Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Swamp Ghost

“The whole place is only 300 square feet, so that limits us. But we make it work.”

Place

New Orleans Creole Cafe

2476 San Diego Avenue (in the Whaley House gardens), San Diego

This is weird. Last year I was sitting right here in this ancient Wild West shack in Old Town, in the selfsame squiggly wrought-iron seat, drooling over English tea and crumpets, waiting on dusk for Anna Whaley's ghost to come out and water the California pepper trees she'd just planted. In 1856. People see her at dusk all the time, they say. Those trees she planted 150 years ago were still growing, gnarly, dripping with curtains of leaves, and it struck me: the atmosphere was pure bayou. N'Awlins.

Cut to this afternoon, fall 2004. I've been showing my friend Mark the spot where Antonio Garra, the last great Indian rebel, died laughing, executed by firing squad. I glance up at the Whaley House and its gardens. "Ain't it just like a scene out of the bayou?" I say. Then I see they have a new sign outside the old English tea place.

"New Orleans Creole Café," it says.

Wow. Never knew I had such a powerful mind. "Got time to try it?" I say. Mark is one of those busy guys. Just back from Ireland. Does video shows for churches, a dozen other things.

He nods. He's on his cell. "No, just with Ed... Ed! Sure, I'll bring you something." His wife.

Sponsored
Sponsored

So we hike up to the porch of this little ol' eatery. Big square false front like what you see in all the cowboy movies. But what's different is the smells wafting out. Sausage, herby smells, garlicky smells, all concentrated in the small space.

"Gentlemen," says this guy. "Welcome to the Swamp House."

"Huh? Sign said 'New Orleans...' "

" 'Swamp House' is what we almost called it."

Turns out this guy's name is Mark, too. He's from the Big Easy, one of the owners. Let's call him Creole Mark, so we know who's who.

Inside is tiny, woody. A brass lantern ("From New Orleans," says Creole Mark); shelves with books like Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau; New Orleans-style chickory coffees; and an old photo on the wall showing a large family. "Mine," says the second gent behind the counter. Humberto. He and Mark are partners in this place. "That photo was taken in Sonora in 1892. Uh, have you decided?"

"We too late for lunch?" says Mark.

"Heavens, no," the other Mark says. "In New Orleans we'd start eating about now, one, two, and go right through till five."

The chef, Donald, brings steamy garlicky oniony roast beef to replenish a chafing dish. Smells so good.

The menu's brief. Cup of gumbo's $4.75. Interesting eight-inch po-boy sandwiches. Roast beef is $7.75; alligator (yes, alligator) sausage is $9.50; hot beef sausage is $8.50; and turkey, avocado, and cheese is $7.25.

Main courses hover around Mr. Hamilton. Shrimp Creole is $9.50, crawfish étouffée is $10.50, chicken and sausage gumbo goes for $9.00, shrimp Caesar salad is $8.50, and shrimp and sausage jambalaya is $8.50.

That's it. Nice and simple. Kind of a stretch for my Mr. Jackson, but we'll make it. "Alligator," Mark says. Dammit, I was going to go for that. So instead I have a shrimp and sausage jambalaya. I get a coffee, and Mark gets a traditional N'Awlins sweet tea ($1.50 each, with refills).

Creole Mark informs us that the alligator meat comes from the tail, mixed in with pork to make the sausage. I pinch a slice. It's kinda like raunchy, herby venison. His big French bread looks crisp. The sausage is hidden in lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. Creole Mark says he steams the sausages a bit so they regain some of the water lost in the sausage-making process. "We're still learning to operate here," he says. "The whole place is only 300 square feet, so that limits us. But we make it work."

My jambalaya comes in a bowl, with French bread cut into teeny-weeny slices. The sausage is herby, there's a healthy batch of shrimp, the rice is tasty, and there's enough of it. Except I'da liked more bread to sop it all up.

But I can't help wondering: for when I'm really down on my uppers, do they have anything cheaper? "Yes, of course," says Mark. "We can do a short po-boy for $4.00. Or a short po-boy and a cup of gumbo for $7.75. Or red beans and rice, vegetarian for $6.50, or with sausage for $7.50. That comes with lots of rice and seasoning. So you definitely won't go away hungry."

Mark orders up a couple of cups of gumbo to take to his wife. Me, I'm still struggling with my jambalaya. Think I'm gonna have to pack it.

'Course we talk ghosts. That is the Whaley House next door. "I caught a ghost once," says Creole Mark. He brings out a three- by four-foot photo blowup of people eating and drinking and dancing. Blue smoke swirls through them. "See that? A spirit. Caught on camera."

