Smiley Anders for Oct. 25, 2012

If I didn’t know that Dudley Lehew, of Denham Springs, is a trustworthy individual of spotless character, I’d think he was putting me on.

He sent over a couple of photos he claims his Lafitte son-in-law shot when the son-in-law and his family enjoyed lobster rolls at a McDonald’s in Nova Scotia a few months ago.

Says Dudley: “Yeah, only Cajuns take pictures of food they eat and send them to family!”

Lobster rolls are something of a delicacy, and when I encountered them on vacation in Maine a few years ago they weren’t cheap.

They are not something I associate with the golden arches.

But the photos show plastic containers of rolls well stuffed with big hunks of lobster meat, on a table with a McDonald’s drink cup and what appear to be McDonald’s fries.

Dudley adds that the photos “got me to thinking: what would McDonald’s come up with to showcase Louisiana cuisine?

“McCrawfish something, probably.”

They know beans

Thanks to Emily Hubbard and Marsha Reichle for helping the reader who wanted a recipe for the baked beans at the late lamented Joe D’s store on Jefferson Highway.

Emily says back when Mickey McGuire heard that Joe D’s was closing, “he edged up quietly to Mr. Joe and asked him if it were possible to get the baked beans recipe.

“Mickey had collected throughout the years a binder of recipes he thought were the best, and just didn’t want this one to disappear if he could get Mr. Joe to give it to him.

“Mr. Joe told him to go get a copy of the original River Road Recipes cookbook. It’s in the ‘How Men Cook’ section.

“Who knew?”

And Marsh adds even more information:

“My friend Melinda Winans (Fonville’s daughter-in-law) said Joe D’s bean recipe was Fonville Winan’s, listed in the original River Road cookbook as ‘Sweet ‘N Hot Beans.’

“She said it was much easier to buy Joe D’s beans than make them from scratch.”

Cat tale

Regarding our seminar on furry friends, Dr. Don recalls “an excellent and accurate line” seen recently: ‘In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.’ ”

Goat tale

Regarding our seminar on the noble goat, Shooter Mullins says, “My very first billy goat was given to me by Margaret Shaffer of Ardoin Plantation, about 70 years ago.

“One fine day, while down on her hands and knees in a flower bed, she suddenly realized that the goat was standing behind her, and had most of her skirt in his mouth and was chewing it to shreds.

“Mrs. Shaffer called my mother and advised that we had an hour to come and get the goat if we wanted it. One of us did.

“I patriotically named this fine goat MacArthur: there was a war on, as I recall.”

Worthy causes

• The Arc of Acadiana, a nonprofit organization serving people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, hosts its Charity Golf Classic Friday at Wetlands Golf Course in Lafayette, with flights at 7 a.m. and noon. Contact Mhairi Metzel at [phone] or [e-mail].
• A “Rhythm & Boos” Halloween festival Saturday at the Swamp Pop Café on La. 22 in Head of Island features Lil’ Bit Meaux and benefits cancer patient David Watts.

There will be music from 8 a.m. to midnight, a costume contest, jambalaya and more.

Contact Roy Blank Jr. at [e-mail].

Tennis on wheels

Nancy LeBlanc says adults and children who use wheelchairs are invited to Hallowheel, a free wheelchair tennis clinic, Saturday at the Paula Manship YMCA.

Registration is required. For information, visit http://www.cajunclassictennis.com.

Nottoway night

Iberville Museum presents “A Night at Nottoway” fund raiser from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, with a gospel choir, dancing to Brooks Hubbert, auctions, buffet, etc.

Tickets are $50.

Call [phone] or go
to [e-mail].

Special People Dept.

• On Thursday Peggy Wooldridge celebrates her 93rd birthday.
• Dorothy “Dot” Magee, of Landmark of Baton Rouge, celebrates her 91st birthday Thursday.
• Bob and Claudine Truett celebrate 65 years of marriage Thursday.
• Joseph and Marie Bergeron celebrate their 60th anniversary Thursday.

Thought for the Day

From Harry Clark, of Lafayette: “On the Internet you can be anything you want. It’s strange that so many people choose to be stupid.”

The rat stuff

Here’s an item you might want to skip if you’re having breakfast:

After Outdoors editor Joe Macaluso told of the fisherman who caught a bass with a rat in its mouth, Walter L. Brown, of Livingston, had a question:

“I was just wondering if he ate the fish or not …”

Write Smiley at [e-mail]. He can also be reached by fax at [phone] or mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.