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Full-size, full-service Vietnamese restaurant that serves the standards as well as Southern variants such as crawfish in lemon grass ($9.98). Fine, but nothing special; a little too chewy. Would probably come across better if it preceded rather than followed K-Paul's shrimp and crawfish étouffée.
Kim Son
349 Whitney Ave., Gretna, Louisiana
504-366-2489
A crowd of seeming regulars, a half-hour wait, less than zero atmosphere…a hidden gem? Not to judge by the ya ka mein (medium; $5), which was dull and lacking pepper, despite all the beef.
The Real Pie Man
1701 Franklin St., Gretna, Louisiana
504-362-4545
(This location is closed.) Iced tea with free refills ($1.25).
CC's Coffee
Huey P. Long Ave. at 4th St., Gretna, Louisiana
(one of many locations)
Garlic, peaches, and persimmons were a few of many pickled items on offer; I opted for a pint of fresh, wild blackberries ($3) that, though more sweet than tart, had less flavor than I hoped.
Clyde's Farm
Poplarville, Mississippi
at the Saturday farmer's market,
Huey P. Long Ave. at 4th St., Gretna, Louisiana
A pint of Pontchatula strawberries ($1.50) were very sweet, with lots of flavor, even in the runty ones I expected to be acidic.
Dale and Heather Robertson
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
at the Saturday farmer's market,
Huey P. Long Ave. at 4th St., Gretna, Louisiana
(This venue is closed.) Housemade boudin wasn't readily available so close to New Orleans, but even this brand-name rendition, a spicy link of LeBlanc's (99 cents), didn't leave the parking lot. The setting might have been improved by a pickup truck to lean on — but if I had wheels, I would have headed westward for stuff-it-yourself country.
J's Po-Boys
1 Fifth St., Gretna, Louisiana
This Creole-style praline (1.5 oz.; $1.75) was preceded by an equal weight of samples in creamy and chocolate varieties.
Aunt Sally's Praline Shop
810 Decatur St., New Orleans
800-642-7257
(This venue is closed.) Sandwiches, fried seafood, plus a six-flavor selection of Hubig's (89 cents), including the only appearance of strawberry I spotted during my visit.
People's Grocery and Deli
806 Conti St., New Orleans
The too-variable texture of this blackberry sno-ball (small; $2) ranged from slushy to crunchy, like a New York sidewalk after a particularly sloppy snowfall.
Sno-Ball stand
in the French Market, New Orleans
Though crowded to overflowing with spices, mixes, sauces, and the like, this store's family-owned packing plant, east of New Orleans, was destroyed by Katrina; the variety of seafood here at the market simply can't be what it was. Tony Chacere's Original Creole Seasoning (8 oz.; $1.99) awaits BBQ season.
French Market Seafood
1101 North Peters St., New Orleans
800-207-5691
Thank you!
