Ashley Wolf / Special to American Press

If you’re looking for Cajun fried food from a hole-in-the-wall joint, look no further than Mama Reta’s in Westlake — not that I would know anything about Cajun food.food

I’m originally from Seattle, a place devoid of Cajun food, sno-ball stands and tropical storms.

Seattle natives put malt vinegar on their fries instead of Tony’s seasoning, and although seafood is a part of the Pacific Northwest cuisine, crawfish is not a regular item on the menu.

Since moving to Louisiana, I’ve become acquainted with the area’s unique cuisine, and Mama Reta’s is a perfect example of the quintessential Southern meal.

I enjoyed a shrimp po’boy meal, which came with a side of fries and a slice of cake for dessert — all for $9.95. 

The po’boy was smothered in Reta’s special sauce, and the fries were seasoned with a spicy Cajun seasoning.brownieDevin Dronett

The cake was deliciously moist and tasted like someone’s Aunt Barbara made it herself.

It was a chocolate and vanilla marble cake with chocolate frosting. The slice of cake looked deceivingly small, but it was quite rich. After a po’boy full of fried shrimp, I couldn’t stuff any more cake into my bloated belly. 

As a health-conscious Washington native, I don’t even want think about how many calories I consumed in that meal, but I don’t regret a single bite.

Louisianians are proud of their fried food, and I am proud to partake of it.