A proper poboy and great cajun & creole cooking

[orythedog]

In my continuing journey for cajun and/or creole cooking, I went back to New Orleans Cafe in Hermosa Beach. For the second time in a month, I purchased a near perfect shrimp poboy stuffed with fried shrimp for a mere $12.95. First, lets talk about the bread. She purchases her bread fresh daily from the Manhattan Beach bakery. This is about the closest I have had in LA to real New Orleans french baguettes. From there they are properly warmed in the oven and dressed with mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, a little green onion and some cajun spice. Then, they load on the fried shrimp. I counted 13 shrimp on my sandwich. You also have the option of fried catfish, oysters, or hot links. A couple squirts of Crystal Hot Sauce, squeeze that puppy together tight and BLISS!!!!!

I also saw a gigantic bowl of Seafood Gumbo which looked awesome. On another table was a huge blackened fish fillet covered in etouffee. Still another table had a big pile of steamed crawfish with corn on the cob and potatos. Everything is cooked, chopped and served to order and it is the real deal. She gets all of her seafood from New Orleans.

I grew up in Texas and know my Cajun chow and this is the real deal. Call before you go to make sure they are open. Also, please be patient as she is sometimes a one woman operation. Still, I have not had better in LA and I've been to them all.

New Orleans Cajun & Creole
www.neworleanshermosa.com
140 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254-3606
[phone]

[epop]

anyone tried the gumbo and other Creole fare at NOIR in Pasadena?

[The comfort chef]

My husband took our teens out to eat, and we decided to try New Orleans Cafe in Hermosa Beach, and we were ALL disappointed. My husband 's family is from New Orleans, Louisiana, and we know good seafood dishes. The Shrimp Po'Boy was less than desirable. If you want a good Po'Boy try the Bayou Grill on LaBrea and 64th st, or Uncle Darrows on Lincoln off Washington in Marina Del Rey/Culver City. We also had the seafood combo platter. This was also very disappointing. She may get her seafood from New Orleans, but her recipes are from somewhere else. If you truly have been to all the restaurants as you say, then you would know that this place is not that great. Go to Uncle Darrow's, and Bayou Grill and then let me know your comparsions. There was another place name the Creole Cafe, but unfortunately they closed 2 yrs ago because the main chef was injured. If you ever had their food, you really would have been able to say you had the perfect shrimp Po'Boy & gumbo as closest to real New Orleans dishes you could eat. Yes, In Deed, you need to venture out of Hermosa Beach and expand your horizons.

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Uncle Darrow's
2560 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

New Orleans Cajun Cafe
140 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Bayou Grill
1400 N La Brea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302

[kevin]

creole chef, near the magic johnson theatres in the crenshaw plaza, good but not great. uncle darrow's is nothing special at all. but bayou grill was pretty good when i went there last.

[Phurstluv]

Gotta say, Uncle Darrow's is passable at best, more like cafeteria food at it's worst. I'd much rather give this place in Hermosa Beach a shot.

[epop]

I'd say lousy at best

[Phurstluv]

I totally agree, epop. I get the feeling it is more of a soul food place with some cajun offerings, but not an exclusively cajun place. Seems to me there's quite a bit of difference between what cajuns & creoles make, and what soul food, and regular LA. families make. I am just not as familiar with soul food as I am with cajun food.

[epop]

Yes, it is more of a soul food place. Doesn't excuse the quality of the food. One day I'll start making gumbo at home instead of going out for it and coming home disgruntled.

[a213b]

From this native Louisianian's experiences out here in LA, I would second your idea to make gumbo at home.

I've yet to find an even passable attempt dining out, and it's not hard ... just time consuming. Even a good roux isn't hard, just think risotto stirring for an hour and a half.

That being said I sure would love it if there IS somewhere with great Creole and/or Cajun.

[kevin]

Cafe n Awlins in Burbank was quite amazingly delicious for their murkey, dark, rouxy, soulful Seafood Gumbo as well as the best Louisiana crab cakes I have ever had along with great corn and potato slad on the side. And French chocolate silk pie w freshly whipped chantilly cream and their shrimp creole was pretty darn food too.

[a213b]

I shall have to give this a try!

[Peripatetic]

I believe Cafe N' Awlins is long gone: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/58018

[a213b]

Thanks. Figures.

Sigh ... the search for even passable Creole/Cajun continues.

[Phurstluv]

I hear ya, epop. I've been promising my DH I'd get around to learning how to make it, but have yet to try!! I just know it won't come close to the cajun stuff he was eating while at law school in Nashville!

[FoodKitCat]

"Proper" and "Poboy" in the same sentence? I get what you're saying, but I have to laugh at the choice of words............... there's something down and dirty about a PoBoy and it's not exactly proper.

[agruel]

Do we really know that all of this seafood comes from New Orleans? The shrimp season in the gulf is very limited and I highly doubt they are paying the 20 + dollars a pound to pay for US shrimp and losing money charging the prices that they do. 80% of the seafood eaten in the US is imported and in terms of shrimp 95% is imported.....

[sparkareno]

I'm looking for good jambalaya---would this be the place to go? Anyone tried it?

[Keith15]

I have recently moved to the East Coast, but lived forever in Hermosa. I bemoan having left every day, especially when I see great things being written about my favorite home town restaurants.
New Orleans was BY FAR our favorite restaurant around, let alone for Cajun food. Mama knocks every dish right out of the park. The Po' Boys are great! Red Beans and rice are to die for. Mac & Cheese is hearty and perfect every time. Wife's favorite is the Fried Chicken. Mama also does a crawfish stuffed chicken that is always good. Get yourself some french fried sweet potatoes, dusted with her cajun mixture of spices and then drizzled with honey. Seriously brings me right back home every time. Always save room for desert as she usually has a cobbler or her famous bread pudding. Go with friends so that you might have a chance to try more stuff.
Rajin' Cajun can't touch this place.

[JEN10]

Keith, enough said, I love this place!!! The gumbo is delicious, I need to try the crawfish stuffed chicken next time.

[kevin]

does she serve pommes souffles? or shrimp reomoulade?

[andytseng]

It's not your traditional shrimp po boy, but I love the sandwich they have at Cook's Tortas. Doesn't seem like Monterey Park would be on your side of town though.

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Cook's Tortas
1944 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754

[Nicole]

Thanks for the review, I've been thinking about checking them out. Out of curiosity, have you ever tried Rajun Cajun, which is nearby?

[orythedog]

It has been a couple of years since I went to Rajun Cajun. I remember not liking it. But that doesn't mean that I won't give it another chance.