Bill Broderick|Battle Creek Enquirer
I'm not a food critic, and I don't even play one on TV. So don't confuse me with those food show guys (although my classic car is cooler than the one that other guy on Food Network has) but I do like to eat.
I'm just the sports editor at the Enquirer and that means I've eaten at a lot of different places while on the road covering games. So getting to sample some of the best food in the Battle Creek area seems like a good idea. I was able to trick the Enquirer's WOW editor Annie Kelley into letting me do it, so here is Bill's Bites.
Bill's Bites goes Cajun
Battle Creek Enquirer sports editor Bill Broderick samples alligator tail bites and seafood gumbo at Pasche's Seafood Kitchen.
John Grap/The Enquirer
Who dat says there's real Cajun food in Battle Creek?
Turns out you don't have to head to the Big Easy to get a taste of Louisiana as we found out Pasche's Seafood Kitchen offers authentic seafood with a Cajun flare for us northerners 'round here.
And while Bill's Bites likes Cajun flavors in most anything, as Bill sprinkles Tony Chachere's on everything from meat to eggs, we wanted to take it up a notch. So we headed to Pasche's to get the real thing and ordered a sampling of alligator and seafood gumbo.
When you walk into Pasche's you are transported to New Orleans right away, with good southern jazz music, photos of Louisiana gators on the wall and Louisiana gator on the menu. We felt like we might have been down in the Crescent City, sitting at a table in the French Quarter, ready for some gator, some gumbo and some good times, the kind you can only get from a place inspired by the home of Mardi Gras.
Best time to eat this is the weekend
When the Bill's Bites crew arrived, the cozy restaurant with a warm feel and smooth jazz offered us a quiet mid-day, mid-week setting to enjoy our Cajun concoctions. But our hostess said it's not always like that, as the restaurant often becomes a party atmosphere on the weekends for people heading to Firekeeper's Casino, which is right next door. So if you have some beads and you want to add a little New Orleans flavor to your dining experience, then Pasche's might be your place. The menu offers a full slate of Louisana-inspired items — including Po'boys and muffaletta sandwiches to crawfish and jambalaya.
If you like that kind of thing, this dish is Cajun — f'sure
The reason for our trip to Pasche's Seafood Kitchen was to find some Cajun food from the Crescent City right here in the Cereal City. Checking out the menu, the best example seemed to be classic seafood gumbo and something a little outside of the box, in alligator tailmeat. It was a good choice on both.
The alligator tailmeat, also known as Gator Bites, was tender chunks of gator deep-fried in a light batter. You could taste the made-from-scratch style in every chomp of this gator, which was very tender and cooked perfectly. Some will say that gator "tastes like chicken," and while it is a white meat, it has a sweeter taste than chicken and more flavor.
The gumbo had a classic creole taste featuring fresh ingredients such as okra, bell pepper and celery in a dark roux. With seafood chunks and some rice to give it some bite, this gumbo had NOLA in every spoonful.
As a sports guy, this dish reminds me of Bobby Boucher
The classic Adam Sandler character from "The Waterboy" comes to mind whenever you think of Louisiana, as Pasche's would be the first place Bobby Boucher would head to if his team the South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs were to come to Michigan to play football.
The linebacker, who could give a big hit, would love himself some gator and gumbo and would be sure to bring his mama around the Seafood Kitchen to eat come dinner time.
I'm not a food critic, but if you asked me I'd describe this by sayingBam!
Real New Orleans flavor and Cajun food right here in Battle Creek? To quote another Food Network alum this column steals from....Bam!
Just like Mr. New Orleans himself Emeril Lagasse might say, the chance to enjoy real Cajun flavors in dishes around here might make you just exclaim Bam!, if it's done right. And they do Cajun cuisine right at Pasche's Seafood Kitchen.
Bill's Bites
• This week's restaurant: Pasche's Seafood Kitchen.
• Item: Alligator tailmeat and gumbo.
• Cost: Alligator: $11.95; Gumbo: $5.95.
• Online: See video of visit by Bill's Bites to Pasche's Seafood Kitchen at battlecreekenquirer.com.
May I have your order?
Tell us about a favorite or unique food item at a local restaurant and Bill's Bites may make a visit. Send tips to bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com.
