Editor's note:
One day on the show someone asked about a place they passed on Jefferson Highway called Hippie Kitchen. This generated some calls, and apparently the curiosity of Don Clement, a regular co-host on the show, and avid cook and enthusiastic diner, who happens to live close to the station. He writes in this space as The Gourmet Neighbor.
By Don Clement
Sometimes everything you need to know about something can be found in its name. This is definitely the case for The Hippie Kitchen. From the moment you walk in, the restaurant itself speaks to you. Flower Child, Bohemian, and Free Spirit are words that come to mind as your eyes pan across the dining room. Full disclosure here: Thus is not my usual vibe, but after hearing about it on the show last week, I knew I had to check this place out.
The staff was welcoming and pleasant. The menu is too big and took a long time to peruse, ranging from breakfast to salads, bowls, pizza, sandwiches, and plate lunches. Far too many to list here. It’s a small restaurant with a small kitchen, It’s hard to imagine all these dishes could be prepared well.
From the door, it was easy to see an array of beautiful housemade desserts, so when I heard they had meat pies, I chose that as an appetizer. Two shredded pork pies. When they arrived they looked good, served with homemade BBQ sauce (all condiments are housemade) and a chili aioli. I cut the flaky golden brown pie crust, but inside was dry and didn’t taste like much of anything. The sauce was good, and I could have eaten the chili aioli on a shoe. It was that good.
A ham and cheese pressed sandwich caught my eye in the dining room, so that was my entree. Chisesi ham came on a delicious housemade sourdough bread. It had cheddar cheese and Dijon mustard before being pressed, making the sourdough toasted and crunchy. This came with a tasty vinaigrette dressing. Both were very nice.
One of our friends is a vegetarian. I don't get it either, but she is sweet, and this was her place. Lots of vegan and vegetarian choices. She ordered an eggplant Napoleon that bore little resemblance to a Napoleon. Two slices of eggplant huddled together under cheese and marinara. One part was undercooked. Didn’t move me, but she liked it enough to bring it home. Her husband ordered a veggie burger, even though he is not a vegetarian. But this guy just eats to live. He liked the “burger” but not the guacamole generously spread on top. I guess they had to try to make it taste like something. My wife ordered a barbecue pizza that had the same problems as the meat pies.
All in all, I am sure Hippie Kitchen has its fans. It is helped by a neighborhood in desperate need of restaurants. People who live nearby probably feel it is an oasis. But I do have other options, so maybe it’s not for me. I think the size of the menu says it all. “Jack of all trades, master of none,” comes to mind.
I do have to give them points for housemade everything. My wife's hibiscus tea came with simple syrup. They don’t need to do that.
Hippie Kitchen
3741 Jefferson Hwy Jefferson
504-444-4113
Tu-Sat 7:30am-9pm
Sunday & Monday 9am-2pm
hknola.com
