Farmer's Market: The Gumbo Pot

I've probably eaten at the Gumbo Pot far more times than at any other Farmer's Market stall, but until fairly recently I always got the fried shrimp or the jambalaya (shown at least). During my lamentable Atkins phase, I checked out the forgettable seafood salad, and now I've come to rest at the fried catfish. As with most market eateries, it's probably not even the best fried catfish in L.A., and it certainly doesn't equal some exemplary examples like the one served at Lasyone's Meat Pies in Natchitoches, Louisiana. But it's a darn satisfying plate, involving a nice medium-sized mild fish nicely fried with a crispy cornmeal batter and the sweet corn muffin that I've always been fond of. For the side dish, I always used to order the green salad with its honeyed pecans that seemed so innovative in 1987, but I recently discovered the collard greens, which despite being vegetarian, pack a fragrant, swampy pot likker. The red beans and rice are pretty good but very filling, but the gumbo doesn't add up to quite as nice of a stew as the rich jambalaya. The beignets are another nice southern touch, but I haven't tried the New Orleans style brunches.
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