The Taco Sisters: Home of the Smoked Fish Taco

The Taco Sisters, Home Of The Smoked Fish Taco
407 Johnston Street, Lafayette, Louisiana
Thursday, April 26, 2012
http://www.tacosisters.com

Thanks to a tip by my good friend Bernard Ussher, excellent judge of food, music, and what's happening in and around Lafayette, I found the Taco Sisters eatery back in 2011. Co-owner Molly Richard wipes her hands on her apron and comes out to say hello when I show up for lunch again.

This little shop is the best food value in Lafayette. The quality and quantity ratio in each serving is phenomenal. The Richard (pronounce Ree-Shard, accent on second syllable - this is Cajun Country, remember?) sisters put out food they are be proud of. Good for us, not so hot for their bottom line. Their accountant tells them to choose: price hikes or decrease the quality/quantity ratio. They bumped the prices up earlier this year, their accountant says bump again or else. They still resist.

In my humble opinion, their loyal customers realize the sisters do this as an act of love, not charity, and they put out food to die for. Keep the quality, add a few cents to the cost.

They buy their seafood and produce locally and proudly point that out to customers, who get the message. Coming to lunch here is pumping money into the local economy. And it's pumping fabulous food into my stomach. Their Pico de Gallo is an exquisitely chopped medley, some by a robo-cutter but much by hand. The tiny pieces of farm fresh green onions, celery, green pepper, and red pepper explode like edible confetti when I bite into my smoked Gulf shrimp taco. The delicate sauce that whispers over the ingredients is wonderfully subtle, almost Japanese in concept, and ignites the taste of everything it washes over

Color isn’t confined to the inside of the taco. The effect of sister Katy Richard's green thumb has introduced a riot of hues in the garden next to the picnic tables. As soon as the hollyhocks begin to lose their blush, she'll replace them with mounds of zinnias that will bloom for the rest of the season.

No matter how crazy busy the line outside gets, everyone inside the Taco Sisters roadside stand is upbeat and smiley. You'll be all smiley too after you've eaten lunch there.

Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.

 

 

Comments

[Molly Richard]

Thanks, Paul!!! That is really great of you!! I will be sharing this on our TS FB page... hope you are having a wonderful December! It is raining here today and the high temp will be 79 degrees! Still wearing shorts in Lafayette...