By Jeanni Ritchie
CenLa loves anything new. We line up in droves for grand openings. We flood our feeds with photos and experiences of the latest restaurant, the coolest craze, or the newest attraction.
And then we move on.
But I’m going to tell you why Bernard’s is different.
First, they are more than just a restaurant. Walking in, you are immersed in Cajun culture. Specialty gifts line the shelves: a gumbo welcome mat, an LSU ice bucket, Louisiana dish towels…
One entire wall is loaded with frozen meats. Dad and I flipped them all over to check prices. Seasoned pork chops, meat pies, bacon-wrapped chicken thighs…with costs comparable or cheaper than what you find in grocery stores.
I’ll go back to pick some up soon. Today was all about hot, fresh food.
We ordered one plate lunch—enough to feed two people—which changes daily. Today was chicken and sausage jambalaya. It was delicious. It also came with green beans and potato salad.
But we wanted to check out some of the other fresh menu items, so we also ordered a meat pie, crawfish pie, pepperjack boudin wrap, and half a pound of cracklins.
All food is to-go so we had to wait until we got home to try everything. Minus the cracklins, of course. They were Dad’s appetizer and he munched on them all the way home. He’s still munching on them and we finished eating an hour ago!
I took his word for it that they were good. (There’s still a lot of city in this country girl!)
My favorite of the entire spread was the crawfish pie, with the plate lunch jambalaya and original meat pie a close second. Dad’s favorite was the boudin wrap and jambalaya. And, of course, those cracklins!
In addition to the specialty frozen meats, plate lunches, and the grab-n-go hot foods, they have an entire heat and eat menu.
With affordable prices and delicious taste, you can put a home-cooked meal on your table in minutes. Heat & Eat items include seafood gumbo, shrimp étouffée, crawfish and corn bisque, meatball stew, stuffed potatoes, cornbread dressing, fried chicken tenders, potato wedges, and more.
Bernard’s has it all. Pick up a gift for your sister-in-law’s birthday, a hot boudin ball for an afternoon snack, and a pint of red beans and sausage for dinner all at the same time.
And even though I didn’t get one, it did not escape my attention that they had Coca-Cola fountain products. We all know that is my true love language.
Check them out. Even if you have to eat your lunch in the car, it’s worth it!
Bernard’s Specialty Meats
1235 Texas Ave.
Alexandria, LA 71301
Hours: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
