A taste of New Orleans in the red stick

by: alex Temple - MSTv

I have to admit that during the holidays, I find myself missing New Orleans a little.  Of course, I don't miss the lack of real seasons; with the average temperature for Thanksgiving being a possible 80 degrees!   But, I do miss the real Creole food my mom used to cook for the day.

Now besides the food, ask any New Orleanian now living here about what they miss or find different about Baton Rouge; I'm sure the answers will be pretty similar: 1)What's up with the water?  And 2) Where the hell can I get a decent po-boy or meal in this town?  I dare you, go ask one of us!   Prove me right!!  Err, I digress..  Sorry..

Though I find that in this post-Katrina Baton Rouge, several other New Orleans transplants are easy to come by--and that includes some of the restaurants serving the same good food I called and remembered from home!  In this case, I'm talking about "Dempsey's" on Coursey Blvd here in Baton Rouge.

Like its New Orleans 9th ward mama restaurant, Dempsey’s is a small café that offers real New Orleans style po’boys (with I'm assuming is real Leindeheimer French bread!  Hell yeah!!) and food.  Also like the original N.O. site,  Dempsey's is small, but  cute and clean.  Though, it can sometimes come off as somewhat cramped and a bit loud.

For the most part, Dempsey’s offers great daily specials that are fairly reasonably priced. But, if you want the real taste, ya gotta pay the local fee.  After checking out the choice full menu, I decided to go with the special, Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya with Fried Catfish.  Yes, ya get two main entrees on one plate.  Hungry yet?

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The catfish was very fresh and nicely seasoned to perfection.   Then I tucked into the jambalaya that was piled high on the plate.  The jambalaya was pretty good, fulla meat with a good homemade taste.   But, even though the fish and rice made a great entree, I wanted the real deal--I needed gumbo!

Being extremely picky when it comes to gumbo, I was ready to be critical on how they prepared it here.  I loved the New Orleans Dempsey's, or Jack Dempsey's gumbo cause I knew whoever cooked it was a native.  But, would a 70+ mile distance make all the difference in taste and goodness? 

Well, after taking a couple spoonfuls of this hardy soup I have to say, its just as good.  Getting a gumbo with great flavor that doesn't skimp on the shrimp, chicken and sausage can always be a hit and miss, but Dempsey's does bring it home for the holidays--or anytime you're hungry.   

Its good to know you can find a real  taste of home even though you're not that far away from it.  And Dempsey's brings a great menu of authentic and delicious N.O. fare at a price you can respect and afford.  Heck, you know the food is good when a place this small has people waiting for a seat, of to order take-out.  Plus, this is an everyday thing too!

So, want some great food?  Then go check em out cause you have 2 choices of location in Baton Rouge: 13580 Coursey Boulevard & 7327 Jefferson Highway.  But, go early and grab a table cause it fills up fast.  Or, call in your order because they don't take seat reservations. 

Hmm, good, home-style food and po-boys, reasonable prices and there's usually a line to get it--yeah, now we're talking real New Orleans!

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