Voodoo Curse, Louisiana Trails and Pfeifer Facts -- Oh, my!

"I definitely consider myself a Dorfer! Only true fans would drive two and a half hours to eat the best catfish and German food in the South- arguably the whole country!"

Ken Hackman

Madison, MS

We are thrilled to have Ken on board as an OFFICIAL DORFER! Ken has been eating at Middendorf's for over 40 years. He loves our regular menu plus our Oktoberfest celebration -- six weeks of authentic German meals. At least two to three times during Oktoberfest, he heads down to Manchac right after work, eats and heads right back home -- a nearly five hour round trip!

Ken is not only a fan of Middendorf's food but also of the owners.

"Karen and Horst are the best hosts, and have always taken time to speak and be more than just owners," shared Ken. "They get to KNOW their customers in a way that keeps people who are already enthralled with the menu coming back over and over and over! As for Middendorf's? There's no place like this place anywhere near this place, so this must be THE place."

Ken is the Zoological Field Studies Coordinator at Madison Central High School.

The Zoological Field Studies Course gives students real world experience in biological research and application.

"For years, I did research work with my students in the Lake Ramsey area," said Ken. "There was NEVER any doubt where EVERYONE wanted to eat on Saturday nights. Karen and Horst always made sure that my group of 20-25 were well taken care of!"

Thank you for all of the amazing compliments, Ken! We are looking forward to seeing you again really soon.

If you are a DORFER or know someone who is, please contact Christie at [email protected].

"A party without cake is really just a meeting." ~ Julia Child

Five Facts about Middendorf's Owner Horst Pfeifer...

#1 He was born in Germany.

#2 He is an European Master Chef.

#3
He opened his first restaurant in 1991 at 28 years old.

(Bella Luna in New Orleans -- it did not reopen after Hurricane Katrina.)

#4 He bought Middendorf's in 2007 with his wife Karen Pfeifer.

#5 He loves Gummi Bears -- but not the soft ones!

"My weaknesses have always been food and men - in that order."

~ Dolly Parton

A swamp is downright good for nothin' if it doesn't have its very own Voodoo Curse!

There are many tales from the Manchac Swamp, but there's none spookier than this one that started over a hundred years ago.

"When I'm die, I'm gonna take the whole town with me."

This was the song of Aunt Julia Brown, a creole woman originally from Gentilly, a land owner and self-confessed voodoo woman. Her home, Frenier, and the neighboring community, Ruddock were farming settlements.

In 1915, a mighty hurricane struck. One day after Julia's death, both communities were destroyed. Her spirit is rumored to still haunt these parts, as well as all the townspeople who are buried in a mass grave just over the railroad tracks.

This story and much more can be found on the Middendorf's Historical Timeline located along the ramp behind the hostess stand. Impress your friends with fascinating facts including the price of a catfish dinner in 1934, the year Interstate 55 opened and the part of Middendorf's that survived being struck by lightning.

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."
~ Luciano Pavarotti

Unscramble these words associated with swamps for an overwhelming

sense of pride and accomplishment -- or for just a bit of fun.

oigalrtal

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ilosuaain

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

rgfo

_ _ _ _

iomqtsou

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

hcaacmn

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

ooovdo

_ _ _ _ _ _

onoaccr

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

r u e tl t

_ _ _ _ _ _

Stuck? Scroll down for the answers.

"After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even

one's own relatives." ~ Oscar Wilde

Have you seen this piece of art on the side of Middendorf's? Do you know what it is? Well, fret no more -- we have the scoop!

You're looking at one of over 50 quilt blocks on the Ponchatoula Quilt Trail. It was designed by Kim Zabbia and painted by Ann Boudreaux -- both from Ponchatoula.

As told by the Louisiana Quilt Trail Website, "A Quilt Trail is the exhibition of artistic interpretations (painted, mixed media, etc.) of quilt blocks outdoors on homes, businesses, sheds, fences, barns or on posts in the yard, field, pasture or flower bed." The purpose of the quilt blocks includes encouraging tourism, strengthening community spirit and pride plus fostering an education and appreciation of the quilting arts.

There are also quilt trails in Amite, Hammond, Kentwood/St. Helena Parish, Livingston, St. Tammany and Livingston. Learn more about the quilt trails and the inspiration behind them at www.louisianaquilttrail.com .

"An onion can make people cry, but there has never been a

vegetable invented to make them laugh." ~ Will Rogers