Get Your Slurp On: Soupspiration in Baton Rouge

by Sydney Blanchard

Baton Rougeans: what have we done to deserve this? Who have we displeased? 

Because I am 1000% done with this weather.

I want to run errands without worrying about my car turning into a boat. I'd like to leave my house without getting soaked to the bone. Ideally, it would be cool if people could stop getting into wrecks.

Really, I've only come to one conclusion here. We all need to just stay in and sleep. Skip work, play hooky from school, and binge watch the newest season of Hemlock Grove.

We're not going to judge you.

Here's some local soupspiration to either fantasize about, try to recreate at home, or heck, have GoButler deliver it straight to your door.

Lemongrass Soup at Thai Kitchen

This soup is guaranteed to get your sinuses right. Trust me.

Pho at Dang's

By now, you should be aware of our obsession with Dang's. They're even using this blog post as their listed website on Facebook.

Black Bean Soup at MJ's Cafe

Since we all just found out that red meat is "carcinogenic" to human, I figured I'd include a vegetarian option for those of us affected by the new Red Scare.

Duck and Andouille Gumbo at The Chimes

No one makes gumbo as well as my grandma, but The Chimes is a pretty close second. 

Curried Pumpkin Bisque at Latil's Landing

This curry, pumpkin, and crawfish blend is both seasonal and life-affirming.

Month of Salads #6: MJ's Café

The peach and blueberry salad at MJ's Café

MJ's has been one of my favorite hidden gems in Baton Rouge for several years now. Despite my carnivorous ways, popping in to MJ's for a freshly made soup, vegetarian sandwich, or a locally constructed salad really hits the spot for me at lunch time. Maureen Joyce, the owner, has always made it a point to serve the freshest and most local ingredients she can get her hands on. While she has a regular menu, I tend to stick to the rotating soups and salads of the day. This particular salad was made with fresh Louisiana peaches and blueberries atop a bed of mixed greens, fresh feta cheese, and roasted Louisiana pecans. The flavors worked so well that once Blair finished Instagramming and eating her cup of pinto bean soup, she took one bite of the salad and proceeded to praise the merits of the fresh flavors and diverse textures until her bowl contained no more. If you're ever in the mood for something amazingly delicious and local, stop in and let Maureen set you up!

Freshness Rules at MJ's Café

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad

Nothing makes food more delicious than a heaping side of positivity. When you walk into MJ’s Cafe on Jefferson Hwy. you’ll most likely be greeted by Maureen Joyce herself. I like to belly up to the bar of freshness and chat about life, but during most lunch shifts the small restaurant gets so crowded that you might not find a seat. If you sit in the back corner as I did on my last visit, you'll see a chalkboard room divider full of helpful positive tips for your day. It’s little things like this and Maureen’s interactions with customers that warms my heart more than her soups ever could, although in no way is that a slight to the pots of liquid nourishment.

MJ’s is a great little lunch spot and is doing special edition dinners every month now. Swing by and ask Maureen about the details of the next dinner and see what’s on tap for lunch during the week. To those of you who haven’t visited yet, I’d describe it as a mainly vegetarian place in a way that’s not blatantly vegetarian. Sure, most of the options are veggie friendly, but I don’t feel like I’m missing any flavor when I bite into one of her dishes. Plus, there is a sandwich that has shrimp, so you don't have to go strictly vegetarian! To put it simply, MJ’s Café is a delight and it is time that you know about it.

MJ's Black Bean Soup

MJ's makes a mean quiche and a plethora of soups and sandwiches, but what really caught my eye on the last visit was the Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad. People have this inherent stigma against Brussels sprouts. Nobody must have cooked them right in the 80s. If you have never tried roasted Brussels sprouts, you are missing out. Maureen just got a fresh batch of them from the Farmer’s Market (where she get the ingredients for almost all of her dishes) and I couldn’t resist. With fresh spinach, pine nuts, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and delectable vinaigrette, this salad was hearty and light all at the same time. Just what I needed amid my constant diet of craft beer and grease.

That being said, I couldn't just stop after a salad. Anytime Maureen has her black bean soup on the menu, I can't resist. It came loaded with tasty beans and ripe vegetables. This is a true treat of a vegetarian friendly soup. There is no lack of flavor just because Maureen doesn't start with a bacon base. Her soups, and everything else for that matter, hold up well no matter what sort of food you might be looking for. Just do yourself a favor and get there early!