To Prepare For Gustav, I Ate Pie
September 7th
2008
Hello, Blake Makers. Gustav has come and gone, and we survived. Well, we lost the fence in our backyard, but we’re not complaining. We were going home to Alexandria, Louisiana for the long weekend, but our little holiday quickly turned into a week-long evacuation.
At first, it looked like Gustav was going to slam right into New Orleans, but right at the end, it jogged a little West, and hit Baton Rouge (and eventually Alexandria). People started going a little crazy in Central Louisiana, but as they were preparing (panicking), I ate pie.
Lea’s Lunchroom is in Lecompte, Louisiana which is about 20 minutes outside of Alexandria.
They are known for their pies, and I’ve always wanted to eat there (like literally all my life). I needed to get away, and get my mind off the storm.
Pie’s good at that.
It was lunchtime, and I was hungry, so I started with a plate of red beans and rice.
They were alright, but I think mine are better (two words, Blue Runner). To be honest, I just got the beans to justify eating a ton of pie. I guess I was right to feel a little embarassed, because the waitress looked at me funny when I ordered three slices.
From where I was sitting, I could see the glass case filled with pies - there had to have been at least 50 in the case.
Most of them were topped with gobs of tanned mounds of meringue. I browsed the list at my table, and chose banana cream (pictured above), coconut cream, and pecan.
Let’s take the banana and coconut at the same time since they were essentially the same pie.
Both had too much meringue, and their custards didn’t taste homemade. They didn’t have much flavor, or at least the kind of flavor I like. The banana contained large, awkward slices of the fruit, and the coconut was sprinkled with toasted flakes.
The pecan pie, however, was a horse of a different color. Its flavors were dark and deep and sticky - just like I like it.
The pecans weren’t whole, but chunky (I hate it when they’re minced). I’d go back to Lea’s just for another slice of this pecan bliss.
I actually bought a whole pecan pie to bring home, and ride out the storm with.
I bought the pie on Saturday. By Monday, it was history.
I don’t like to ruminate on these storms. They come. They go. We move on. But I just had to share a little glimpse of what we woke up to the day after Gustav came ashore.
I was hoping you all had faired okay. I am in SWFL-Fort Myers area so yep I know about weathering a storm or two. I usually attack brownies but pies would be every bit as good!!! Glad all was well. Aren’t the forces of nature incredible?
Posted by Judy on September 7th, 2008 at 3:26 pmLea’s Pie!!! I want, I want, I want, I want….
Especially since I have no power and worked 120 hours in the past 10 days…. (I’m at the State Emergency Operations Center in Baton Rouge and now we’re gearing up for Ike!)
Posted by Lindsey on September 8th, 2008 at 10:58 amI am so jealous. We used to eat at Lea’s on our way to and from camp each year. I went to camp Hardtner in Pollock. It was before 49 was finished and you had to get off at the Turkey Creek exit. I loved the pecan pie. But there were times that the chocolate pie called out to me. Hopefully this next storm will go somewhere else!
Posted by Amy on September 8th, 2008 at 6:32 pmPie..Pie..Pie..YUM!!! Hey…where was the video taken at? Here in Tioga or…there at your home in N.O?
Posted by Phyllis on September 8th, 2008 at 10:48 pmI think pie is an excellent alternative to panic! I could go for some right now…
Posted by brilynn on September 10th, 2008 at 1:25 pmThe Monroe area was a little more affected than we anticipated. We were pretty lucky, we only lost power for a few hours. That was a good thing as I could only find 3 measly candles, and my Dad was in from Texas and my sister was down from Arkansas to stay with us. I think Entergy actually turned it off themselves while they were fixing our road.
We did have road flooding and downed trees, that resulted in quite a few road closures. We’re good though.
I happened to eat at Lea’s in Monroe a couple of months ago. The food was just okay, but they do have beautiful natural light in the restaurant. Good atmosphere.
Posted by Becca Porter on September 10th, 2008 at 2:03 pmWhoa- that pecan pie is amazing….drools….
Posted by Carrie on September 11th, 2008 at 8:03 amThat pecan pie looks like it’s to die for. My husband LOVES pecan pie.
Posted by Kira on September 17th, 2008 at 1:14 pmI just had Lea’s coconut pie last night, my dad brought some home after passing through there yesterday.
Word to the wise… next time, just order a ham sandwich. Their ham sandwiches are amazing, and if you’re going to eat 3 pieces of pie, a ham sandwich is a much better starter!
Posted by nanettemwilson on October 1st, 2008 at 9:07 pm