Surprise Supper from N’Awlins, Y’all!

Beer Guy surprised me by bringing home dinner tonight.  On his way home from getting a haircut he popped into a Queen City eatery called Bite Your Tongue and grabbed some yummies for dinner.

We first heard about Bite Your Tongue from the realtor who helped us find our townhouse 2 years ago.  He had a penchant for showing us as many good places to eat as he did good places to live.  What’s neat about this place is that it is owned by Katrina refugees that relocated to Charlotte.  The owner’s apparently had a similar business in New Orleans.   So when they found themselves in a new city they decided to make this their home by doing what they knew how to do best.

It’s located in a little, nondescript,  hole-in-the-wall building just a few blocks down the street from us.  The only reason we know it’s in there is because of folding sign they sit outside the door.  We’ve tried to go a couple times, but they’ve been closed every time we tried.  They are only open until lunchtime Monday-Friday and, unfortunately, we’ve only tried to go for dinner or lunch on Saturday.  They serve breakfast, lunch, “gourmet to go” take home dinner, and offer catering services.  (Much to my dismay, begnets are not included on the breakfast menu. Of course, that’s probably good for my waistline as this establishment is located just down the street.)

Happily, the sign caught the BG’s eye during their actual business hours today so he seized the opportunity and grabbed us some dinner.

He brought home some Gumbo “Lulu”…

and some Shrimp & Grits…

and picked out a beer with an appropriate Louisiana-esque name to accompany  this Cajun cuisine – the Abita Andygator!  You’ve gotta love that name!

(I certainly enjoyed it, but I’ll let him give you his thoughts on that later.)

Like any good Southern girl, I had some biscuits in the freezer.  So I popped those babies in the oven, divvied up the entrees so we could each have a little of both and… Ta Da!

Dinner from N’Awlins in a flash, y’all!

I LOVED the gumbo!  But, frankly, I’ve had better Shrimp & Grits.  That’s to be expected, though.  Shrimp & Grits is a Low Country thing…not a NOLA thing. (Not to bite the hand that fed me, but if I had been choosing the entrees I would have chosen the gumbo and another signature New Orleans dish like jambalaya, shrimp creole, or crawfish etouffee.  But I’m not complaining…)

Mmmm…Shrimp & Grits.  Oh, how I adore them!  I’d love to expound upon that, but that’s a post for another day.

Like the building that houses them, their website leaves a little to be desired.  But who cares what their website looks like as long as they can cook, right? I didn’t love their Shrimp & Grits, but I’ll give ’em props for their Gumbo!  I’m willing to bet that their signature N’Awlins dishes (which, according to the website, change daily) are pretty awesome as well.  So if you are in the Queen City, are craving a little Cajun cooking, and can get there when the doors are open, go ahead and Bite Your Tongue!

Cheers, y’all!