Mandeville and Abita Springs, Louisiana

Thursday we drove across the 25 mile bridge over Lake Ponchartrain to Mandeville.  Now that was an experience! Mile after mile of water and bouncy roadbed on the bridge. We were meeting Boomers Cathy and John Robnik whom we have never met but who are friends of The Mossman’s. We were having lunch together before touring the Abita Springs Brewery. 

We ate at yet another Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives recommendation, Louie and the Redhead Lady in Mandeville.

That’s John and Cathy in front. Going around from the left is Jim Mossman, my Jim, Rich Deacon, then Terri Deacon, Linda Mossman and yours truly.

The restaurant is very small with the Triple D advertising outside.

                  

The “redhead lady” is Ginger and she is really into jewelry.  There is a small space to the side of the restaurant where she has a lot of cute earrings and bracelets for sale.

             

The food was a bit on the high side, especially those featured on the TV show.

Cathy had the fried green tomato appetizer	My eggplant parmesan
Linda’s disappointing crab cakes	All-you-can-eat shrimp for $10
That’s the whole length of the place	More earrings on the wall and display of seasoning for sale

Louie and the Redhead Lady was OK, but I don’t think I’d return except for the shrimp. It was a good buy at $10 with a light batter.

We were early for the brewery tour, so we stopped at the Maple Street Bakery for a coffee and dessert.  It’s located in a cute old house. The pastries were wonderful and I got my first taste of New Orleans chicory coffee.  It was fresh and strong and I really, really liked it.

      

At 1:30 p.m. we arrived at the Abita Brewery Company in Abita Springs.  They have an open bar where you help yourself.  You can have all the beer you want….the guys were in heaven.

We sat and sampled and sat and drank…then retried our favorites…my favorite was the root bear!!! I’ll stick with my Bud or Miller 64.

We went back across the long, long, long bridge over Lake Ponchartrain.  Even after stopping at the “little room” before we left, after the bouncy bridge crossing all that beer had us all racing for the rigs when we got home.  LOL

It was a whirlwind day for all of us – we certainly didn’t have to eat dinner that night!!!

Remember, you are loved.