Its rare that I use my space here on e:strip to endorse a product or service, but this time has to be different - I think I found my new favorite spot.

Yesterday e:jason and I went down to Hardware after work to drink some Westmalle Dubbel (oh, and we got let in on a couple secrets they keep in the cooler) when I thought about food. Where the hell are we going to eat? I looked out the window across the street at Lagniappes. I thought, "Oh, I read about this guy (gulp) on Buffalo Rising's website!" BRO readers gave the place a ringing endorsement so I had to check it out. Besides, they have po'boys and I haven't had a proper one since I was last in New Orleans.

Its a small place but I'm telling you, the place smells like love. I'm sorry but there is nothing like a small area smelling fragrant with the creole spices in the air. When a place smells that great, you just know that the food is going to be good. Bottom line - I love this kind of food. I ordered the fried oyster po'boy with remoulade, and e:jason ordered a fried soft shell crab po'boy. I also got an order of the jambalaya to share with my brother.

I didn't get to the jambalaya and in fact its sitting in my fridge, which is a shame because I did have a bite of it and its freaking lovely. I loved my sandwich - you get a choice of side and I went for the black eyed peas. Absolutely delicious. For a side e:jason went for the fried okra - I nicked one when he wasn't looking and agreed with him after letting him know I stole one that they were excellent.

This is not your normal sandwich shop though - the man in the kitchen is an award winning chef. I think it would have been more pragmatic to skip the extra entree I ordered and went for the gumbo. There is little pretentious about the place, with the possible exception of artwork on the wall created by local artists.

Lagniappes dinner hours are Tuesday - Saturday, from 4pm - 2am, and lunch hours are Tuesday - Friday from 11am - 2pm. Read carefully - no Sundays or Mondays. They also deliver if you are so inclined. Here is their website - - give them a try if you haven't. The desserts are listed on their menu as "Fresh Selections Daily - Please Ask." So, for me the only question left is this - where are the beignets?

Quick note - the prices on the online menu are wrong - a few items have gone up a buck or two. A good example is the jambalaya I ordered - originally it was $8 and I paid $10 last night. Nor am I complaining about it really. Keep in mind that their prices are subject to change without notice. The priciest thing on the entire menu is their cajun sampler, at $19 - it includes crab cake, jambalaya, red beans and rice, a cup of gumbo and fried oysters. It must be a mountain of food and I'm sure that it would be a great meal to share with a like minded person of the opposite sex (or same sex, depending on your persuasion). You know, creole spice smells in bed aren't a turnoff for me. Does that make me weird?

Jack shit.



I suspect that this is the closest thing to an honest day's work he's ever put in, so I have to admit I feel conflicted. Does he deserve scorn or does he deserve praise for this effort?

I received an e-mail from Buffalo.com about a free "seminar" being hosted by the Buffalo News tonight regarding citizen journalism. I have a proper rant to launch on this topic later on. Suffice it to say, as usual I have found something (or things) to be skeptical about. Some of you may be compelled to see it my way - I'll lay out the evidence and let you decide.

Today I will find out if O3 Cafe in Snyder has decent food. O3 Cafe is located within the Snyder location of Everything Elmwood - there really is nothing like selling our neighborhood character to the burbs directly, is there?

Sorry - I am a technological Luddite when it comes to phones. I've solicited e:paul's advice but I haven't gotten my bootleg Nokia phone yet. In other words, there will not be any pictures of the food!

I actually have a food question for y'all. I've heard of a few new local joints in and around Allentown have opened up. Seeing as I rarely make it south of West Ferry for anything other than booze, what can you guys tell me about the Quaker Bonnet and Steel Crazy?

I swear I'm going to skin somebody alive if this happens again. 3:30am this stupid fucking bastard screamed at the top of his lungs 'ASSSSSHHHHLLLLLEEEEEYYYYYY!" Finally, after the third time, I got up, ran to my window, opened it and snarled/shouted "SHUT UP!!!" I don't think I've ever sounded so primal. They got the message and left.

I have to admit I'm beginning to harbor major resentment and sooner or later its going to be impossible to be nice about it. This moron must really not realize that he's waking up an entire neighborhood. I'm simply going to begin calling the police, or in lieu of police, I'm breaking out the supersoaker and it will be filled with synthetic deer urine scent.