Tim's Kitchen: Down Home Blue Plate Louisiana

Tim’s Kitchen
1000 Albertson Parkway
Broussard, LA

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

I can always count on my friends Bernard and Mark to take me to good ol’ classic restaurants when I visit Lafayette. Today’s excursion, Tim’s Kitchen at 1000 Albertson Parkway in nearby Broussard.

“This is one of our favorite ‘Plate Lunch’ places”, says Mark as we drive by barren sugar cane fields and new condo developments springing up as older cane fields disappear around the outskirts of Lafayette.

The interior of Tim’s Kitchen is fresh and new since it’s been in business since early November 2018. What’s on the menu however are staples of down home SW Louisiana food for decades.

The first thing you see after entering the well lit place featuring a counter and about a dozen tables is the list of Plate Lunch Specials detailed in beautiful colored chalk writing on the wall at the back of the room. Monday – Friday. Today, Wednesday, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Smothered Liver, Hamburger Steak, Baked Chicken and Chicken Fried Steak.

“I had the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo the day Beverly and I found the place,” says Mark, a devotee of Plate Lunch restaurants. That’s all I needed to know – Gumbo for me today.

Four women enjoying their food are animatedly chattering at a nearby table. Since Tim’s Kitchen closes in half an hour, we’re the only customers.

Our waitress Maggie, born and raised in Lafayette, recites other items on the menu with an accent as distinct as the aroma of home made food wafting from the kitchen.

Five minutes later, Maggie cheerfully delivers Bernard’s Hamburger Steak, Mark’s Stuffed Cabbage, and my Gumbo.

I spoon the side of rice into the tasty bowl of gumbo filled with generous helpings of chicken and sausage, start chewing on the fresh roll and every so often take a bite from the cup holding potato salad. This is where my Yankee knowledge of traditional Louisiana food gets an upgrade.

“Down here, people put the whole lump of potato salad into the gumbo, “ says Mark with a grin. One minute later, potato salad floating in gumbo, I’m eating like a regular.

Plate Lunches have been part of SW Louisiana culture for decades. They feature staples of Cajun and Creole home cooked basics. Since they’re cooked ahead of time, they’re served quickly, are affordable and fill your belly with satisfying comfort food. And of course, they’re served on a single plate.

Crystal, our personable hostess, who found her way to Lafayette 10 years ago from Jacksonville, FL, fills me in on Tim’s history.

“His mother owned three restaurants in Lafayette, all named Ruby’s, and closed them all a few years ago. Tim, born in nearby Church Point, was head chef at the most popular Ruby’s.”

The business is in his blood. It’s hard work but there’s no vaccination to make you immune from wanting the rush of creating good food for an appreciative audience.

Opening Tim’s Kitchen hit the sweet spot for this man who’s been in the business for decades. It's open five days a week from 10:30 AM to 2 PM. Tim, trim and friendly, is as comfortable talking to customers as he is whipping up food in his kitchen. “Want some gravy to cover the gumbo you’re taking home with you?” he says as he eyes the cup of gumbo I couldn’t finish.

“Come back on your next visit to Lafayette,” says Crystal.

I’m a Plate Dish kind of guy. Next time, I’m going to leave enough room to sample the home made Banana Split Cake.

Photos by Paul A.Tamburello, Jr.

Tim's Kitchen, Broussard, LA

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Comments

[M. M.]

Paul
You are truly an amazing writer !!
I AM BLOWN AWAY !
Every moment from our lunch today was captured with your insight and wit !
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Our love of acadian cuisine endures !

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka PT from Boston]

Sent to Jesse Guidry, VP of Communications at Lafayette Travel, who writes about Platelunch Experiences

Hi Jesse,
Friends of mine took me here today, I visit often from Boston, often write about the wonderful people, places, music, food, culture here.
I’ll bet this is on your radar but just in case. I love it down here.
pt

Restaurant Listing and Contact information
(*Please fill in the areas below.) - thanks

Restaurant Name: Tim’s Restaurant
Restaurant Address: 1000 Albertsons Parkway, Broussard
Phone Number: (337) 330-2151
Hours of Operation:10:30 A - 2:30 P
Website URL: none

https://ptatlarge.typepad.com/ptatlarge/2019/01/tims-kitchen-down-home-blue-plate-louisiana.html

[Jesse Guidry]

Thanks Paul!

Haven’t been there but will have to check out.
Will add the stop on the page.

Hope you come back soon!

[Crystal Davis]

Paul, it was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for taking time to learn our History behind our restaurant. Mr. Tim's passion is cooking and he's happy to share his culinary background with the locals of Broussard and surrounding areas. Since you've come in we have now opened our doors another day. Mr. Tim decided to bring back Ruby's famous BBQ Sunday's. So we are now proudly serving BBQ on Sunday's from 10:30-2. We would love to meet Jesse Guidry and have her give our establishment a try. I'm sure she will love the food and environment just as much as we do. Mr. Paul thank you again and hope to see you back when you in Louisiana again.

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka PT from Boston]

Hi Jesse,
Late breaking news. Just got a comment from Crystal Davis on the story I sent you on January 16. She says Tim decided to bring back Ruby’s famous BBQ on Sundays, check the link for her comment.

[Jesse Guidry]

Sounds delicious! And yes, most of the plate lunch houses do some sort of BBQ usually on Sunday so we’re all good there.

Thanks for staying in touch and hope to have you back soon!

[Mark M]

Very nice!
Beverly and I had their BBQ on Sunday. It was good. BK had the chicken and I had the brisket.

[Rubia Solis]

It’s quite common for M-F plate lunch places to do Sunday BBQ. I ate at Ruby’s a number of years ago but never tried their BBQ.