But it was their oldest daughter, Susie, who would eventually carry the business into its second 50 years. Three 6-ounce boneless, skinless catfish fillets, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, Spillway Sauce, recipe follows, for serving, Sign up for the Food Network Shopping Newsletter Privacy Policy, The Key Food Moments You May Have Missed in The Last of Us, Peeps-Flavored Pepsi Makes Its Adorable Return, McDonalds Announces Its Next Celebrity Collab: Cardi B & Offsets Meal for Two, KitchenAids 2023 Color of the Year Is Hibiscus, Subway Will Now Be Slicing Meat Fresh at Each of Its Locations, 6 Best Whiskeys, According to a Spirits Expert, These Cord Organizers Save Your Kitchen From Clutter, 6 Best Food Dehydrators, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, 5 Best Cookie Sheets and Sheet Pans, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, 6 Best Air Fryer Toaster Ovens, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, Enter Daily for Your Chance to Win $10,000. First year attending their fettuccine frenzy and will also be our last. You just made my day! If the darker color bother you, start over with new oil for each batch. Once both sides are crisp, if you prefer a darker crust, then gently flip the fillet until it is the desired color. We hope that when you visit, whether its your first time or your weekly fix, you experience the essence that is Middendorfs. I recommend using a cast-iron skillet or a tall stock pot or Dutch oven so when you flip the catfish fillet, it doesn't splatter all over. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Flew into 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. you. Their fried shrimp and boiled shrimp are also delicious. When you place your order, ask for everything you think you might need (more drinks, extra tartar sauce, etc. 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. 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 . Why do I need to soak the catfish in buttermilk? 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 makes its rounds all year long at Middendorfs Manchac, exciting little kids and grown up kids alike. If the oil starts to smoke, turn the heat down and remove the skillet from the burner for a few minutes. 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The restaurant remained in the hands of family members for more than 70 years. Cut catfish into thin fillets. 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. "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. Soaking fish in buttermilk is a method for minimizing the "fishy" smell. 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. Soak catfish in the brine for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Especially when it comes to fried catfish! Their fried shrimp and boiled shrimp are also delicious. There's nothing fancy or gourmet about my recipes-just easy, simple, delicious and memorable! Learn how your comment data is processed. Cooked catfish like this my whole life. ADVOCATE PHOTO BY J.T. 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. Read More. In September, its Fettuccine Frenzy every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Coming up on Wednesday, April 5: Sugar & Spice, Whiskey & Ice A Whiskey Tasting Dinner. What a great recipe! Your email address will not be published. Another good way to determine if it's is hot enough (or too hot) is to sprinkle a little cornmeal in it. Use a high-heat oil: either canola, vegetable, walnut, grapeseed or peanut. We will not repeat. Compliments you when you've had a bad day. Thank you for sharing! No need to look any further. Catfish was great! Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. I'm a big guy with a big appetite and I couldn't finish it.Thin fried not your thing? We like to call it Pfeifer Farm, and its a peaceful, happy place. Fry the catfish fillets in batches, usually one or two fillets at a time. Weve stood up to city hall with you, cheered the Saints with you, Read More. I think you'll find this simple method results in the best catfish breading - light, crispy and flavorful! If the fish is wrapped in a sealed plastic package, remove it from the package before thawing in the fridge. What name will appear on the recall petition most often. 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. Y-u-m. Hangin' with Horst -- Episode 2: Pfeifer Farm Price and stock may change after publish date, and we may make money off It was delicious! Thank you very much! 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. The Pfeifers are set to open a second location of Middendorfs in Slidell over the July 4th weekend. Middendorf's: Amazing Catfish - See 564 traveller reviews, 220 candid photos, and great deals for Akers, LA, at Tripadvisor. Thaw catfish either by rinsing in a colander or strainer under cold water, or in the refrigerator. 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! Shallow-fry catfish pieces for 2 minutes on each side. In the 1970s, a second dining room with the vibe of a . 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. 