Road Food: Al T's, Winnie, TX

Growing up in deep southeast Texas was both a blessing and a curse. The weather was hot and humid, but the food was great. The intersection of multiple cultures (Spanish, Acadian, Creole, European) created a smorgasbord of riches. I was reminded of this on a return visit in December, when my parents took me to Al T's Cajun Seafood and Steakhouse in Winnie, TX.

Winnie is a forgettable little town on Interstate 10, midway between Houston and Beaumont, and Al T's looks like a truck stop. Sometimes, however, butt-ugly exteriors can hide wonderful stuff inside, as exemplified by the local sausage called boudain, a "dirty rice" mixture stuffed into a sausage casing. Al T's version was further improved by being deep-fried with a crispy cornmeal crust.
After the boudain, we tried the fried alligator; tasty, but a bit rubbery. The hit of the evening, however, was the crawfish étoufée. A rich, dark roux underlaid succulent, perfectly-cooked crawfish and spices that literally exploded in your mouth, all served over rice.
After a meal like that, I'm happy to return home as often as I can!


Prices are moderate, with most entrees under $20.00. All the food is fresh, locally-acquired (yes, even the alligator).