In Portland, it can be difficult to keep up with the ever-changing food scene. There are new restaurants popping up weekly and old favorites changing menus. One restaurant I’d been hearing about, but never visited was Acadia. When I was invited to try a new menu feature I quickly jumped at the idea.
Acadia is a quaint New Orleans style bistro in NE Portland. From the minute you walk in, you feel as though you are a welcome guest in someone’s home. The small size of the restaurant provides for an intimate dining experience as well. D and I got a little seat by the window. As we watched the rain come down, we were served one of Acadia’s best dishes: Gumbo.
Chef/Owner Seamus Foran’s passion for his food shows in all the dishes, but we were there to try the gumbo in particular. In honor of the famous Treme Gumbo Festival that takes place in New Orleans this time of year, Acadia has created a fantastic Gumbo Flight.
The flight will include:
- Seafood Gumbo – Acadia’s “go-to” gumbo, made with a dark roux, which provides a depth of flavor that gumbo is known for, balanced out by a combination of shellfish and chicken stock. This is THE New Orleans gumbo. Acadia will serve its seafood gumbo with shrimp, crawfish and Louisiana blue crab.
- Cajun Gumbo – This is a style of gumbo popular in the southwestern region of Louisiana, which is more of a thick tomato-based stew. Occasionally seafood will be included but more a more typical recipe (and the one chef Seamus will use) will feature chicken and andouille sausage.
- Gumbo Z’herbs – This was a version of gumbo that grew in popularity with the Catholic population of southern Louisiana. Served during the Lent, this version traditionally contained no meat, though ironically it did involve a stock made from smoked ham hocks. Z’herbs is made with any kind of green leaf-like vegetable one can find: kale, mustard greens, collards, chards, turnip/carrot/beet/radish tops, cabbage, lettuces and spinach can all be used. As Lenten restrictions lightened in the past few generations, this dish lost popularity. But we are bringing it back!
The Gumbo Flight will be available for $16, and a la carte portions for $10 each.
We tried all the Gumbos and I can’t even choose which one I liked best. D liked the Cajun Gumbo best because he likes a little kick. They are all rich, flavorful and the perfect dinner for these cold fall evenings.
The Gumbo Trio will be available this weekend! November 13th and 14th. Make sure to head down to Acadia to try this amazing flight.
For more information on Gumbo Weekend and Acadia visit their website!
Love,
Rachel xo
All so delicious!! I really appreciated the high-volume of nuts in the salad!
I'm intrigued by those cocktails. Taking a look now!
I've never even tried gumbo, but you make it sound tasty!
Looks amazing! I LOVE that you can get an entire flight of gumbo!!! Delish!
I love this place (and your post). Plus how fun is this? Definitely plan to go and evangelize. 🙂
That bread pudding though… SO good.
Interesting! I'm from south Louisiana and I've never seen anything like the Gumbo Z'herbs! We traditionally stick with seafood and chicken and sausage gumbo! I could go for a bowl right now!
omg this all looks amazing! definitely on my places to visit x