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. Now! Alternatively, you may use. We explained this to the waitress, and, she acknowledged. Great recipe! All Mind of a Chef Coverage on Eater [-E-], The freshest news from the food world every day. The family decided to build a second restaurant two lots down from the original in 1972 to handle the ever-increasing crowds. It was Josie who came up with the legendary house specialty, Thin Fried Catfish, which kept the customers coming back again and again. If you thought making Southern Fried Catfish was an all-day event, you are wrong! According to the restaurants website, Louis tended bar and Josie did all of the cooking using her own recipes, including the fried catfish. Bottom line, it was a terrible experience, which endangered my wife's immediate health, in a very serious way. (When covered with foil, they get mushy and all your patience is in vain. Olive oil is not recommended because it has a low smoke point and burns at high temperatures. On top of the Laing, alternate placing grilled pea leaves and pieces of Catfish. I had the large. Now you have buttermilk! Louis Middendorf was a traveling salesman living in Houston with his wife Josie and her young son Richard. Overall this is definitely a good stop on a road trip and I've always had quick and pleasant service.My video review of Middendorf's is here:youtu.be/T7PoiXP4bsQ. Thank you for sharing:). 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. Unwrap the catfish and place on a parchment-lined quarter sheet tray. (The thin fish is very thin indeed, and not for everybody.) Used a thermometer to get exact temperature. 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. This newcomer . This is the only fried catfish recipe I use! On July 4, 2019, the restaurants 85th Anniversary, the second Middendorfs location opened in Slidell, LA. The thin fried catfish is a signature dish at Middendorf's Restaurant, which dates to 1934. After I-10 opened from Metairie to LaPlace in 1970, business was really booming. Fill a large Dutch oven fitted with a deep-frying thermometer halfway with oil and heat to 360 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with paper towels and fit with a wire rack. Different owners these days, but the food is as good as always. Serve fried catfish with any of these delicious dishes! A new addition is a large covered deck at the waterfront, which became immediately popular. We would be honored for you to be part of our history, part of the Middendorfs family. If you don't have fresh catfish, use frozen. Did the same with chicken but with seasoned flour., Hey Lynda! Being alone, I was able to forego the modest wait time with a seat at the bar. Followed your instructions to a T. Nothing better than this recipe. Even though I usually like thicker catfish, I went for the thin fried catfish that Middendorf's is known for. I say the thick, because it's about as thick as I remember the thin fish being when I first started eating there . All rights reserved. Post New; Save to Recipe Box; Print; Title: ISO: Middendorf's Fried Catfish: From: Terry Pogue Potomac, MD, 02-22-2005: Board: Copycat Recipe Requests at Recipelink.com: Msg ID . Eventually, there will be a pond out there too. Thanks. First year attending their fettuccine frenzy and Chefs are spotlighting their culinary heritage on tasting menus, at buzzy pop-ups, and at new restaurants across the country, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Watch Sean Brock and John Currence Cook Thin-Fried Catfish on Mind of aChef, KFC is bringing back its breadless fried chicken sandwich, and its 2010 all over again, Reba McEntire is the latest country superstar getting into the hospitality game, and her Atoka, Oklahoma restaurant feels welcoming indeed, Sean Brock Cooks Shaved Catfish - Mind of a Chef, The Next Era of American Fine Dining Is Here, Care of West Africa, Party Down Returns Sharper, Bleaker, and Funnier Than Before. Combine salt with 1 quart water in a large bowl or container to create a brine. I'd skip the appetizer, not worth it. After flipping the fillet, let it cook for another 3 minutes again, DON'T TOUCH IT. Now! Middendorf's has also become famous for their six weeks of Oktoberfest celebrations that offer authentic German food every Wednesday and Thursday during October and November. Place a generous spoonful of Laing on the bottom of a serving dish. Well Thank you, Maggie! It took me to a road that runs down to Lake Pontchartrain where I saw over 200 cars parked at this restaurant. But through its entire long history, New Orleanians have always considered it to be as essential part of the dining scene, and worth the forty-mile trip to dine there. Note, this catfish batter recipe contains no egg and no flour - just cornmeal and seasonings! I will be using this recipe for the catfish from now on. Spray with Pam olive oil spray or similar margarine or butter-flavored spray. We're sorry, hotels cannot be booked for more than 30 days. Thank you for your comments about the fried catfish! Yes! Three minutes allows the bottom side of the fillet to cook and become firm. 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Spray with Pam olive oil is not recommended because it has a low smoke point and burns high... I usually like thicker catfish, I went for the catfish fillets in batches, usually one or fillets! A large bowl or container to create a brine saw over 200 cars parked at this restaurant coming on!, there is a ton of work involved in farm life, but Horst says its.... It is the only fried catfish took over running Middendorfs big guy with seat! The refrigerator and her young son Richard ask for everything you think you might need ( more,...