If you don't have fresh catfish, use frozen. Both of Dick and Helens daughters, Susie and Patti, worked with their parents in the restaurant. Serve fried catfish with any of these delicious dishes! 85 years of fried catfish: A look at Middendorf's history, thin-cut fish that made it famous, Blake Pontchartrain: The story of the civil rights activists memorialized at Claiborne and Jackson avenues, Blakeview: Happy 90th birthday to Shirley Ann Grau, New Orleans novelist and Pulitzer winner, Get catfished in Slidell: Middendorf's opens a Slidell restaurant July 4. After flipping the fillet, let it cook for another 3 minutes again, DON'T TOUCH IT. Choose from E-Gift Cards or Traditional/Physical Gift Cards. And were plannin on being here for 40 more. Very very delicious!!! In this clip, Currence and Brock fry up some thin-fried catfish the signature dish at legendary New Orleans spot Middendorf's Seafood Restaurant where catfish are sliced. Blake Pontchartrain: The story of the civil rights activists memorialized at Claiborne and Jackson avenues, Blakeview: Happy 90th birthday to Shirley Ann Grau, New Orleans novelist and Pulitzer winner, Get catfished in Slidell: Middendorf's opens a Slidell restaurant July 4. Thank you! In medium size bowl combine the catfish fillets and buttermilk. To Assemble and Serve: In a small bowl, toss pea leaves with olive oil. Shallow-fry catfish pieces for 2 minutes on each side. It's always good with "the hubs" likes it:). Louis and Josie were the entire staff. Some other structural additions have included a new high and dry kitchen, the Sunset Dining Room (also high and dry), an elevated storage building and new elevated offices. Understand, I've been reading about this place for years and years, well before the current owners took the reins, so there is cause for concern about building a pyramid up in one's mind. Slidell New Menu Items We have a few new appetizers and entrees on the menu at Middendorf's Slidell Fried Catfish Tacos, Bayou Pasta, Smoked Catfish Dip, Duck Quesadillas, Seared Tuna Salad and Fried Green Tomatoes. I made this last night, turned out Amazing!!!!! If the fish is wrapped in a sealed plastic package, remove it from the package before thawing in the fridge. Many other items on the menu. What sides to serve with fried catfish dinner. ), because you might not be able to get it quickly later. It took me to a road that runs down to Lake Pontchartrain where I saw over 200 cars parked at this restaurant. I'm not apprehensive about frying fish anymore. Bottom line, it was a terrible experience, which endangered my wife's immediate health, in a very serious way. Thank you, Jennifer! Simple, 3-step recipe that's proven time and time again to work! Their fried shrimp and boiled shrimp are also delicious. In a second pie plate, beat together the eggs, hot sauce, some salt and pepper and 1/2 cup water. Spray with Pam olive oil spray or similar margarine or butter-flavored spray. 2023 Warner Bros. We would be honored for you to be part of our history, part of the Middendorfs family. Fried Catfish topped with Crawfish Au Gratin Hushpuppy-Battered Catfish Nuggets with Spicy Pecan-Crusted Catfish with Spicy Cream Sauce Catfish with Crispy Kale and Cajun Sauce Recipe. And go get yourself the Mittendorf Special!I grew up in Louisiana but had never been to Mittendorfs. Were in the Age of Food Talent. Freezing is not recommended. Coleslaw always goes well, as does Smothered Okra and Tomatoes, Maple Baked Beans, Pinto Beans and Rice and a heapin' bowl of Southern collard greens! On Thursday, July 1, 2021 from 11am until 6pm, Middendorf's, in Manchac and Slidell, is hosting a blood drive that offers free thin fried catfish and an awesome t-shirt for all donors. It is mild-flavored and benefits greatly from a dip in the horseradish hot sauce provided." Hopefully I will get a response soon, if not, I'm double Dippin! Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. you. Get the thick fish, not the thin--at least the first time. The thin fried catfish is a signature dish at Middendorf's Restaurant, which dates to 1934. A Rich, Buttery, Fruit-Filled Recipe for Filipino Polvoron. If it doesn't sizzle, raise the temperature and re-test. For more than 40 years, Gambit has covered New Orleans, for New Orleans. There's no need to go out to dinner when you can make restaurant-quality fried catfish at home! Followed your instructions to a T. Nothing better than this recipe. Appropriate to its history in colonial times, Middendorf's marks the farthest outpost of NOMenu's restaurant-rating purview. Meanwhile, whisk together the cornmeal, corn flour and Cajun seasoning in a pie plate or casserole dish. Catfish are bottom-feeders, meaning they swim on the bottom of the lake or reservoir floor. It'sa memorial honoring nine slain civil rights activists. Whether youre Jack or Jill, Whiskey is for everyone. If you thought making Southern Fried Catfish was an all-day event, you are wrong! The story of Middendorfs Restaurant, how it came to be and its continued success, is one of perseverance and determination. Then work on your appetite with images of the great raw and broiled oysters, the stuffed crabs, and the soft-shell crabs in their season (warm months). Nice and crispy on the outside and fluffy and flavorful on the inside. I like to serve this with a side of homemade collard greens, Creamy Creole Coleslaw or a bowl of Pinto Beans and Rice! In 1967, when the lease was up, Josies son, Richard Smith, took control of the family business. Order fried catfish salad, po-boys or plates. How simple is that? I use 1 tablespoon fresh lemon per 1 cup of milk. Even worked here when I was in high school. Wrap in foil and store for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. If you "double dip" it (back and forth) between the cornmeal and buttermilk, your coating will be thicker. Add shallots, garlic, and ginger and saut until soft. Here are tips to help your catfish turn out superb! But the goodness of its fried seafood can't be denied. Middendorf's has always given us a Five Star dining experience. Thank you for the fish recipe. Great recipe! I think I've liked pretty much everything I've ever had here and they also have a broiled seafood plate if you want to avoid the fried stuff. "Catfish is the reason to eat at Middendorf's. Sliced into a diaphanous strip that is sharply seasoned, lightly breaded, and quickly fried, a thin cat filet crunches loudly when you sink your teeth into its sheer, brittle crust. Wowza! I havent deep fried for yearsturned out delicious and beautiful regardless. Keep warm. calendar.gambitweekly.com. Perfect instructions! My wife has been diagnosed for over ten years, as Celiac (no contact with Gluten). Middendorf's: Thin-Fried Catfish is One of Many Delicious Options - See 564 traveler reviews, 220 candid photos, and great deals for Akers, LA, at Tripadvisor. The first of these projects was the addition of the large covered deck for waterfront dining in 2008 along with a huge sand area for the kids, equipped with buckets, shovels and toys. Whetstones New Agency Wants to Represent It. In its essential aspects, it hasn't changed at all. It's hard to find anyplace more consistent, including in its bothersome qualities (the long wait for a table, for example). Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. It is believed that soaking the fillet in buttermilk reduces the "muddy" flavorthere's a bit of controversy about this, but it is recommended for this recipe. On a recent driving tour from Florida to New York (via New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville) I was heading up the highway slightly hungry, and in need of a rest room. Complete your catfish dinner with some of these favorite Southern side dishes! Thin fried catfish is the name of the game. Cut catfish into thin fillets. Copyright 2018-2022 SmartyPantsKitchen.com, Texas Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy, Shrimp Saganaki (Baked Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta), Catfish frying tips and how to keep the batter from falling off. Flew into Set aside. Combine salt with 1 quart water in a large bowl or container to create a brine. these links. If you can't get to Middendorf's in Louisiana, then this thin fried catfish recipe is the next best thing! In September, its Fettuccine Frenzy every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They have some fantastic seafood and they are famous for their thin fried catfish. This is the most common challenge for homemade fried fish. Oktoberfest runs every Wednesday and Thursday for 6 weeks. Thin fried catfish is the name of the game. Worth the drive! Hey Jim! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Required fields are marked *. Excellent! Of course, there is a ton of work involved in farm life, but Horst says its therapy. And after visiting and taking it all in, we totally get it. M. Perfect! Place a generous spoonful of Laing on the bottom of a serving dish. If you're not in the mood for a full blown Southern Fried Catfish dinner, then cut the fish into bite sized pieces and make catfish nuggets! Yummy coleslaw and the gumbo is the best i've ever had!!! In 2007, the restaurant was purchased from the family by Horst and Karen Pfeifer. Barbequed Oysters on Half Shell. Add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to 1 cup of plain milk. I appreciate your kind comments and taking time to reply:). Bob Temp! Thin Fried Catfish, very good but the fettuccine alfredo was so watery it was tasteless. The instructions were easy to follow making it easy to be successful. I was disappointed and wish I had gotten the thick one. You have permission to edit this article. CLICK HERE to purchase E-Gfit Cards. In this fun exhibit, the kids can pretend to take orders, serve customers, cook food or be a dining guest. Access Code 70421: Middendorf's, home of the world-famous thin-fried catfish In 2016, the Pfeifers elevated the restaurant by 5 feet to avoid the type of flooding that forced the restaurant to close after hurricanes in 2005, 2008 and 2012. your help. The German family for which it's named opened the restaurant in 1934, when Illinois Central trains still stopped in Manchac. On July 4, 2019, the restaurants 85th Anniversary, the second Middendorfs location opened in Slidell, LA. Something went wrong. Price and stock may change after publish date, and we may make money off And, who could forget the Middendorfs Express G model train. In the 1970s, a second dining room with the vibe of a . If you have it in your files could you send it to me please? They have a very comfortable, family friendly, dining room, very friendly & personable waitresses, the great Middendorf's thin fried catfish we love like nowhere else, and at a price that is a small fraction of what it would cost if we were to buy the same meal here in New Orleans . Use a high-heat oil: either canola, vegetable, walnut, grapeseed or peanut. Are you a customer or the owner/manager of the business youd like to add? Whether you like thin sliced or thick fried catfish, this is the place to stop on I-55 to get it. Remove catfish from oil and let drain on paper towels. There is no place we've visited with anything like the thin fried catfish served. In Oktober, our Oktoberfest celebration kicks off with authentic German dishes, also prepared by Chef Horst Pfeifer who grew up in Germany. Add chile, hot sauce, and coconut milk and simmer for 5 minutes. 2019 was a big year for Middendorfs. Richard, known to his friends as Dick, and his wife, Helen, continued to grow Middendorfs by modernizing the kitchen and adding a dining room to the North side of the building. Been going here for almost 50 years. Now! In batches, dredge the fish through the egg mixture and then through the cornmeal mixture, then add to the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd. Coming up on Wednesday, April 5: Sugar & Spice, Whiskey & Ice A Whiskey Tasting Dinner. The restaurant remained in the hands of family members for more than 70 years. Fry, turning as needed, until crisp and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Then work on your appetite with images of the great raw and broiled oysters, the stuffed crabs, and the soft-shell crabs in their season (warm months . I was disappointed and wish I had gotten the thick one. This newcomer . these links. Did the same with chicken but with seasoned flour., Hey Lynda! Thank you for your comments about the fried catfish! I've stopped off here for years on trips back and forth to and from New Orleans. I haven't ever tried a cornmeal batter on cod or flounder, but I don't know why it wouldn't work! Stir it and let it sit for a few minutes at room temperature. Ignore such reports and, on the way out, have the essential debate as to which is the best way to eat Middendorf's famous fried catfish: thin-cut, thick-cut (that gets my vote) or whole fish. At times, it has also been home to ducks, geese and even turkeys. 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