UPDATE…
I’M SORRY TO SAY THIS WONDERFUL RESTAURANT HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED.
You don’t have to get on an airplane to explore other cuisines and cultures, and our lunch today was a prime example. We wanted our Indy grand daughters to experience authentic Cajun cuisine, and we only had to drive to downtown Carmel for the real thing!
I started by getting out a map of the United States. We talked about Louisiana, Cajun culture and Cajun foods. And to prepare the girls for their new dining experience I laid down “Meemaw’s Rules For Dining Out” before we left home.
Be willing to TRY EVERYTHING…At least one bite…But TASTE EVERYTHINGGood Manners Required…
So once the girls agreed to my terms, off we went to explore Cajun Country at Mudbugs Cajun Cafe!
Chef Roy LeBlanc (Mudbug’s owner and a true southern gentleman) remembered my hubby and me from our previous visit, so we felt like we were being welcomed home by an old friend. And that is EXACTLY the kind of greeting that makes people return again and again to a good restaurant.And Mudbugs is a GOOD restaurant. VERY good.
Since our grand daughters had never been there before, Chef LeBlanc brought out samples of ALL of his amazing dishes for them to try. While we waited for the samples, I asked the girls what they thought they might want to order. That’s when Claire got a very serious look on her face. She looked around the restaurant and said, “I want what it SMELLS like”. And right she was…the smells wafting from that restaurant kitchen were DELICIOUS!
The girls wasted no time in digging right in to those samples…and they soon made their choices.
And as for that platter of samples…
Soon that platter was only a memory…
The girls carried the empty platter up to the counter, and they simply pointed to the container that had contained each food they wanted to order. And Chef LeBlanc knew exactly what to prepare for each of them. (What a FUN way to order…and to learn!)
When our food arrived, MOST of us waited to dive in until we were all served…but Miss Claire simply could not contain herself!
Complete SILENCE engulfed our table as the girls experienced all the unusual and subtle Cajun flavors…and believe me when I say silence does NOT come naturally to those girls!
It warms my heart to experience these culinary firsts with our grand kids, since food memories will remain with them long after I’m gone.
After we all enjoyed our main course, I was anxious for the girls to try a special treat for dessert. Chef LeBlanc delivered two steaming hot baskets of those powdered sugar coated, puffy pastry pillows…delicious Beignets!
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| Beignets Ala Chef LeBlanc…and Three Happy Culinary Explorers |
The sweetest ending to a perfect lunch…
[…] everything before they ordered! (And if you ever find yourself in Carmel, Indiana…head to MudBugs Cajun Cafe on Main Street. Both the food and the chef are AWESOME!) UPDATE…I’M SO SORRY TO TELL […]