Would the owner there be Chef Menteur? Lori Edward B. wrote: > > Bonnie's > US 61 at the Bonnet Carre Spillway > (St. Charles Parish Side) > ***** > > There are a few places that are worth of a pilgrimage outside of the > traditional boundaries of metro New Orleans. Mosca's over in Waggaman, > Middendorfs up in Manchac are two of these. There's a not as well-known > place out by the spillway that also stands out as one of the great in the > city. Bonnie's isn't just a roadside diner--it's actually located in the > spillway. You park along the levee separating Norco proper from the > spillway and walk out a pier to the restaurant. Usually you need the pier > just to keep out of the mushy ground in the spillway, but right now the > gates at the river are open, so there's a raging torrent of water flowing > below Bonnie's. The US Army Corps of Engineers decided two weeks ago to > open the Bonnet Carre Spillway to take some of the pressure off of the > Mississippi River just north of New Orleans. A portion of the river flow > is re-directed down the spillway to Lake Pontchartrain whenever the Corps > determines that the river may rise above flood stage (17 feet) at New > Orleans. The spillway was completed in 1936, was first opened in 1937, and > was last opened in 1984. Bonnie's has been there right near Airline Hwy > for as long as I can remember. > The most unique thing about Bonnie's is that their menu is based primarily > on the spillway's ecosystem. The recommended appetizer, for example, is > the Nutria Basket, which nutria andouille wrapped in a basked of puff > pastry and garnished with a Southwest Corn Salsa. You just can't get > nutria like this anywhere in the area. The turtle soup is also good, thick > and rich. The best entrees are usually the crawfish specials, when in > season. Mind you, no Chinese tails here--these are good spillway mudbugs. > The spillway opening has presented some complications for Bonnie's, > however, since the flood of fresh water has run off the animals they > regularly catch for the evening's customers. They've been through this > before, however, so now the specials revolve around the fresh-water catch > of the day, right off the back porch. If you like fresh fish, you're in > for a real treat. > > One of the things about many restaurants in New Orleans is that many folks > don't realize that they do a good steak as well as the Creole and seafood > dishes we've come to expect. Bonnie's is one of these restaurants. I'm > told they get their beef from the same people that Ruth's Chris uses, which > ought to tell you something about the quality. Bonnie's has long been a > haven for politicians on their way up to Baton Rouge, and you just have to > have a solid steak selection on your menu. Bonnie's does a great 12-ounce > filet, but the 12-ounce New York Strip is my favorite. It seems a bit > incongruous to be digging into a sizzling steak in the middle of an area > that is usually representative of South Louisiana's wetlands, but you can't > do a power meal with a state senator any other way. Bonnie's is a very > popular place for political liaisons, particularly when the legislature is > in session in the spring. Its most attractive feature is that many people > who aren't originally from New Orleans don't even know the place exists. > That's a great way to avoid many federal employees. The two back dining > rooms at Bonnie's are regularly occupied with the movers and shakers of the > area, looking for a level of privacy you just can't get at a place in the > city. > > So, whether you go for the fish or the steak, don't forget Bonnie's. The > floodgates are scheduled to be opened for another two weeks, so Bonnie's > will be for a while the closest thing you can get to eating right in the > middle of the Mississippi. > > New Orleans > 4/1/97 > Happy Opening Day! > > --- > Edward J. Branley [email removed] > Seashell Software, New Orleans, LA, USA > Visit Virtually New Orleans: http://www.yatcom.com/neworl
New Orleans, LA