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. Louis. It became immediately popular with guests of all ages. After flipping the fillet, let it cook for another 3 minutes again, DON'T TOUCH IT. You have permission to edit this article. In September, its Fettuccine Frenzy every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We travel around the U.S. 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. Say the word "catfish," and most avid New Orleans eaters (as well as those between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and as far away as Jackson, Mississippi) think of this funny German name. And go get yourself the Mittendorf Special!I grew up in Louisiana but had never been to Mittendorfs. I love the crunchy coating and it was very easy to make! ), The first batch always turns out lighter than the others because the oil is fresh. 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). The sign said "Food Exit 15", so I got off. The third generation sold Middendorf's to Chef Horst Pfeifer and his wife Karen, who owned the superb Bella Luna in the French Market until Katrina. Add chile, hot sauce, and coconut milk and simmer for 5 minutes. You can make buttermilk by adding fresh lemon juice to plain milk. I was disappointed and wish I had gotten the thick one. Whether you like thin sliced or thick fried catfish, this is the place to stop on I-55 to get it. Frying fish isn't hard, but requires a little practice and expertise. 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. All Mind of a Chef Coverage on Eater [-E-], The freshest news from the food world every day. Oops. Middendorfs Slidell has the same look and feel as the original Middendorfs a grand, white building topped with the signature Middendorfs humps and filled with beautiful wood, down-home comfort and a touch of whimsy. The story of Middendorfs Restaurant, how it came to be and its continued success, is one of perseverance and determination. 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. To do that, we need I say the thick, because it's about as thick as I remember the thin fish being when I first started eating there . I'm a lucky guy. Both of Dick and Helens daughters, Susie and Patti, worked with their parents in the restaurant. My favorites are the thin fried catfish and the crawfish cakes. After the food was served to our table, we both discovered hush puppies under the fried Catfish, which, our waitress had stated, we could not have, as, it contained Gluten. The busy couple also ran the post office in Manchac. Make sure the fillets are cooled before wrapping them in the foil, otherwise, they'll get soggy in the fridge. This summer marks the 85th anniversary of a landmark that opened on Lake Maurepas at Pass Manchac: Middendorf's, the restaurant best known as the home of thin-cut fried catfish. I'm glad you enjoyed your homemade catfish! A Rich, Buttery, Fruit-Filled Recipe for Filipino Polvoron. Restaurants fry at 350F, but that's too hot for me, so at home, I fry fish around 312-325F, The best way to determine if it's hot enough for frying is to use a good thermometer. Especially when it comes to fried catfish! Can I use a deep fryer if I make catfish nuggets? 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is said that this was almost as exciting as when Eli, Peyton and the Manning parents were found dining at the restaurant. To Assemble and Serve:In a small bowl, toss pea leaves with olive oil. This is the most common challenge for homemade fried fish. Get the thick fish, not the thin--at least the first time. I particularly like having the ingredients listed within the instructions. Remove to the prepared wire rack. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. This summer marks the 85th anniversary of a landmark that opened on Lake Maurepas at Pass Manchac: Middendorfs, the restaurant best known as the home of thin-cut fried catfish. They have some fantastic seafood and they are famous for You'll be glad you checked this place out. I use a 10"inch cast-iron skillet and cook two fillets at a time. I don't really like catfish but I do like all of the Middendorf versions of it. Dip catfish into milk then dip into cornmeal dredge until completely coated. Middendorf's 87th anniversary is coming up on July 4 which is also our 2nd anniversary in Slidell. Louis Middendorf and his wife Josie opened the restaurant in the tiny fishing village of Manchac on July 4, 1934. Remove catfish from oil and let drain on paper towels. You will enjoy it if you like a lot of fried breading with your fish. Stop. Cut catfish into thin fillets. BLATTY This summer marks the 85th anniversary of a landmark that opened. "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. Thank you. Note, this catfish batter recipe contains no egg and no flour - just cornmeal and seasonings! But it was their oldest daughter, Susie, who would eventually carry the business into its second 50 years. 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. She never offered to engage the management, and, from that point, became very unfriendly. 