By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Contributor
While I spent some time deciding where to go In Search of Good Food this past week, one name kept appearing on my email requests: Gullo’s Fresh Produce & Classic Bake Shop, 724 East Flournoy Lucas Road, Shreveport.
I have driven by this place many times and honestly never thought about dining here before, so this gave me the perfect opportunity. I looked up Gullo’s and was pleasantly surprised at the range of items that they had. My choice had been made.
I went on Tuesday for lunch because one of Tuesday’s lunch specials is Chicken and Dumplings, a weakness of mine — so I knew what I was getting. I hoped my companions would order differently so I could get a range of items to taste; thankfully that was the case.
The Chicken and Dumplings were all that you could want and more, soft dumplings with plenty of chicken. It is comfort food at its finest, and even though the portion was large, there was no need for a to-go box for me.
They ordered the Chicken wrap and a Country Fried Steak sandwich. The wrap was very fresh, and the chicken was juicy in just the right way. I did get a little slice of it and would not hesitate to order it on a day I am eating healthy.
The Country Fried Steak was cooked just right with the batter being crunchy and the inside tender and hot. The patty was so big it hung over the whole bun, which is how I’d prefer it, at least with a country fried steak sandwich.
I know my next visit will be when Country Fried Steak is on the lunch special. It was that good in the good ole home cooking kind of way. I regretted not ordering the fried green tomatoes appetizer, which looked great when a table close by had ordered it. There is always next time.
We couldn’t go to a restaurant with “classic bake shop” in the name and not try a couple of their freshly-made desserts. We went with turtle cheesecake and Italian crème cake. There is no doubt that these were freshly made, and the display that they have by the front is dangerous for anyone with a sweet tooth.
While sitting in the front dining room, I couldn’t help noticing that Gullo’s prepares meals for people to take home, heat and serve. There were a few display coolers with freshly made items like Chicken and Dumplings, Gumbo, and other soups as well.
They also had full meals, in a 2–3-person size and a full family size. These offerings held a wide range, with choices like Meatloaf, Green Bean Casserole, and a variety of pasta dishes — comfort food at its best, and of course there were the side dishes there to complete the meals.
If these meals are anywhere close to the quality food that we had while there, then it is surely a place to get take-out meals that taste home cooked, without the mess in your kitchen.
Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net