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Dating Sites For Little People: Best Platforms & Tips

Next Article

Hip-hop artist Don Elway makes movies for his music

Not Ordinary EP tells a story of life on the streets
Place

New Orleans Creole Cafe

2476 San Diego Avenue (in the Whaley House gardens), San Diego

This is weird. Last year I was sitting right here in this ancient Wild West shack in Old Town, in the selfsame squiggly wrought-iron seat, drooling over English tea and crumpets, waiting on dusk for Anna Whaley's ghost to come out and water the California pepper trees she'd just planted. In 1856. People see her at dusk all the time, they say. Those trees she planted 150 years ago were still growing, gnarly, dripping with curtains of leaves, and it struck me: the atmosphere was pure bayou. N'Awlins.

Cut to this afternoon, fall 2004. I've been showing my friend Mark the spot where Antonio Garra, the last great Indian rebel, died laughing, executed by firing squad. I glance up at the Whaley House and its gardens. "Ain't it just like a scene out of the bayou?" I say. Then I see they have a new sign outside the old English tea place.

"New Orleans Creole Café," it says.

Wow. Never knew I had such a powerful mind. "Got time to try it?" I say. Mark is one of those busy guys. Just back from Ireland. Does video shows for churches, a dozen other things.

He nods. He's on his cell. "No, just with Ed... Ed! Sure, I'll bring you something." His wife.

Sponsored
Sponsored

So we hike up to the porch of this little ol' eatery. Big square false front like what you see in all the cowboy movies. But what's different is the smells wafting out. Sausage, herby smells, garlicky smells, all concentrated in the small space.

"Gentlemen," says this guy. "Welcome to the Swamp House."

"Huh? Sign said 'New Orleans...' "

" 'Swamp House' is what we almost called it."

Turns out this guy's name is Mark, too. He's from the Big Easy, one of the owners. Let's call him Creole Mark, so we know who's who.

Inside is tiny, woody. A brass lantern ("From New Orleans," says Creole Mark); shelves with books like Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau; New Orleans-style chickory coffees; and an old photo on the wall showing a large family. "Mine," says the second gent behind the counter. Humberto. He and Mark are partners in this place. "That photo was taken in Sonora in 1892. Uh, have you decided?"

"We too late for lunch?" says Mark.

"Heavens, no," the other Mark says. "In New Orleans we'd start eating about now, one, two, and go right through till five."

The chef, Donald, brings steamy garlicky oniony roast beef to replenish a chafing dish. Smells so good.

The menu's brief. Cup of gumbo's $4.75. Interesting eight-inch po-boy sandwiches. Roast beef is $7.75; alligator (yes, alligator) sausage is $9.50; hot beef sausage is $8.50; and turkey, avocado, and cheese is $7.25.

Main courses hover around Mr. Hamilton. Shrimp Creole is $9.50, crawfish étouffée is $10.50, chicken and sausage gumbo goes for $9.00, shrimp Caesar salad is $8.50, and shrimp and sausage jambalaya is $8.50.

That's it. Nice and simple. Kind of a stretch for my Mr. Jackson, but we'll make it. "Alligator," Mark says. Dammit, I was going to go for that. So instead I have a shrimp and sausage jambalaya. I get a coffee, and Mark gets a traditional N'Awlins sweet tea ($1.50 each, with refills).

Creole Mark informs us that the alligator meat comes from the tail, mixed in with pork to make the sausage. I pinch a slice. It's kinda like raunchy, herby venison. His big French bread looks crisp. The sausage is hidden in lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. Creole Mark says he steams the sausages a bit so they regain some of the water lost in the sausage-making process. "We're still learning to operate here," he says. "The whole place is only 300 square feet, so that limits us. But we make it work."

My jambalaya comes in a bowl, with French bread cut into teeny-weeny slices. The sausage is herby, there's a healthy batch of shrimp, the rice is tasty, and there's enough of it. Except I'da liked more bread to sop it all up.

But I can't help wondering: for when I'm really down on my uppers, do they have anything cheaper? "Yes, of course," says Mark. "We can do a short po-boy for $4.00. Or a short po-boy and a cup of gumbo for $7.75. Or red beans and rice, vegetarian for $6.50, or with sausage for $7.50. That comes with lots of rice and seasoning. So you definitely won't go away hungry."

Mark orders up a couple of cups of gumbo to take to his wife. Me, I'm still struggling with my jambalaya. Think I'm gonna have to pack it.

'Course we talk ghosts. That is the Whaley House next door. "I caught a ghost once," says Creole Mark. He brings out a three- by four-foot photo blowup of people eating and drinking and dancing. Blue smoke swirls through them. "See that? A spirit. Caught on camera."

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Pet pig perches in pocket

Escondido doula gets a taste of celebrity
Next Article

The Digital Currency Wave Hits the Shores of San Diego

Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.