Whaddya know about Doanld Link's new Couchon?
Lots of you probably saw Anderson's article on the new Cochon in Lafayette, taking his Citified Cajun back to the Heartland. Obviously he is targeting the River Ranch gang...God help a tourist who tries to navigate to his (or just about any) place in Lafayette. I'm wondering if anyone has tried it yet, prefereably someone who has been to the flagship store in New Orleans. Specifically, I'm curious as to things like boudin....is he using the same thing as the one in New Orleans? Or is he changing it for the more attuned boudin experts from the Cajun Prairie? It presents an interesting problem. From what I gather, he is making some adjustments. Not sure if the home folk will "go" for "hogs-head cheese shaved over fresh peas." I know I'd look at it and demand a big ole hunk of the stuff, preferably the light-in-color variety.
I have communicated with my A-Number-One Cajun spy and will transmit his verdict when it comes in. I am pre-disposed in Mr Link's favor even though I am no slave to the NOLA shop. [And if someone woould explain why there is any irony in serving iceberg lettuce salad in a Beard award restaurant I shall be duly grateful.]
-----
Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
By hazelhurst
on Oct 3, 2011 01:12 PM
View »
TYPO in title---for "Couchon" read "Cochon" Mebbe I shoulda taken typing....
Permalink | Reply
Yeah, I've been to the original Cochon a couple of times (good, but not great). I find Butcher to be a much more worthwhile stop.
Tried Cochon Laffy this weekend. Nice place. 2 great dishes (boucherie plate & zucchini/squash salad), 3 sub-par, but okay dishes (rabbit & dumplings, skirt steak and fried chicken livers) and 2 terrible dishes (oyster roast & cochon). Service needs work as well.
-----
Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Permalink | Reply
I think you're right. The critics there will be much harsher than those here in N.O. Most folks from Louisiana that I've brought to Cochon think it's rather ho-hum, unlike the folks from farther afield, who rave about the place.
I also wonder if the prices will be cheaper. You can get most of what Cochon sells on a 7 dollar blue plate special in laffy.
-----
Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Permalink | Reply
I have not been to the new location, but visiting the in-laws over the weekend (they live near River Ranch, and we were on the way to Meche's) we drove by. I liked the look of the place, down by the river. It seems to have the same kind of "country industrial" feel of the Tchoupitoulas location, but of course I didn't see the interior. My sister and brother in law went on one of the first nights, and they liked it. They said the menu was the same as here, but what's interesting is they (Lafayette born and bred) don't think of it as Cajun food, they think it's more citified and New Orleans than Cajun. Which is probably true. At any rate, I think it will be wildly popular among the River Ranch crowd. I don't think they'll really care too much where he sources the boudin.
Permalink | Reply
There's no doubt that the stuff in New Orleans is citified and that was my impression of the River Ranch shop as well. He remarked on having quality wine available and this is obviously not the sort of thing available at some Chevron Station in Jennings where the boudin might be great (although I don;t think of wine with boudin anyway). But the New Orleans boudin he has is not at all the liver-y kind I get all over Acadiana and that was one of the things I was wondering about. Will he jazz it up? Or will River Ranchers be more keen on something lighter? The comments (in the article) of the country people who ate in the New Orleans shop ("I can cook better than that") mirror exactly the opinions of everyone I know who gets out to Crowley or Basile.
Permalink | Reply
Definitely has that "country industrial" feel. Lots of blond wood. Polished cement bar w/ "work shop" stools. Black steel accents. Large plate glass windows overlooking the bayou. It's at least twice the size as the one on Tchoup.
Permalink | Reply
I noticed the "authentic feel" look of stacks of rice bags.
Permalink | Reply
It was an interesting article but I think T-Coon's is more my style. Cochon has never been in my N.O. top ten and I should give it more chances, but when I'm in the area Rio Mar or Emeril's calls louder.
I'll be interested to see if my New Iberia friends will be drawn to try the new Cochon.
-----
Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Rio Mar Restaurant
800 South Peters, New Orleans, LA 70130
Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130
Permalink | Reply
T Coon's is great.
Permalink | Reply
Apart from my A-No.-1 spy (supra), who make take awhile to report, I just wound up some of the Huval family. No promises as to when they will report in but this otta be loads of fun.
Permalink | Reply