Sweet Pea's Diner

[gregw98]

Strap on the feedbag Myrtle, we going to Ryan's.

[willyb_farmgirl]

bon appetit! lol

[onceuponatime]

Everything served at Ryans, comes out of a can or is pre-preparded by huge food service companies.  That is why, when dining out, everything always tastes the same.  If I go to Ryans, I only eat off the salad bar and can look to see..it is a fresh product.  Eating off the other parts, you get a dose of msg or other things put into the pre-cooked items.  Eating out at places that use food service companies, makes tasting the food for hours afterward,...if not days.

[Heavy2804]

I have a relative who works for a large food broker in New Orleans. What you say about Ryans is true, but also many of the famous New Orleans restaraunts also use pre bagged or pre canned foods. You would be amazed at which supposedly great restaraunts do this.

[onceuponatime]

Nope, not surprised.  Steaks comes, with pre-marked grill marks...just need to be heated up.  Almost everything on the menu comes prepared.  That is one of the main reasons I love JD's Bristo...all fresh made...you can walk outside and see the BBQ grilling your dinner..you can clearly see, it is not pre-pared meat..everything from scratch.  Worth the time waiting for your food.  Made with skill and love.  Darnell is a hoot.

[willyb_farmgirl]

Does anyone have a menu for J&D?  Do they have shrimp or oyster po boys at lunch?

[Thinker]

I have a relative who works for a large food broker in New Orleans. What you say about Ryans is true, but also many of the famous New Orleans restaraunts also use pre bagged or pre canned foods. You would be amazed at which supposedly great restaraunts do this.

Yep, The Gumbo Shop on St. Peter street does not cook anything in the restaurant.  But they do run a huge production kitchen commissary at another location that has huge 100 gallon steam gumbo pots.  They make a ton of money on three or 4 kinds of gumbo..

[gregw98]

My pre-Katrina neighbor was K-Pauls nephew and he work there.  Before K-Paul's he work for Houston's, and he said both places used pre-cooked steaks and most of the side dishes were also frozen.  I asked if they got to bring home any food not served, live daily special stuff.  He said, "Hell no, you would get fired for that.  They re-seal it in bags, freeze it and serve it next week".  He also told me that the kitchen was open to the courtyard and they use to see rats out there.  I didn't ask if any came in the kitchen.