1 photo. Here are tips to help your catfish turn out superb! It is mild-flavored and benefits greatly from a dip in the horseradish hot sauce provided." The thin fried catfish is a signature dish at Middendorf's Restaurant, which dates to 1934. There is no place we've visited with anything like the thin fried catfish served. It's on the northern littoral of Pass Manchac, way out in the marshes between Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, which in the 1700s was the frontier between the United States and the Spanish Isle of Orleans. Why do I need to soak the catfish in buttermilk? Can single handedly save the world from all its woes. Now! 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. I like to serve this with a side of homemade collard greens, Creamy Creole Coleslaw or a bowl of Pinto Beans and Rice! This is important and key to this recipe. When ready to cook the catfish, pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. 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Appropriate to its history in colonial times, Middendorf's marks the farthest outpost of NOMenu's restaurant-rating purview. Middendorf's Restaurant. Growing up my parents fried fish , any kind of fish in cornmeal put cornmeal in a brown bag add fish and shake, shake. And go get yourself the Mittendorf Special!I grew up in Louisiana but had never been to Mittendorfs. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. CLICK HERE to purchase E-Gfit Cards. 30160 Hwy 51 S., Akers (Manchac), LA 70421. Worth the drive! Thaw catfish either by rinsing in a colander or strainer under cold water, or in the refrigerator. Set aside. Even worked here when I was in high school. [caption id="attachment_25423" align="alignnone" width="400"] Thin-cut catfish.[/caption]. I travel from TX to eat here Thin fried catfish is the best in the country! you. Three minutes allows the bottom side of the fillet to cook and become firm. Unwrap the catfish and. Remove the fish from the freezer and use a boning knife to very carefully cut each fillet into thin pieces. Last Modified: Aug 29, 2022 by Anecia. Thank you for sharing! Use a high-heat oil: either canola, vegetable, walnut, grapeseed or peanut. Whether youre Jack or Jill, Whiskey is for everyone. Price and stock may change after publish date, and we may make money off Fry the catfish fillets in batches, usually one or two fillets at a time. It looks great. This newcomer . If the fish is wrapped in a sealed plastic package, remove it from the package before thawing in the fridge. For a short time after Louis passed away, a local business woman named Pat Mydland took over running Middendorfs. Are you a customer or the owner/manager of the business youd like to add? Choose from E-Gift Cards or Traditional/Physical Gift Cards. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The service staff is always been stressed, and while they deliver everything on time, they don't visit the table as much as you might expect. And were plannin on being here for 40 more. Their fried shrimp and boiled shrimp are also delicious. Quick - each fillet only takes about 5-minutes to fry Restaurant quality fried catfish fillets that actually have flavor At this point you're probably reconsidering your decision to have JavaScript disabled. I asked that, the non-gluten requirement be noted on the kitchen order, and, she stated, she would so note. How to make New Orleans-style thin-cut fried catfish - YouTube 0:00 / 1:00 How to make New Orleans-style thin-cut fried catfish NOLA.com 94.3K subscribers Subscribe 140 Share 18K views 5. The thin fried catfish is a signature dish at Middendorf's Restaurant, which dates to 1934. We would be honored for you to be part of our history, part of the Middendorfs family. Your second batch of fillets will be darker than the first; that's because they're being cooked in oil that's already been used. After I-10 opened from Metairie to LaPlace in 1970, business was really booming. This was crisp and delish. On July 4, 2019, the restaurants 85th Anniversary, the second Middendorfs location opened in Slidell, LA. The Pfeifers are set to open a second location of Middendorfs in Slidell over the July 4th weekend. Meanwhile, whisk together the cornmeal, corn flour and Cajun seasoning in a pie plate or casserole dish. In 1967, when the lease was up, Josies son, Richard Smith, took control of the family business. Mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire in a small bowl. These are great for a quick snack or appetizer! Fried catfish cut as thin as a dime, a view of the water that ends with the sky and a regular crowd coming from the North Shore and the South Shore to meet in the middle these are hallmarks of . Sometimes simple is best, right? Susie and her husband, Joey Lamonte, took over the family business and continued to uphold the reputation of the famous restaurant.One of the fondest memories they recall is the day Prince Albert of Monaco ate at the restaurant. Thank you for sharing:). 2023 Warner Bros. How simple is that? Very very delicious!!! It'sa memorial honoring nine slain civil rights activists. Don't expect a healthy meal here. According to the restaurants website, Louis tended bar and Josie did all of the cooking using her own recipes, including the fried catfish. Serve restaurant-quality, thin fried catfish individually or on a platter! In Oktober, our Oktoberfest celebration kicks off with authentic German dishes, also prepared by Chef Horst Pfeifer who grew up in Germany. Thank you for your comments about the fried catfish! 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