Let's Do the Zydeco! — My Southern Brand

Zydeco, created by the French-speaking Creoles from Southwest Louisiana, is a Louisiana and Houston genre of music that blends blues and R&B and is played with an accordion. Some historical reports suggest that Zydeco was born in Houston's Frenchtown, after thousands of Louisiana Creoles moved to the area in the 1920s. As a result, there are several places in the city where you will hear this colorful style of music played; one of those places is Wing Quarter: Daiquiris & Creole Kitchen. Creole restaurants and Cajun restaurants are deeply rooted in Houston's history and food scene, but Wing Quarter, a black owned restaurant, has brought the Louisiana-style that so many Houstonians love and cherish to the forefront. Locally owned, this restaurant does everything right; from daiquiris to boudin balls to wings to fried catfish, you do not want to pass up this new restaurant! Let me take you on a journey to Zydeco land...

LOCATION

In Houston's famous Third Ward, the restaurant is my go-to spot; it is located off Old Spanish Trail (OST) in a newly constructed restaurant plaza. Surrounded by heavy-hitting black restaurants and eateries like Ray's BBQ Shack and Sugar Rush, Wing Quarter always hosts a crowd of hungry patrons. The Mardi Gras themed restaurant mimics the French architecture in New Orleans and showcases shadows of musicians in the faux windows and balconies.

The space is small inside with a nice sized bar and a huge kitchen, but it has a large patio with great outdoor seating that hosts Zydeco bands and artists on any given day. The staff is pretty friendly and likes to make people laugh, which is a personable trait I appreciate as a customer.

FOOD

I've been here several times because the food is addictive.

The first time I'd gone, I tried the Canal Street Special. This meal, named after the popular street in New Orleans, includes 10 fried shrimps that are drenched in a homemade sweet and sour sauce, a side of seasoned fries (or dirty rice), and a cornbread muffin (not pictured). It's tradition at Wing Quarter for the staff to present you your meal to ensure satisfaction; when the owner opened the carry-out plate, I'd known that I'd chosen the right meal off the menu. Lying on top of the fries, the golden brown fried shrimp was crispy but not fried too hard. The sauce added a sensational kick that I appreciated because I'm a fan of spicy food. The fries were seasoned with Cajun spices and were hot and fresh, just how I like my fries. The cornbread muffin was sweet and soft and added versatility to the meal.

Then after my first visit, I'd become a HUGE fan of the boudin balls. If you don't now what boudin balls are, then think of soft Cajun-style hush-puppies; they contain a mixture of uncased boudin sausage and dirty rice rolled into floured balls and coated with bread crumbs. I've consumed boudin balls before, but Wing Quarter's are made with love, and I get them every time I eat there. The boudin balls are served with remoulade sauce, which is a concoction of Creole mustard, ketchup, mayo, and other spices (not pictured).

"KeAndre', what about the drinks?" You ask. Did I mention the daiquiris? Wing Quarter's daiquiris are out of this world. They have 3 flavors: Crazy Cajun Colada, Gator Rita, and New Orleans Hurricane. They, also, have other alcoholic juices that can be added to daiquiris, such as Long Island Ice Tea. I always get a regular sized Cajun Colada and New Orleans Hurricane mixture, which leaves me feeling kinda LIT. LOL.

**Daiquiri - $7.00 and Boudin Ball - $1.49 each**

CONCLUSION

As you can tell, I'm a big supporter of Wing Quarter. It's a solid establishment with decent prices! I paid $14.75 for the Canal Street Special, $1.49 each for the boudin balls, and $7 for the daiquiri. Customer service is great; Dajai has always been great to my friends and I whenever we patronize.

All in all, I give Wing Quarter 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)! It's definitely worth every penny.