Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Breakfast at Lea's Pies
Posted by Wendy Rodrigue on Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 8:57 AM
This past Friday, as we returned from an art pilgrimage to the Alexandria Museum of Art, we visited an old favorite, Lea’s Lunch Room (est. 1928), located in the tiny town of Lecompte, Louisiana. It was ten years or more since my last visit.
We lived in Lafayette in those days and traveled by car each fall on book tour. Lea’s was our last stop before reaching home after weeks on the road, and I spent that final hour balancing eight pies on my lap, lest they slide or turn over in the backseat.
Although still a destination for many, the place really hopped in the 1950s before and after LSU games, when Highway 71 was the major road between Baton Rouge and Shreveport. Famous for their pies and ham sandwiches, Lea’s attracted not only football fans, but also preachers, politicians, and generally anyone looking to hold court.
“You got enough pictures so I can start eating this pie?” asked Wayne Fernandez.
“My dad grew up with Lea,” writes Teri Welch. “He drove a Stutz Bearcat down the gravel road that ran along Bayou Boeuf and was quite a figure. In later life, with his white hair, he resembled a slimmer Colonel Sanders. He also grew roses and orchids for a hobby. I remember them on the tables at the diner.”
After our sweet taste of central Louisiana, we took a slow ride south to Opelousas for lunch. On the way we passed the magnificent Seven Brothers Oak, just west of Washington on Hwy 103.
“You ever painted that?” asked Wayne.
“Nah, it’s too confusing,” replied George, as he coaxed in vain my sandaled feet towards the tree for a photograph. (I kept my distance, recalling my recent near-death experience in a Georgiana, Alabama graveyard.)
Speaking of graveyards, you can bury me here, I announced, as we wandered through a seductive cemetery in Washington, a Southern statement made all the more beguiling with its Confederate flags, massive oaks, plastic flowers, and blue-washed, crumbling tombs.
“These are the same tombs we sold,” explained George, recalling his family’s tomb business in New Iberia.
“We advertised them as air-tight; but it was a problem, because they floated up during the floods. In high school, my daddy sent me out with a sledgehammer to knock the corners off. Needless to say, they never popped up again.”
- George Rodrigue
- 'Saints on the Bayou,' 2009, 15x30 inches, oil on canvas
Ready for the next meal, we drove to Opelousas and the Palace Café, “Serving Fine Cajun Cuisine Since 1927.” The men dined on chicken fried steak and crawfish bisque, while I enjoyed my once-a-year po-boy (fried catfish, dressed).
As I paid the $26 bill, the guys flirted with our waitress, a pretty gal sporting Mel’s Diner attire and royal blue eye shadow.
“Have a Blue Dog pin,” offered Jacques.
“I don’t get it,” she replied.
“It’s by an artist from New Orleans.”
“Never been there. I don’t have a car,” she explained, as I added $20 to the tip.
From The Palace Café we drove to Joe’s Dreyfus Store and Restaurant, an old favorite in Lavonia. Regrettably, we couldn’t eat another bite, so we settled instead for photographs of the Christmas decorations, wreaths and icicles, lights blinking at the steady crowd of customers.
“Not too many of these places left,” said George, although after our morning, none of us believed him.
As we turned towards New Orleans, he paused one last time.
“Now you’d never know it,” he said, “but this started off as a nothin’ place.”
I rolled down the window for a picture.
“Sure wish I had one of those pies,” said Wayne.
Wendy Rodrigue (a.k.a. Dolores Pepper)
For an account of our artsy Alexandria adventure, see the post “Blue Dogs, Ghost Ranch and Mrs. Wertheimer” from Musings of an Artist’s Wife
Comments (5)
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Makes me want to get in the car and drive! Love your blog....keep up the great work!
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Wendy, a very nice story. Those places all bring back fond memories for me as well! Ken
Wendy,
Lea's brings back memories of traveling back to pharmacy school in Monroe from New Iberia. A stop at Lea's was manditory. And the guy talked very loud...a little deaf, but the pies and sandwiches were fantastic. Glad to see it's still there....not many of those places left.
Dickie
Thanks for the comments, everyone. Although I had fun writing the post, the research was SCRUMPTIOUS!
