'Cesar' salad from Modesto
On this particular day, I was looking for something on the menu that was light and refreshing -- something that wouldn't make me feel miserable after. I perused the menu at Modesto and bypassed my usual taco order to find the "Cesar" salad.
This dish isn't your typical Caesar salad. Instead, it comes with romaine lettuce, black beans, cotija cheese, grilled corn, spicy caesar dressing and crispy tortilla strips with the option to add grilled chicken, shrimp, skirt steak or tuna.
I opted for skirt steak. I was so pleasantly surprised.
First, the salad was massive. I had leftovers with poor hopes that it would be good the next day, but it was!
The tangy flavor of the dressing paired well with the salty cotija cheese, and the steak was cooked to perfection.
Modesto, 3930 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge (Lauren Cheramie, features coordinator)
Massaman curry from Duang Tawan
Pad thai is usually my go-to order at Duang Tawan restaurant, but for a Friday lunch, I wanted something warmer with more vegetables. Curry sounded just right.
I chose the Massaman curry with chicken, coconut milk, onions, bell peppers, potatoes and peanuts. For a lunch portion, the size was perfect for me. The sweet spices like cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg filled me up with cozy warmth on a rainy day. Lunch specials at Duang Tawan also come with a spring roll and a cup of Tom Yum soup.
For dessert, I got the Mango Sticky Rice, which was fresh and delightfully sweet.
Duang Tawan, 4850 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge (Joy Holden, Louisiana Inspired coordinator)
Garlic parmesan fries at Acadian Superette
This platter of fries are the kind that you keep picking at, long after realizing you're too full for one more bite.
Heaps of fresh parmesan and garlic are layered over crispy French fries, providing a perfect accompaniment to the Superette's celebrated line of sandwiches, burgers, po-boys and smoked meats. They are a bit pricey at $6 a serving, but the platter is more than big enough to share with a friend while enjoying these French fry flavor bombs (with a side of the Superette's house made sauce.)
Acadian Superette, 600 Lamar St., Lafayette (Joanna Brown, staff writer)