in the house and conferred with Clotille, his missus.

In a few minutes, he returned.... and said to the lady,  "I can do dat, ain't no big thang.  I'll paint ya in da nude, but I gotta leave my socks on.......... so I have a place to wipe my brushes."

Dawn ordered the Grilled Chicken Alfredo. ($11.99)  For her sides she had a green salad and some macaroni and cheese.  The mac ‘n cheese and our Fried Pickle appetizer ‘saved’ dinner for her.  Her pasta was terrible…flavorless and clumpy! 

FYI… Acadians-Creoles or Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the state of Louisiana.  The estimated population of Cajuns in the USA is 1.2 million.  This group consists of the descendants of Acadian exiles. (French-speakers from what are now known as Canada’s Maritimes Provinces).  The Acadian Creoles make up a significant portion of south Louisiana's population and they’ve exerted an enormous impact on the state's culture.   To learn more about Cajuns, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cajun.

I don’t remember who ordered the Fried Onion Rings.  As a side, they cost only $1.99.  I don’t eat onion rings but Dawn Marie thought they were pretty good and Laurie thought that they were excellent!

As usual, I went for a truly ‘healthy’ entrée!  This is the country fried steak dinner with white gravy. ($11.99) There was a lot of it and it was pretty darn good too…

The food at Boudreau and Thibodeau’s is reasonably priced and plentiful.  Except for Dawn’s pasta dish, the food was very good.  Our server was OK and friendly.  This locally owned restaurant has been in business since 1998 and it’s definitely a family-friendly establishment.

 

Boudreau and Thibodeau's Cajun Cookin Seafood Restaurant is located at 5602 West Main Street in Houma Louisiana.  Phone: (985) 872-4711.  Website: http://bntcajuncookin.com/.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by to check out what was for dinner!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave